What kind of soil is best for banana plants?

*Dearly Depotted* · 03-31-2021, 11:57 PM

I’m looking to buy some good soil for my plants this year. I was just kind of curious what kind is the best of all for banana plants? Garden, potting mix or top soil? Thanks in advance as always!

edwmax · 04-01-2021, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Dearly Depotted*

I’m looking to buy some good soil for my plants this year. I was just kind of curious what kind is the best of all for banana plants? Garden, potting mix or top soil? Thanks in advance as always!

It has been stated many time within the forum 50% potting soil & 50% perlite for container banana plants and is easy to obtain & mix. Anyway there is more info in the forum wiki. The roots need air, so any dense heavy soil is not good for potting. ... I use a course pine bark soil less mix made for nurseries. Course sand is good too. ... A good drainage check is to see that water starts draining from the pot in about 10 to 15 seconds after pouring on top. And the mix does not contain any water retaining type materials.

Banana plants in the ground can live & grow in just about any type soil as long as it is not mud. But again well draining soils are best for in ground plants. Over time, the banana plant will amend the soil to its liking if left alone.

Also there are youtube clips for making your own potting soils.

cincinnana · 04-01-2021, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Dearly Depotted*

I’m looking to buy some good soil for my plants this year. I was just kind of curious what kind is the best of all for banana plants? Garden, potting mix or top soil? Thanks in advance as always!

Do a forum /Youtube search.Soil/best practices for tropicals.
Some of the videos will give you a great start to custom make your own mix.
The question has been answered in a few threads. If do a forum search and some of the posts have an ingredient list.

My observations are folks in the south tend to make/purchase a heavier mix while gardeners in the north make a lighter mix.
So everyone makes it different for their needs.

Miracle grow type soiless mix is a good base to start with.

*Dearly Depotted* · 04-02-2021, 02:05 PM

All I can say is that I honestly didn’t remember all that before I posted this thread. If I had looked up my previous threads before posting this I wouldn’t have. I genuinely made a mistake. Thanks for answering anyway! Now I know for sure that I’m good with my combo of potting mix, flower mix, sand and a bit of peat moss that I’ve been using for years! Thanks again to both of you!

cincinnana · 04-03-2021, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Dearly Depotted*

All I can say is that I honestly didn’t remember all that before I posted this thread. If I had looked up my previous threads before posting this I wouldn’t have. I genuinely made a mistake. Thanks for answering anyway! Now I know for sure that I’m good with my combo of potting mix, flower mix, sand and a bit of peat moss that I’ve been using for years! Thanks again to both of you!

Triple LOL.

Forgot to add ....some folks use a cactus type mix in their containers.
Buy and make what you can afford...get everything on sale at big box at end of season.....purchase it even if you do not need it.

Sooo, what are you using this spring?

*Dearly Depotted* · 04-05-2021, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

Triple LOL.

Forgot to add ....some folks use a cactus type mix in their containers.
Buy and make what you can afford...get everything on sale at big box at end of season.....purchase it even if you do not need it.

Sooo, what are you using this spring?

Thanks for the extra info about cactus mix stuff! Didn’t know you could use that kind! Neat!

Here’s what I’ll be using. I start with a base of Miracle Gro Moisture Contol Potting Mix about 50%. I add in some Miracle Gro Garden Soil for flowers about 30-50% and then mix in peat moss 20-30%. After all that gets mixed together I then throw in play sand. Just about a garden shovel full. This combo seems to have worked so far. Sound pretty good?!

Thanks again for all the help I’ve gotten so far! Truly appreciate it!

amiart · 04-08-2021, 10:04 AM

I am not sure what to use, but I think all/most of the commercially available products take short cuts for growth that ultimately harm plants.

I found this article and found it interesting.

https://news.byu.edu/intellect/byu-s...t-damaged-soil

*Dearly Depotted* · 04-10-2021, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amiart

I am not sure what to use, but I think all/most of the commercially available products take short cuts for growth that ultimately harm plants.

