Did you know that, on average, a banana tree’s stems can grow up to two hundred and forty bananas in total? So that means each banana plant stem will create up to twelve rows of bananas with up to twenty single bananas. That’s just wild!
Do you want to raise strong, healthy banana trees like these? Stick around to learn the importance of banana tree fertilizers, the best products, and finally, proper uses of these nutrients.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Banana Fertilizer Fuel from Wellspring Gardens
Best Fertilizer Spikes:
Miracle-Gro Fruit & Citrus Plant Food Spikes
Best Liquid Fertilizer Option:
AgroThrive All Purpose Organic Liquid Fertilizer
Why Should I Fertilize My Banana Trees?
To start, banana trees are happiest when planted in nutrient-rich soils. Then it’s essential to feed and fertilize these heavy feeders. Banana trees also need specific nutrients to grow their sweet fruit successfully. Let’s discuss the best ways to give your banana plants what they need to keep them happy and thriving!
When is it Best to Use Banana Tree Fertilizer?
There are a few different ways that you can adequately fertilize banana trees. For example, you could add fertilizers throughout the season, give your plant fertilizer spikes, or mix up liquid fertilizers to introduce at every watering.
11 of the Best Banana Tree Fertilizers
Best Overall
Wellspring Gardens Banana Fertilizer Fuel
A lot of thought goes into deciding on the best banana tree fertilizer. Banana Fertilizer Fuel by Wellspring Gardens makes its way to the best overall banana tree fertilizer category because it checks many important boxes.
While these other products below are fantastic, this balanced fertilizer gives your banana plants what they require in doses. Mix these granules into their water each time you water your banana plants to create a secret cocktail. This liquid banana tree fertilizer will help your tropical plant live its best and healthiest life!
Pros:
- Given to banana plants every watering session.
- Smaller doses give your plants time to soak in the benefits.
- Easy to use
Cons:
- It’s expensive to get started but gives your banana plants the best.
Best Fertilizer Spike
Miracle-Gro Fruit and Citrus Plant Food
Do consumers know best? This banana tree fertilizer, Miracle-Gro Fruit and Citrus Plant Food Spikes, by the trusted brand Miracle-Gro, has a high review status. Over fourteen thousand consumers have purchased, used, and reviewed this product.
Does it stand to the test? I’m going to let you be the judge of that, but I know that with ratings such as these, this choice surely deserves a spot on our best banana tree fertilizer list!
Pros:
- Used and trusted by many.
- Great for all types of fruit trees.
- Affordable option by Miracle-Gro.
Cons:
- Not specifically formulated for banana trees.
- A better choice for in-ground banana trees.
Best Liquid Fertilizer
AgroThrive All Purpose Organic Liquid Fertilizer
AgroThrive All Purpose Organic Liquid Fertilizer is excellent for “anything that grows.” So give it a try on your banana plants and the rest of your homegrown flowers, fruits, and veggies.
Eco-Friendly Banana Tree Fertilizer
Black Kow Nitrogen Phosphate Composted Cow Manure
What’s best for your banana trees may just be found in eco-friendly organic matter solutions. For example, composted cow manure may sound disgusting. Still, it makes one of the best natural banana tree fertilizers you’ll ever find.
I like the ingredients included in Black Kow Nitrogen Phosphate Composted Cow Manure Fertilizer, and I know your banana trees will also. This organic fertilizer will give your banana plants the proper nutrients to produce banana fruit by the bunch in no time at all!
Pros:
- As natural as they come!
- Truly the best out there for composted cow manure.
- Eco-friendly and natural solutions.
Cons:
- Hard to locate and sells out often.
- Can be costly
Jobe’s Organics Fertilizer Spikes For Fruit and Citrus
The family knows best, so I took my research to those near and dear to me. Several of my family members currently grow or have grown very successful banana plants and fruit trees.
While some of my family members are residents of Florida, California, and warmer climates, I realize that gives them the upper hand regarding banana trees. Almost simultaneously, they all said that successfully growing banana trees result from using the correct methods and giving your plants the proper basic care.
