The banana tree, with its tropical appearance and large, majestic leaves, is a much-loved plant for gardens and terraces. However, it naturally tends to produce suckers (or drageons), shoots that emerge at base of the mother plant. These suckers can be separated to create new young plants and ensure better growth for main banana tree. Discover our tips to guide you step by step on how to divide a banana tree, while caring for mother plant and its suckers.
Why divide a banana tree?
- Suckers consume many nutrients to grow, diverting them from mother plant and potentially slowing its growth.
- Apart from being healthier, a banana tree without invasive suckers is generally more harmonious in a small garden or in a pot, unless you have space as shown in photo above.
- Separating suckers lets you multiply your banana trees easily.
When to divide a banana tree?
Ideal time to divide a banana tree is in spring, around May, when plant is actively growing. Choose a day without strong sun, as freshly divided banana trees are sensitive to sun and heat.
How to separate the suckers?
Equipment needed to divide a banana tree
- A spade.
- A clean garden knife or a pruning shear disinfected beforehand (for cutting roots).
- Gardening gloves to protect your hands.
- A new pot or a spot in garden to replant sucker.
- Good-quality multipurpose compost.
- Clay pebbles, pumice or gravel to improve drainage.
- Coarse sand or perlite.
- Well-rotted compost or manure.
Division steps
1- Water mother plant thoroughly one or two days before dividing. This will loosen soil and make extraction easier.
2- Observe and identify suckers ready to be divided: sucker should measure at least 30 cm in height and have a few well-formed leaves (not yellow and in good health). Make sure sucker has its own roots, visible around base. A sucker without roots has little chance of surviving alone.
3- Gently clear base of sucker with hands or a small trowel to expose junction between mother plant and sucker.
4- Using a spade, a sharp knife or a pruning shear, separate sucker from mother plant by cutting cleanly at the base. Carefully lift it out, trying to preserve as many roots as possible on sucker.
5- Once sucker is separated, inspect roots. Cut away any damaged or excessively long roots.
Replanting sucker directly in ground
1- Choose a sunny location, sheltered from strong winds.
2- Loosen soil to a depth of 30 cm and mix in well-rotted compost or manure to enrich soil. For heavy soil, mix half garden soil with half compost, then add compost and coarse sand. If needed, slightly mound planting area.
3- Dig a hole large enough to accommodate roots of sucker without bending them. Pour a drainage layer (pumice, gravel or clay pebbles) into bottom of hole, add some soil on top, then place sucker in centre, ensuring its base is level with soil surface.
4- Fill hole with soil, firm lightly to stabilise sucker and form a small basin around plant to aid watering.
5- Water thoroughly immediately after planting. Keep soil slightly moist, but avoid waterlogging, especially during first weeks.
6- Apply an organic mulch (wood chips or dry leaves, etc.) around base of sucker to retain moisture, reduce weeds and protect roots from temperature fluctuations.
Replanting sucker in a pot
1- Use a pot of at least 20–30 cm diameter to give roots room to develop. Ensure it has drainage holes in base to prevent water stagnation.
2- Add, at base of pot, a layer of clay pebbles or broken terracotta shards.
3- Mix good-quality multipurpose compost with, if possible, some garden soil and compost. Also add coarse sand or perlite to ensure good drainage. Fill half of pot with this mix.
4- Place sucker in centre of pot, ensuring base of banana tree is level with surface of compost.
5- Top up pot with substrate, firm lightly to stabilise plant but avoid over-compacting soil to prevent root damage.
6- Water generously until water runs from drainage holes. Afterwards, keep soil slightly moist but not waterlogged.
7- Place pot in partial shade for first few weeks to allow sucker to settle, then gradually move to a sunnier spot.
Care for mother plant after division
- Reduce watering slightly for a few days to limit water stress.
- Apply an organic fertiliser or a light compost to compensate for nutrients lost during division.
Frequently asked questions about dividing banana trees
1. What if sucker has no roots?
It is better to wait until it develops a root system before separating. You can try planting it in moist substrate and monitor closely, but chances of survival are low.
2. Can I divide a potted banana tree?
Yes, this is perfectly possible. Just ensure pot is large enough to allow mother plant and suckers to grow until separation.
3. How long does it take for a sucker to root?
Depends on growing conditions, but generally sucker begins to root well after 4–6 weeks.
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