How to Germinate Banana Plants from seed.

Easy grow method

For best results we recommend soaking the seeds in warm water for 24 to 48 hours. Soaking seeds this way will break the dormancy of the seed and trigger it into life. Prepare a seed tray that has good drainage with a mix (60/40) of sand and compost. A compost and perlite mix will suffice.

Sow your seeds a 1/4-inch-deep and then cover the hole with your potting mix. Water the seeds until your potting mix is moist taking care not to drench the mix to become soggy. It’s important to maintain damp and part humid conditions while growing banana plants from seed. Banana seeds benefit well from fluctuations in temperature.

We recommend you use a heated propagator to maintain a minimum 60 degrees F. (15 C.) and periodically turn the heat on and off to fluctuate the temperature. A simple way to achieve this would be to have the temperature turned on in the day time as above and at night time reduce it or switch it off until the morning time.

(*TIP – Buy a plug timer and automate this process by plugging your propagator into the timer and setting the clock to auto switch on or off at morning and night.)

Germination times can vary but normally 2 weeks up to as many as 3 months (sometimes a little longer) is the standard time frame. In our experience after 30 days you may be able to see one or two germinate, this does not mean the others won’t grow so continue with the germination process until the above time frame as passed

When your seedlings have grown a little, prick out and pot into a similar mixture as they are use to. Give plenty of light and plenty of organic rich potting mix. In a warm well lit room, they can grow as house plants or if you live in warmer climates they can be grown outside. In colder climates we recommend a large pot so the plant can be over wintered easier.

Banana plants can flower within a couple of years, normally at the end of a hot summer in the UK but most of the year in warmer climates. However it is the beautiful foliage, rich tropical and vivid green giant leaves that really sets these plants apart from other plants.

Happy Growing