billlearjet

Hey have a couple different types of bananas and was wondering how often to fertilize and with what kind of fertilize? I have about 8 Musa Basjoo which are left in the ground here in Michigan and two others a Blood leaf in the ground which I dig up and bring in during winter also but bring in the Himalayan which remains in a pot .

Brian_Banana

I've been growing them for about 4 years, so I'm certainly no expert, but have read many of the posts here and one thing I do know is you can't kill'em by over fertilizing.

One of the most mentioned seems to be Ozmacote. I use a regular 10-10-10 spread around the base. I have 2 cavendish which I overwintered and had bad frost damage. I spread maybe 4 cups each around them and they seem to be loving it. Both are about 8 feet and growing full steam.

Once the bloom starts I'll switch to potash (0-0-60) which I was finally able to find nearby.

Hope that helps.

Hammocked Banana

Be careful, you definitely can over fertilize and hurt your plants. Most Bananas prefer fertilizer in a 2-1-3 ratio, but I give my basjoo and zebrinia a bit more nitrogen in late spring/early summer to give them a boost in growth since I grow them as ornamentals, not for their fruit. Why not put basjoos in the ground and keep one or two in a pot over winter?

siege2050

My Banana are growing a bit slow, so I started fertilizing with Miracle grow 2 times a week instead of 1. So far they seem to be speeding up with no ill effects. I also spray them once a week with Epsom salt 1 tablespoon per gallon, and boric acid 1 gram per gallon, and watered with a solution of ground up gypsum because I had a Sikkimensis showing signs of calcium/boron deficiency. In our Oklahoma soil, there is usually enough potassium, and phosphorous to go around. So far only improvement. Not recommending you go crazy, but at least here, they seem to be able to take a lot more than most plants.

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Hammocked Banana

Agreed bananas can take a lot of food, however u must start low and slowly ramp up the doses. More frequent smaller feedings are better than one large feeding of the same size.

cincinnana

Since I do not fruit my bananas I will use this 15-15-15 or 19-19-19 because it is a readily available GENERAL use inexpensive fertilizer. I got these bags because the "farmers" bought every skid of triple 19 that the local Kentucky co-op had for spring. I am not brand specific just happens to be the brand they sell locally.
The results are acceptable for great foliage and growth and will work on ALL your plants, hosta, ferns, bushes, lawns,
Cost 16.00-18.00 for a 50lb bag.
Great for massive Basjoo growth.


Massjoos

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jeffaroo

So if your using triple 15, at what rate do you apply and how often ? I've been only using a liquid triple 10 and fish emulsion. However I'm on the look for something better.

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Keep shoveling on the potash till the ground bleeds

crazy banana

Check out plantsthatproduce.com (our member Richard)
He carries organic and non-organic fruit fuel, but also various fertilizers for ornamental plants. For specific questions send him an email or PM. He is extremely knowledgeable and helpful.

cincinnana

I use an Earthway chest broadcast spreader set on 5 for my inground plants at a 30 -50 day interval walking at a slower pace once in spring and in mid summer(now). Product application rates will change depending on your specific nutreint need and zone.
Higher NPK numbers don't always mean better results.

Here is a photo of Basjoo being planted in a nice deep rototilled hole with a pork and bean can of triple 15.
Sometimes I garden like I cook.....I don't measure.

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jeffaroo

So a P&B can per plant approximately?

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Keep shoveling on the potash till the ground bleeds

cincinnana

For a mature Basjoo, not a smaller plant like in your other post. The plant in your post might take a table spoon.
There is a much larger plant out of frame to the left that these pups were cut from. The fert will be dispersed between ALL plants in the 2x4 hole.

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