The banana plant – often Musa Dwarf Cavendish – is a tropical beauty that fits perfectly in any urban jungle. With its large, lush leaves, its a real statement plant. And if your plant is healthy and producing pups, you can easily propagate it at home.
Looking to expand your garden but don’t want to spend a fortune on new plants? Trying rooting plants in a banana! This unique technique uses the nutrients and hormones naturally present in bananas to stimulate root growth on plant cuttings, allowing you to propagate new plants for free.
I first learned about using bananas for plant propagation from my grandma. Like most gardeners from her generation, she was always finding thrifty, DIY ways to multiply her plants. Banana rooting just might be one of her most ingenious gardening hacks!
In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about rooting plants in a banana peel – what it is, why and how it works, step-by-step instructions, and tips for success. Let’s dig in!
What is Banana Rooting?
Banana rooting, also called banana propagation, refers to the process of using a banana peel or banana fruit to stimulate root growth on plant cuttings. Simply place the cut end of the plant stem into the banana and wait for roots to form.
The natural hormones and nutrients in the banana accelerate the rooting process, often more effectively than commercial rooting powders. Banana rooting offers an organic, inexpensive way to propagate your favorite plants.
Why Bananas Work for Rooting Plants
So what makes bananas such a great rooting agent?
Auxins for Growth
Bananas contain high levels of auxins, which are plant growth hormones that promote cell elongation and root initiation. This naturally occurring auxin is much safer than synthetic hormone products.
Nutritional Boost
Bananas also provide key nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium which support healthy root development and overall plant growth.
Convenience & Affordability
Ripe bananas are cheap and easy to find at any grocery store. At just $0.60 a pound banana rooting costs a fraction of commercial rooting hormones which can run $10-$15 per bottle.
Step-by-Step Guide to Rooting with Bananas
Ready to start rooting with bananas? Just follow these simple steps:
Materials Needed
- Ripe, speckled banana
- Sharp knife or pruners
- Small pots or trays
- Potting soil
- Clear plastic dome or bag
- Plant cuttings – pothos, coleus, basil, etc.
Instructions
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Prep the banana Peel the banana Mash the fruit pulp into a thick slurry.
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Take cuttings: Use a sharp, clean knife or pruners to take 4-6 inch stem cuttings from your chosen plant. Remove lower leaves.
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Dip cutting in banana: Press the cut end of the stem into the mashed banana, coating the last 1-2 inches.
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Plant cutting: Fill pots with moist potting mix. Make a hole and insert the banana-coated end 2-3 inches deep. Gently firm soil.
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Enclose the pot: Place the potted cutting into a plastic bag or under a dome to create a greenhouse effect.
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Location: Set the enclosed pot in indirect sunlight around 70°F.
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Maintain moisture: Check soil daily, water when the top inch is dry. Keep soil moist, not soggy.
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Monitor progress: Look for new growth in 2-4 weeks as roots develop. Gradually acclimate rooted plants before transplanting.
Best Plants for Banana Rooting
Many easy-to-root plants can be propagated with banana:
- Herbs – mint, basil, rosemary
- Houseplants – pothos, philodendrons, coleus
- Ornamentals – hydrangeas, roses, lavender
- Edibles – tomatoes, peppers, strawberries
Avoid slow-rooting trees and shrubs. Start with proven easy-rooting species.
Tips for Success
Follow these tips to improve your propagation success when rooting with bananas:
- Select young, healthy plant cuttings with several leaf nodes.
- Choose ripe, speckled bananas for optimal auxin levels.
- Use clean, disinfected tools to prevent disease transmission.
- Root 2-3 cuttings per plant to allow for failures.
- Maintain constant moisture but avoid soggy, waterlogged soil.
- Give cuttings high humidity, warmth, and bright indirect light.
- Be patient! Rooting can take 4-8 weeks for some plants.
Why Root Plants in a Banana?
Compared to other rooting methods, using a banana offers many benefits:
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Natural & Non-Toxic: Banana rooting is chemical-free and safe for people, pets, and the planet.
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Economical: At just $0.50 per banana, this method saves money over commercial rooting products.
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Readily Available: No special tools needed – just ripe bananas from the grocery store.
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Effective: The natural auxins in bananas stimulate fast, healthy root growth.
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Sustainable: Multiplies plants without harming mother plants like commercial propagation can.
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Satisfying: Propagating plants yourself is fun, empowering, and rewarding!
Troubleshooting Problems
If your cuttings fail to root, here are some common issues and solutions:
Rotting: Too much moisture causes rot. Improve drainage, water less frequently.
Poor root growth: Old cuttings, improper care, or inadequate warmth may be the culprit.
Leggy growth: Insufficient light results in weak, leggy seedlings once rooted. Provide brighter light.
No new growth: Cuttings that fail to root will not put out new leaves or shoots. Take new cuttings.
Rooting Plants for Free
As you can see, propagating plants with a banana is simple, affordable, and effective! With this natural rooting method, you can expand your garden at a fraction of the cost of buying new plants.
The auxins, nutrients, and moisture in bananas create the perfect environment for cuttings to develop healthy root systems. Take advantage of this clever trick to root unlimited plants from your existing collection. Let that grocery store banana work some propagation magic!
Pot the pup
Use fresh potting soil and place the pup in its own pot. If you have rooting powder, apply it to the cut before planting. Put the pot in a sunny, warm spot and keep the soil lightly moist.
Tips for propagating a banana plant
- When: spring or early summer
- Light: lots of sunlight, preferably near a south-facing window
- Water: keep the soil moist but not soggy
- Patience: droopy leaves are normal at first
- Soil: fresh soil helps support new roots
String of Bananas for FREE! | How to Grow & Propagate
FAQ
Can you use a banana to root a plant?
You cannot grow a banana tree directly from a banana given to you. Bananas are typically propagated through their rhizomes, or underground stems, rather than from seeds or fruit. The fruit you eat does not contain viable seeds, as most cultivated bananas are seedless.
Can you grow a plant from a banana?
While you may have noticed those little black “seeds” in your store-bought bananas, they are immature and will not grow a banana plant. Commercial bananas are mainly the Cavendish variety, grown from rhizomes (horizontal plant stems).
Do bananas have rooting hormones?
Propagate several from a single plant by inserting the stem into a banana. Banana works wonderfully as a natural rooting hormone.