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Old 12-03-2009, 09:04 PM   #2 (permalink)
jwmahloch
 
Location: St. Charles, Missouri
Zone: 6 - 7
Name: Jeremy
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Default Re: Growing indoor bananas in Winter

Yes it is possible to grow bananas indoors. I have been doing it for 3 years now. Here are a few tips that will help:

1. Use well drained potting mix. Cactus mix works well, or you can add some perilite or pea gravel to regular potting mix.
2. dont use fertilizer on indoor bananas in the winter, if you do make sure its low in nitrogen.
3. Dont over water. I have dont this myself. Once a week is enough for indoor bananas.
4. Make sure you have good light. I have mine under floresent grow lights that I have hanging from my ceiling in my basement. I have them set on timers for 14 hours a day.
5. Keep the humidity high (over 50%) if ideal. I have a large humidifer in my basement.
6. Make sure you pot has enough holes in the bottom (I use nursery pots, I get them for free at the MO botanical garden pot recycling center).
7. Keep in mind that bananas will grow slowly indoors (that is good, unless you have high ceilings, I have 2 growing though my ceiling in my basement).
8. When spring comes move your bananas outside and plant them in the ground (if possible). they will grow much faster and taller in the ground.
9. When you move them outside then its time to use a fertilizer high in nitrogen. and water often outside.

Good Luck
Jeremy
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