String of Banana Plant Care Guide
What is the String of Banana plant?
Your search for the perfect tabletop houseplant has finally come to an end! The String of Bananas is a type of trailing plant that boasts glossy, banana-shaped leaves. Unlike its close relative, the String of Pearls, this plant is extremely low maintenance and grows much faster. If you are looking for a low key new succulent to pass the time, this the ideal selection.
Native to regions of South Africa, the String of Bananas is a sturdy succulent that tends to favor indoor growth. It is generally developed as a hanging houseplant, but you can also train their vine-like branches to grow upward on a trellis or moss pole. While its blooms are not especially impressive, its foliage is where it truly shines.
Light Care
The String of Bananas is an avid fan of bright, direct light. Place your plant in one of your home’s window sills, and if this is not possible, place it near a window or other source of natural light in your home. The String of Bananas requires lots of light in order to produce as much banana-shaped foliage as possible.
While it can tolerate bright, indirect light, its foliage will grow significantly more spaced apart, causing it to have a somewhat empty feeling. Low light conditions should be avoided altogether, as they can lead to even more severe growth stunts and could even cause the plant to experience a premature death.
Water Care
The String of Bananas is a drought-tolerant succulent, meaning that you do not need to worry about following a rigorous watering schedule. Start by watering your plant once every two weeks, and keep an eye on the moisture of the soil. You only want to water it once the soil is fully dried out, so determine the frequency of watering based on your soil’s dry-out rate.
To check the water levels of your plant’s soil, place a water meter into the soil, where it will give you an accurate indication. If you do not own a water meter, stick one finger knuckle-deep into the soil. At this depth, you will be able to accurately account for the soil’s level of moistness.
Food Guide
The String of Bananas prefers a well-draining potting soil. A regular potting soil is perfectly fine, as long as it contains materials that assist in draining out excess water and prevents liquid from pooling around the plant’s roots. To provide your plant with even greater drainage, you can add peat moss or perlite mixture into the soil as well.
The String of Bananas does not require fertilizer in order to grow. However, if you wish to provide it with a slight boost during the summer and spring, you can feed it organic fertilizer once per month. Judge how your plant reacts to the fertilizer, and adjust your feeding schedule accordingly.
Staff Holy Grail Tip:
While you can grow your String of Banana plant in a regular pot as you would any other houseplant, you can also easily grow it as a hanging plant! This plant will naturally grow up and over the sides of any given pot, and when grown as a hanging plant, its foliage is suspended and fills the empty spaces in your home that other houseplants simply can’t. Additionally, you can train this plant to grow up trellises, allowing it to be grown along walls and picture frames. Combined with its ease of care, the String of Banana plant is extremely versatile!
