Time and time again I see threads where people try Banana Plants and don't know anything about them, cant find anything about them, complain about them, or just can not get them to grow. So I'm here to set it all straight in hope that others finally start having some good luck with the plants they purchase. So here goes.
The Banana Plant - Nymphoides aquatica, also known as The Brain Plant or The Big Floating Heat, named "Banana" based on the root shape... as the root bulb looks like a bunch of bananas.
Its really easy to take care of, and lives in most conditions, but 5000-7000K light, 68-82° F, KH 3-6, and pH 6.0-7.2 it thrives. Make sure theres at least some amount of current too, as with any aquatic plant it will die with stagnant water.
For a superior growing Banana Plant, use a high quality liquid fertilizer (should have Iron as an ingredient, potash is a good ingredient for this plant as well but not required).
Its really easy to Propagate as well. Just press fully formed leaves into the substrate and wait. In fact, you can clip every leaf off of the banana roots and the plant will still grow new ones from just the bulbs.
Placement of this plant can be anywhere you want it based on how much of the Banana shaped root bulbs you plant into the substrate (fine sand to large river rock all works), as it determines how wide or tall the plant will grow. Having the bulbs on top of the substrate, as in not buried at all, and the plant will grow very wide. Plant the bulbs completely covered, and this versitle plant will grow very tall. Infact, when when the shoots reach the surface, they will grow wide round leafs, shaped like a lily pad, and will eventually bloom a white flower.
Heres some pictures showing the growth of this wonderful plant!
1 week after being clipped to Banana root only
3 weeks
Grows wide when not buried
This is the wide grown plant, showing how it changed if you later transplant it and bury the roots. It now wants to be tall! Still growing today... no lily pad yet on this one
Tall and wide mixture. Roots are 50% covered.
Up close, showing the banana shaped bulbs shooting off some of its own roots
Hopefully this helps clear up the problems so many people are having with this fantastic plant! I will answer any questions you all have.
The Banana Plant - Nymphoides aquatica, also known as The Brain Plant or The Big Floating Heat, named "Banana" based on the root shape... as the root bulb looks like a bunch of bananas.
Its really easy to take care of, and lives in most conditions, but 5000-7000K light, 68-82° F, KH 3-6, and pH 6.0-7.2 it thrives. Make sure theres at least some amount of current too, as with any aquatic plant it will die with stagnant water.
For a superior growing Banana Plant, use a high quality liquid fertilizer (should have Iron as an ingredient, potash is a good ingredient for this plant as well but not required).
Its really easy to Propagate as well. Just press fully formed leaves into the substrate and wait. In fact, you can clip every leaf off of the banana roots and the plant will still grow new ones from just the bulbs.
Placement of this plant can be anywhere you want it based on how much of the Banana shaped root bulbs you plant into the substrate (fine sand to large river rock all works), as it determines how wide or tall the plant will grow. Having the bulbs on top of the substrate, as in not buried at all, and the plant will grow very wide. Plant the bulbs completely covered, and this versitle plant will grow very tall. Infact, when when the shoots reach the surface, they will grow wide round leafs, shaped like a lily pad, and will eventually bloom a white flower.
Heres some pictures showing the growth of this wonderful plant!
1 week after being clipped to Banana root only
3 weeks
Grows wide when not buried
This is the wide grown plant, showing how it changed if you later transplant it and bury the roots. It now wants to be tall! Still growing today... no lily pad yet on this one
Tall and wide mixture. Roots are 50% covered.
Up close, showing the banana shaped bulbs shooting off some of its own roots
Hopefully this helps clear up the problems so many people are having with this fantastic plant! I will answer any questions you all have.
