How to get more bananas to grow?
 

This is the second time that I am excitedly expecting fruit from an indoor banana plant! This plant is the offspring of the first plant, which fruited 2 years ago. Last time I got 22 bananas and the rest of the little flowers were duds. As you can see in the picture, I am again only getting a few bananas (19) and the rest are duds. Why don't more of these little flowers turn into bananas? Is there anything I can do next time to get more bananas?

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

Banana flowers are female and swell. The small flowers are male and are not meant to be bananas kust pollen makers.

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

Is it typical then for a dwarf cavendish to only produce a dozen or so bananas?

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

Depends on growing conditions, soil quality, and cavendish variety. Some cavendish can give you 100 pounds or more. If the plants are stunted in a pot that restricts them then they will produce less.

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

Looks more like a super dwarf to me.. I don't think they make full size bunches.... Bigger pot may help. Getting fruit off a potted banana is good anyway, congrats.
Just a thought, you can buy Cavendish, maybe a different variety? There might be one that works better in a pot, I don't know.

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

looks like you bin doin good to me! :birthdaynana:

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

Plant more Bananas!

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

I appreciate all the advice. I thought I had it in a pretty large pot: 20 inches.

I was lucky to get 2 plants a few years ago. Normally, they are not available up here in Manitoba (zone 2).

I do have more plants that have developed from suckers (see pic). I wonder if I should not allow suckers to grow in the same pot with a fruiting plant? But by the time I notice that a plant is fruiting, it is probably too late to make a difference by removing suckers...

Right now I have a lot of plants, ... but I won't even have room for them all once they reach full size!

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

I think those are all problems we all have even here. Culling suckers and giving them away gets to be pretty common. Even in the ground you need to cull the competition. You are now a mini banana farmer. Since you have had success, maybe pass on the suckers to others and show them how you did so well. I am actually impressed.

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

Big plant --> Big bunch, the opposite is also true. I see it everyday in my plantation

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

I forgot to add the second pic, one that shows the pups:

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

Northern Thailand! Wow! That is cool! I've looked at some of your photos. Tonight I'll dream of visiting your plantation.

Re: How to get more bananas to grow?
 

High potassium fertilizer produces bigger bunches. The stuff I get here in S Fla is 6-3-16. I can't remember how many times I have posted this.