Japanese banana

Japanese banana plants should be watered every 3 to 5 days, depending on weather conditions. During hot, dry weather, water more often. Aim to keep the soil evenly moist at all times, but do not let the soil become soggy or overly wet. Always check the soil before watering to make sure it is not already moist. Water deeply and slowly to allow the water to saturate the soil throughly. When in doubt, it is better to underwater than to overwater as overwatering can cause root rot.

Japanese banana plants prefer full sun or partial shade in order to thrive. During the summer seasons, when sunlight is most intense, it is ideal to position the plant so it gets several hours of direct sunlight during the morning and early afternoon. During the other seasons, it is important to make sure the plant gets at least 6 to 8 hours per day of sunlight. To protect the foliage from burning, however, it is important to avoid direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day when the sun is at its peak (10 am to 2pm).

Japanese banana (Musa basjoo) is typically pruned during the late winter or early spring months, before new growth emerges. Pruning should be done lightly, removing only a small amount of the stems, leaves, and fruit, and avoiding removal of more than 10-20% of the total foliage. Once new growth begins to emerge, any dead or damaged foliage should be pruned away. After new foliage has emerged, selective pruning in the summer months can be used to control any overgrowth. If desired, old foliage can be cut back to promote prolific flowering.