Kevin

Has anyone tried growing banana plants in water, either as bog plants, or in a pond, or even hydroponically? A few garden centres have been selling bananas in with the water garden plants sitting in water, and they seem perfectly healthy. I know bananas like water, but in a water garden?

The Hollyberry Lady

ShearMe

ANYTHING can be grown hydroponically if you get the right air/water/nutrient/ventilation/light mixture, but i've never heard about this, let alone in a water garden!

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Gabe15

I have seen them in that state too as small plants, and they seem to be able to tolerate it in that small size. They can grow in a lot of water sometimes in rather saturated conditions, but I don't think they would make it full time in water. They are adapted to be able to withstand excessive water such as would occur during a flood, but not for prolonged growing in water (until fruiting).

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pitangadiego

I know a fellow in UC Davis neighborhood who has done it with several varieties. He is not doing it any more, but was very into it a few years back.

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palmtree

I saw musa basjoos being sold at my nursery this summer with water garden plants (and in water). It seemed fine, but it wasnt entirely submerged in water. I think if the temperature is warm enough they will make great pond plants (as long as the water isnt that deep) but if its cool outside, they might rot.

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Gabe15

As you point out, having the pot in some water, and having the pot completely submerged are two different things. If it is just sitting in water, the water will wick up into the soil above the water line, but not completely saturate it. In this case, it more feasible the plant could last awhile.

If the pot is completely submerged however, all of the soil will be saturated with water and I doubt it would be able to grow well over long periods of time.

Plants need oxygen for their roots. Complete water saturation does not allow oxygen to exchange with the roots. Bog plants generally can transport oxygen from above the water to the roots below, but bananas are not bog plants.

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tasanas

I haven't seen any in my life. Sound impossible.

tasanas

I haven't seen any in my life. Sound impossible.
tasanas

sandy0225

Now there was an older thread about this same thing. I had a bordelon I grew submerged in the pond display for two years. Every fall I lifted it up out of the pond and brought it in the greenhouse. You just let them get real rootbound in a large shallow pot to help the wind from tipping them over, then put them in the pond. They lose a couple of leaves at first and then they pick right up and grow. I'll try to find the picture.
Someone else on here had done it too.

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caliboy1994

You might try growing algae around the roots of the plant. They might be able to provide the roots with sufficient oxygen.

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