The banana plant (Musa sp.) is a special houseplant that brings a tropical feel into the home. Water immediately upon receipt. To show it off, stand it in a nice pot or transplant into a slightly larger one. Choose a warm, light place for your plant but make sure the leaves are protected from direct sunlight. Do not let the potting soil dry out.

Water your banana plant regularly, to keep the soil relatively moist. However the banana (Musa sp.) hates 'wet feet' so ensure sufficient drainage. From spring until autumn, add plant food to the water regularly. Banana plants need lots of heat, so 13˚C is the minimum temperature in order for them to survive. In winter stand in a cooler position and reduce watering. The banana (Musa sp.) can be placed outside on your patio during the summer, as long as it’s not too cold. The banana plant can definitely not tolerate frost, so bring it indoors before the frosts start.
 

The banana plant is basically a plant that grows in one year (and flowers) which is certainly the case in the tropics. Here the main shoot can take up to 1 or 2 years. At the end of this period, the plant makes a new shoot. It grows bigger and will eventually replace the main shoot. When the main shoot has become unsightly you can cut it off. The plant can be transplanted into a slightly larger pot. Make sure the young shoots grow well by fertilising every 2 weeks using a fertiliser for houseplants or green plants.
 

As this banana remains small it makes a perfect houseplant. A close relative to the variety that produces the edible banana. Under ideal conditions the Musa sp. can come into bloom in the living room or greenhouse. The flowers are surrounded by conspicuous bracts. After flowering, fruits will appear but they are not edible. New shoots may grow from the base of the banana plant, so you get even more of the lovely banana leaves.