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Nutritional Needs of Banana Trees

Banana trees are grown in tropical climates in the United States that experience 10 to 15 months of frost-free weather. In fact, banana trees stop growing when temperatures dip below 53 degrees Fahrenheit. Nutritional problems also make banana trees stop growing. Gardeners must grow banana trees in their preferred soil pH, so that they can absorb nutrients. Fertilizing banana trees improves their fruit and helps the trees produce healthy growth.

  1. Soil pH

    • No amount of fertilizing will do any good if banana trees are grown outside of their acidic soil pH range of 5.5. to 6.5. When grown outside of their preferred range -- such as in deserts or drought-ridden areas that typically have alkaline soils -- banana trees suffer from malnutrition. So, before planting a banana tree, gardeners must check their soil pH. Dig a 3- to 4-inch hole in the proposed planting area to collect soil for a soil pH test. Based on the results, spread lime on areas with a pH under 5.5; add sulfur to correct alkaline soils with a pH more than 6.5.

    Fertilizer

    • Banana trees are notorious heavy feeders. Gardeners must keep fertilizer on hand to meet the nutritional needs of their banana trees. Trees need a balanced fertilizer with a nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium mix of 8-10-8 each month during the growing season. Nitrogen helps the tree grow, phosphorous helps root development and potassium aids in fruit production. Using a fertilizer that has a higher percentage of nitrogen than the rest of the other two nutrients can burn banana tree roots.

    How to Fertilize

    • Spread a granule fertilizer 4 to 8 feet from the trunk of the plant. Fertilizer granules must never touch the base of the tree, because the nitrogen can burn the banana tree plant tissues. Typically, mature banana trees need 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of nitrogen per month. Smaller banana trees use a quarter of that amount. After spreading the granules, water the area. Use 1 inch of water to help the nutrients absorb into the soil and down to the roots.

    Other Factors

    • Mulches prevent weed growth and help contribute additional acidic properties to the soil. The key to mulching banana trees is using an organic mulch that keeps the soil acidic as it decomposes. Types of acidic organic mulch include pine bark, oak leaves and pine needles. Spread the mulch from 3 inches away from the base to just past the drip line. The drip line is the area directly underneath the outermost leaves. Use a layer 2 to 6 inches deep.

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Trees
  1. The Water Needs of Sweet Gum Trees
  2. What Is Eating My Banana Tree Roots?
  3. Banana Trees That Do Not Bear Fruit
  4. How to Kill a Banana
  5. Red Banana Trees
  6. How to Repot Banana Trees
  7. The Nutritional Needs of Corn Plant Houseplants
  8. Frost-Damaged Banana Trees
  9. How to Winterize Hardy Banana Trees
  10. Lady Finger Banana Trees
  11. The pH Level Requirement for Banana Trees
  12. How to Store Banana Trees

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