Musa basjoo

Musa basjoo Care

Hardy banana

Other names: Japanese Fibre Banana, Hardy Banana

What is the plant

The Japanese banana was transported from China to all areas, where this plant was introduced as an ornamental, which blooms after bee pollination from September till November. It has become a widely grown plant because of being the most cold-resistant type of banana.

The Japanese banana is a species that belongs to the banana family Musaceae. Like other representatives of the genus, Musa basjoo has a powerful rhizome in which water and nutrients are stored. Having originated in the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan.

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Humidity

High

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

-5°C - 10°C

Hardiness zone

5 - 8

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Moderate watering is enough for the plant, but you need to water often, especially in summer. Do it 3 or even 4 times a week during the months when temperatures are high and once or twice a week for the rest of the year.
Pruning
With the onset of the first frosts (from the end of October to mid-November), cut off the upper part of the plant to the level of the soil. Next, carefully insulate the space around the root with fallen leaves or straw.
Fertilizer
Feed your Japanese banana tree throughout the spring and summer. To do this, use organic fertilizers, for example, compost or earthworm humus. You can also choose other fertilizers: universal or specific for green plants.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Banana loves direct sun, although it also grows well in moderate shading.
Soil
The Japanese banana tree grows in fertile, well-drained soils that are also always or almost always moist. If you are going to have it in a pot, simply fill it with a universal substrate for plants.
Propagation
Propagation of the Japanese banana can be done only vegetatively by the pieces of rhizomes that are taken in spring.

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Temperature
The plant remains intact if the temperature does not fall below 27 ºF (-3 ºC), but the rhizome can withstand up to 5 ºF (-15 ºC).
Container
Musa basjoo has a well-developed root system. Space is necessary for the plant due to its large size and tillering.
Fun fact
This plant provides for the textile production of banana cloth in Japan, and its inedible fruits have many uses in Chinese traditional medicine.