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dreadnought_91604

Pruning a Banana Plant

dreadnought_91604
14 years ago

Hi all --

I live in Los Angeles in Zone 9. I have a 4 year old Dwarf Cavendish. Two stems (I realize that bananas grow from a rhizome or corm below ground, but I'll call them "stems" for ease) fruited for the first time. After one fruited, the stem fell over, about halfway down its length. The other will do the same. I understand that these should be cut down as low to the ground as possible as they won't bear fruit again, and presumably in nature they would fall over anyway.

Here's the question though: should I do that on the other non-fruiting stems at this time of year also? Does it help the tree weather the cold or allow it to muster its energy for the spring? Does it matter? Does the answer depend on whether you're trying to get the tree to produce fruit or only using it as an ornamental?

Thank all!

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