Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

Sounds kinda stupid to grow a bananatree indoor, but i really fell in love with the aeae and when one came for sale i had to buy it.

First pic is from September 2021 and last one is to today where it's a bit over 2m tall.

But its reaching the ceiling soon, what happen if i cut it? And where should i cut it? If i cut the stem will there be a new big leaf or is that stem dead then? I heard if you cut it high up, it will continue growing a big leaf from that stem? I do not grow it for the bananas, only beacuse i like the plant.

Re: Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

That's a beautiful plant
Shame that you need to cut it but it does look healthy and it should be fine and won't kill it assuming it has a nice corm/root system.

The more stem/leaves you cut the longer it may take to recover and start growing again. It may get stunted for a while.

Re: Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

Thank you! Yeah i really don't wanna cut it, but not sell either and i have thought about everything, but can't afford a big greenhouse with heating (living in Sweden)

Re: Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

Just curious what kind of potting soils do you use to keep this from dying.

Re: Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

Many forum members myself included cut their plants shorter to fit in smaller spaces.
It is common practice to cut the plant to the corm to facilitate shipping also.
It does not matter what variety you cut shorter because the plants will recover in similar fashion.
In your case plant must be well established (root wise)in the pot before you proceed.


For me I cut when the healthy plant is actively growing and at the beginning of the grow season because it gives the plant time to recover before you bring it back indoors.
Taller wider plants are also difficult to put proper artificial lighting above them.
Your plant will develop a wide footprint

Do not disturb,repot or over fertilize,over water your plant during recovery.......you will lose it.

What you want to do is possible but do it with care and during the beginning of the grow season.
This plant was damaged in a storm but it recovered nicely.

.
Plant by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

Re: Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

Hi everyone! I have this same question but I'll add a few more specifics.

My variegated musa Florida is quickly approaching my 8 ft tall ceilings - probably a month or two before contact. I would like to cut it back but I want to know:

1. If I cut back closer to the soil line, is there a chance that it will choose to send out pups instead of regrowing in the center? I'd like it to continue growing as a single plant for now.

2. Depending on whether I cut higher or lower, will this affect the size of the new leaves? I'm imagining that if I cut it back to about 4 ft, it will continue growing larger leaves, but if I cut back to 1-2 ft, it will need to start completely over and will revert to smaller leaf size.

I really love the look of the plant when it has more, smaller leaves and am hoping to encourage that. Although, ideally I will make best friends with someone who has a 20+ ft greenhouse to let it go wild in!!

Any advice about the effects pruning methods will have on leaf size or suckering are greatly appreciated! Thank you all :)

Re: Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

originally from montana. worked in rock springs wyoming for awhille. winter garden is a blast before christmas time. specially the heebers creepers. panquitch was fun. and the birches above salt lake were spectacular.

cut it high when you have to. judge. you watched it grow. and then when you have to, cut it again.

spectacular growing for a yankee. :ha:

Re: Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

I've never had to do it, but just curious, why not just trim the leaves a bit before they hit the ceiling?

I know that won't ultimately prevent the 'problem' but it might at least delay the inevitable. One might even shape the leaves a bit after trimming to at least give the ends a somewhat more natural appearance......?

Re: Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

i agree with doofus. except for the lighting problem, it does not hurt the cigar leaf if it hits the ceiling

but personally i would take it outside, for this time of year its perfect for you. but for an aeae, it needs shade pretty much all day. and i have seen that you have very high temps. it can take take the temps but not the sun and the temps.

Re: Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

Can I ask for pictures? Show us that tall beauty! :goteam:

1. In my experience no, it will regrow from the center.

2. I have researched this. I could not find documentation on how leaf cuts affect the length of leaves of the Musa Aeae. I only found that the older outer layers will All die off, and it will continue to issue leaves from the center with fertilization. Thailand.

Pruning methods that are documented that don't kill banana trees: Cutting the leaves in half after unfurling. A Youtuber restricted water to slow down growth (but has not shared updates since 2017). A nursery stores the tree in a corner of a greenhouse but it results in bruising and brown leaves, but the leaves were smaller.

Re: Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

Hello ,

Any tips for keeping it indoors ? This is a very beautiful specimen !!
What soil mixture do you use ? At what percentage of humidity do you keep it ?

Re: Musa aeae getting too big, growing indoors
 

Here is a start.
Do a forum search for a deeper idea .

http://www.bananas.org/351631-post6.html