Fertilize banana plants every 4 to 8 weeks through the growing season with a fertilizer high in potash, such as a 6-2-12 blend with 2 to 3 percent magnesium. Start young plants with about 1/2 pound per application and increase gradually to 5 or 6 pounds per mat by flowering and fruiting time. Spread it in a wide ring around the plant, keeping it off the stems, and water it in. Container plants need far less, so follow the product label.
Which part of this guide fits you depends on where your banana grows. If it is in the ground in a warm climate, follow the schedule and amounts below. If it lives in a pot, skip to the container section, since the in-ground amounts are far too much for a pot.
Fertilizer schedule for banana plants
Banana trees are not trees at all. University of Florida IFAS Extension describes them as vigorously growing herbaceous plants.
That fast growth takes a lot of nutrients. UF/IFAS says bananas need fertile conditions and plenty of soil moisture, and that the growth a plant makes in its first 3 to 4 months sets the weight of the bunch and the number of hands.
In low-fertility soils, UF/IFAS recommends fertilizing 4 to 6 times a year, and its seasonal guide calls for a fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and magnesium every 4 to 8 weeks. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions gives the same pattern for young plants: 1/2 pound of 6-2-12 every two months.
The amount grows with the plant. UF/IFAS says to start young plants with 1/2 pound (0.23 kg) per application and increase gradually to 5 to 6 pounds (2.3 to 2.7 kg) at flowering and fruiting time, 10 to 18 months later. The right amount depends on the size and age of the stalks and how many stalks are in the clump.
Spread fertilizer in a wide ring so it reaches the spreading roots, rather than piling it at the base of the plant.
Choosing a fertilizer
Banana trees need both major nutrients and micronutrients for leaf growth, flowering, and fruiting. A soil test before planting shows what the soil already has.
The best fertilizer for banana trees is high in potash. UF/IFAS recommends a 3-1-6 ratio, such as 6-2-12, with 2 to 3 percent magnesium.
Micronutrients matter too. In Florida, UF/IFAS recommends at least one nutritional spray a year with manganese and zinc, plus iron for plants in very sandy or high-pH soils. Follow the product label for rates.
How to fertilize banana trees
How you apply fertilizer depends on the product. Work granular fertilizer into the top layer of soil around the plant and spread it outward. Watering carries the nutrients down to the roots.
Water-soluble fertilizers are mixed into your regular watering. They reach the roots quickly, but they also wash through the soil faster, so they need more frequent applications.
Keep fertilizer off the pseudostems and spread it in a ring several feet out from the center of the clump.
Banana trees can be over-fertilized, so don’t go past the label rate. Pair feeding with steady water. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says bananas prefer 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water a week but suffer in soil that stays wet. UF/IFAS also recommends 2 to 6 inches of organic mulch around the mat to hold moisture and keep weeds down.
How to fertilize banana trees in containers
Dwarf banana trees in containers have much less soil than plants in the ground, so they need much smaller doses. Use a water-soluble fertilizer at the container rate on the label and watch for signs of trouble such as stunted growth or discolored leaves.
Banana tree fertilizing tips
- Spread the fertilizer evenly across the soil. Even application will keep all the roots happy on all sides, leading to better growth above the soil line.
- Don’t apply more fertilizer than the label recommends.
- Pick a fertilizer with a high potash number, since UF/IFAS says banana needs a lot of potash.
Stark Bro’s sells banana plants if you want to add another.
Banana fertilizer FAQ
How often should you fertilize a banana tree?
UF/IFAS recommends a fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and magnesium every 4 to 8 weeks, or 4 to 6 times a year in low-fertility soils.
What is the best fertilizer ratio for bananas?
A high-potash blend in a 3-1-6 ratio, such as 6-2-12, with 2 to 3 percent magnesium, per UF/IFAS.
How much fertilizer does a banana tree need?
Start young plants with about 1/2 pound per application and increase gradually to 5 to 6 pounds per mat by flowering and fruiting time.
Where should you put fertilizer around a banana tree?
Spread it in a wide ring around the clump, keep it off the pseudostems, and water it in.
Tools for fertilizing banana trees
Five tools cover the job, from testing the soil to watering the fertilizer in. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Soil test kit
A soil test shows which nutrients the soil already holds. The Luster Leaf Rapitest soil test kit (also at The Home Depot) checks soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash. It holds enough for 20 tests, five of each kind.
Banana fertilizer
Bananas need a lot of potassium to grow and fruit. Wellspring Gardens Banana Fuel fertilizer is a water-soluble 15-5-30 blend. The listing calls for 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water for container plants.
Garden trowel
Pellet fertilizer gets dug into the top layer of soil. The Fiskars Ergo garden trowel (also at Target) has a cast-aluminum head that resists rust. A hole in the handle lets it hang on a hook.
Watering wand
Water carries the nutrients down to the roots. The GREEN MOUNT watering wand is 24 inches long, so the water reaches a wide circle around the plant. Its shower head has 661 small holes.
Garden gloves
Gloves keep fertilizer off the skin. The COOLJOB gardening gloves come as two pairs in a women’s medium. They have a rubber coating for grip.
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