Dwarf Red Banana Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on August 30, 2022

Planting instructions

Full sunlight is a necessary prerequisite for anyone hoping to grow a dwarf red banana tree. In fact, the more sunlight that reaches your growing area, the better this plant will grow. You will have the option to grow your dwarf red banana tree in the ground or in a garden container. Regardless of which you choose, the soil in which this plant grows should have good drainage and plenty of organic nutrients. Also, dwarf banana trees typically show the best growth in slightly acidic soils and warmer regions such as hardiness zone 8 and warmer.

Watering and nutrients

If you wish to produce the healthiest growth and the greatest quantity of fruits, you will need to water and fertilize your dwarf red banana tree frequently. During the growing season, a dwarf red banana tree needs water at least every three days. However, you may need to water your tree as frequently as once per day, depending on the weather. You should also fertilize your dwarf red banana tree often. The best approach is to feed this plant once every month with a balanced fertilizer or one that is slightly higher in phosphorus.

Pollination

One of the most unique traits of the dwarf banana tree, and other banana varieties, is that it does not require pollination to produce fruits. Instead, the female flowers of these plants simply develop into bananas on their own. Interestingly, it is possible for an insect to pollinate a banana tree. However, this is an unwanted outcome for most, as pollinated banana trees produce fruits that are full of seeds and far less enjoyable to eat.

Pruning

Another interesting fact about banana trees, including dwarf banana trees, is that each stalk that emerges from the ground will provide only one harvest. After harvesting the fruits of this plant, you should prune the stalk back to the ground. Removing the stalk is one of the most important maintenance tasks when caring for a dwarf red banana tree, as doing so allows the plant to produce a new stalk that will eventually bear fruits.

Pests, diseases, and animals

When caring for a dwarf red banana tree, you should inspect it often, as this tree can encounter problems with pests and diseases. Nematodes are among the insects that are most likely to cause harm to this tree. Not only do nematodes eat the roots of dwarf red banana trees, limiting the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients, but they are also capable of spreading fungal infections. As such, you should be well aware of what nematodes look like and how to get rid of them before planting a dwarf red banana tree.

Harvesting

Generally, it takes about 18 months for a dwarf red banana tree to develop a stalk and produce harvestable fruits. As those fruits mature on the tree, watch as their color changes. Once the color has become dark reddish brown, your bananas are ready for harvest. You can harvest these fruits by removing the entire solitary bunch of bananas that this plant produces. After you pick your bananas, be sure to cut the stalk back to allow for future harvests.

Achieving maximum results

Many gardeners wish to grow the dwarf red banana tree for the incredible fruits these plants produce. However, the high sunlight needs of this species can make it difficult to achieve the goal of fruit production. But if your growing location does not receive enough light for fruit to grow, the plant itself will continue to survive. This means that the opportunity to grow the dwarf red banana tree for its ornamental appeal remains possible if your garden sits in partial shade.