Winterizing Banana Trees: How to Winterize Banana Trees

Banana trees prefer a year-round warm climate, with temperatures between sixty-five and eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit (seen in USDA Hardiness Zones 4–11). Banana tree cultivars have varying temperature hardiness, with some being able to withstand freezing temperatures.

The most cold-hardy banana tree (Musa basjoo) can withstand temperatures down to thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (or first frost temperatures) before their leaves begin to brown, and soil temperatures down to twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit before the corm (or rhizome) dies. However, many banana tree varieties cannot survive cold weather, so winterizing your tree can protect it come wintertime.

There are a few ways to winterize a banana tree, depending on the planting conditions.

• Indoor container method: If you planted your banana tree in a container (rather than in the ground), bring it inside for the winter. Place your plant in a south-facing sunny window or a sunny spot with a supplemental grow light. If you can, gradually introduce your banana tree to the indoor climate before completely moving it inside. Let it sit on the patio or a sheltered spot for a week or so, to simulate an in-between climate with less light. If you have other houseplants, quarantine your banana plant before placing it next to other plants (moving outdoor plants inside can bring outside pests into your home). Your plant’s growth will slow down during the winter because it’s conserving energy. Upon entering its prime growing season (after the last frost of spring has passed), the plant’s growth will accelerate.
• Garage or patio method: If you live in a climate that doesn’t experience winter temperatures below twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit, you can keep your banana tree outside. Place your container-planted banana tree in a sheltered spot (like a garage or enclosed patio) to overwinter it without bringing it inside your home. (Keeping it in a cool, dark place will cause the plant to go dormant over the winter months and regrow in the spring.) To do this, taper off your watering frequency in the weeks leading up to winter. Next, cut the stem back to about six inches tall and apply a thick layer of mulch to the base of the plant.
• Ground-planting method: If you planted your banana tree in the ground and live in a planting zone where soil temperatures don’t drop below twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit, overwinter your banana tree while it is in your garden soil. To do this, taper off watering in the weeks leading up to overwintering. Next, cut the plant back to about six inches and mulch around the base with organic material, plastic sheeting, or burlap. The plant will go dormant in the cold climate and produce new growth in the spring.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.