I found this article and found it interesting.

https://news.byu.edu/intellect/byu-s...t-damaged-soil

Yeah I thought the article was pretty interesting! Thanks so much for the kind reply & for sharing the article too!

EvonBekly · 12-28-2022, 06:07 AM

It is hard to grow bananas in our climate. These plants are used to the tropical climate and demand certain temperatures and conditions. It is harder and more expensive to arrange their growth here than just buy it. However, if it is your dream, there is still something you could do. You could check different kinds of soils for tropical plants on plant care; I usually get ideas there for my small garden. I also plan to grow tropical fruits (like ananas and peaches) when I move to the bigger house. My hubby and I plan to move into the country, as we found a good option for his work there. I always felt like I belong in rural, so I think I will grow even more plants there

cincinnana · 12-29-2022, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvonBekly

Hello! Sorry for bumping this. What did you choose in the end, and was it good?

What are you planning to grow?

03-31-2021, 11:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dearly Depotted Find me on the map! Zone: 6A Name: Mary Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 646 BananaBucks : 110,496 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 607 Times Was Thanked 442 Times in 301 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	What kind of soil is best for banana plants? I’m looking to buy some good soil for my plants this year. I was just kind of curious what kind is the best of all for banana plants? Garden, potting mix or top soil? Thanks in advance as always! __________________ It’s long been a dream of mine to be able to grow real bananas off my own plants! So, please wish me luck on my quest to fulfill that dream!

04-02-2021, 02:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dearly Depotted Find me on the map! Zone: 6A Name: Mary Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 646 BananaBucks : 110,496 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 607 Times Was Thanked 442 Times in 301 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: What kind of soil is best for banana plants? All I can say is that I honestly didn’t remember all that before I posted this thread. If I had looked up my previous threads before posting this I wouldn’t have. I genuinely made a mistake. Thanks for answering anyway! Now I know for sure that I’m good with my combo of potting mix, flower mix, sand and a bit of peat moss that I’ve been using for years! Thanks again to both of you! __________________ It’s long been a dream of mine to be able to grow real bananas off my own plants! So, please wish me luck on my quest to fulfill that dream!

04-08-2021, 10:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
amiart Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 62 BananaBucks : 36,833 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 38 Times in 21 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: What kind of soil is best for banana plants? I am not sure what to use, but I think all/most of the commercially available products take short cuts for growth that ultimately harm plants. I found this article and found it interesting. https://news.byu.edu/intellect/byu-s...t-damaged-soil

12-28-2022, 06:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
EvonBekly Join Date: Dec 2022 Posts: 2 BananaBucks : 142 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: What kind of soil is best for banana plants? It is hard to grow bananas in our climate. These plants are used to the tropical climate and demand certain temperatures and conditions. It is harder and more expensive to arrange their growth here than just buy it. However, if it is your dream, there is still something you could do. You could check different kinds of soils for tropical plants on plant care; I usually get ideas there for my small garden. I also plan to grow tropical fruits (like ananas and peaches) when I move to the bigger house. My hubby and I plan to move into the country, as we found a good option for his work there. I always felt like I belong in rural, so I think I will grow even more plants there Last edited by EvonBekly : 12-29-2022 at 10:50 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Help! Some of my plants have died back to soil line!	Dearly Depotted	Cold Hardy Bananas	7	11-15-2020 09:51 PM
How plants interact with beneficial microbes in the soil	Richard	Banana Plant Soil, Additives, and Fertilizer	1	06-24-2017 07:30 PM
what kind of banana is this?	mycelium	Main Banana Discussion	1	01-13-2015 12:45 AM
What kind of banana do I have	Astroraider	Banana Identification	13	08-27-2013 09:00 PM
What kind of Banana is this?	shusui	Banana Identification	4	09-04-2009 02:04 AM

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009. No one is currently using the chat.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)