They recommend fruit tree fertilizer spikes for easy, quick feeds wherever you plant your trees. I have personally used Jobe’s Organics Fertilizer Spikes For Fruit and Citrus and love the premeasured ease of these products, along with the health it gives my fruit trees.
Pros:
- Perfectly premeasured fruit tree nutrients.
- Perfect solutions for on the go.
- Great for potted banana trees.
Cons:
- They are pretty costly.
- The spikes themselves are rather large.
Hi-Yield Super Phosphate 0-18-0
I took my research a step further and interviewed a professional landscaper who currently grows banana trees at his own home. He suggested using a high-quality Super Phosphate.
This specific brand, Hi-Yield Super Phosphate 0-18-0, is the best granular banana tree fertilizer for healthy, thriving banana trees. He said just to sprinkle a little of this user-friendly and affordable banana tree fertilizer on your banana trees about every two weeks.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Super Phosphate promotes larger fruits and blooms!
Cons:
- It can take a while to break down properly into the soil.
Earthworm Technologies: EarthPods Premium Fruit & Citrus Plant Food
Not all banana trees are the same. For example, did you know there are dwarf banana trees? EarthPods Premium Fruit & Citrus Plant Food pods are an excellent choice for growing dwarf banana trees. These pods are additionally great for other small fruit and citrus tree varieties.
These pods are perfectly measured and a way to avoid mixing up a fertilizer cocktail for your plants. In addition, this brand is compact and highly eco-friendly all the way down to the compostable cardboard container!
Pros:
- Extremely eco-friendly.
- Great for indoor and outdoor dwarf banana tree plants, fruit, and citrus plants.
- Ready to go in a user-friendly pod shape
Cons:
- EarthPods can be expensive.
Dr. Earth Exoitc Blend Palm, Tropical & Hibiscus Fertilizer
Dr. Earth Exotic Blend Fertilizer is a high-quality organic fertilizer that’s blended specifically for exotic and tropical plant varieties. Customers alike really enjoy using this product, and I love that it’s non-GMO, natural, and full of rich fast-acting ingredients!
Pros:
- Available at a great price point.
- Easy to Use
- This fertilizer has all-natural ingredients.
Cons:
- Not the best scent.
All-Purpose Fertilizer
ArgroThrive Fruit and Flower Fertilizer
They also carry another version, AgroThrive Fruit and Flower Organic Liquid Fertilizer, which you’ll need to make sure to check out!
Dr. Joes All- Purpose Growing Bubble
The best things come in threes! So make sure to visit our friends at Hoss Tools and try out Dr. Joes All-Purpose Growing Bubbles. Enjoy the perfect ratios of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium nutrients.
Pros:
- Multipurpose
- Organic and Natural
Cons:
- These all-purpose fertilizers can be a bit smelly.
Budget-Friendly
Coffee Grounds
Cost is everything these days, and it feels like everything is getting so expensive. If you find yourself in a bind and resorting to things you have on hand, let me introduce you to an inexpensive banana tree fertilizer.
If you enjoy a great cup of coffee every morning, save your coffee grinds! Your used coffee grounds happen to carry the perfect amounts of nutrients your banana tree will need to thrive and produce bunches of tasty fruits.
Not a coffee drinker? That’s okay! Coffee grinds brewed just for the use of banana tree fertilizer are still a great budget-friendly option in these expensive times.
Pros:
- Enjoy a cup of coffee and feed your banana plants.
- Budget-Friendly
- Waste-saving choice fertilizers.
Cons:
- You are tossing coffee out if you choose not to drink it!
Ingredients and Nutrients
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is an excellent nutrient for a banana tree’s pseudostem and leaves. Nitrogen helps banana leaves maintain a healthy green glow and gives the banana plant sturdy stem support. As a result, banana plants will provide you with tremendous seasonal yields every year.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is necessary to give your banana tree a firm, healthy rhizome and excellent root strength. Use phosphorus during crop cycles three to nine months after planting.
When your plant is flowering and fruiting, adding phosphorus will fill the gaps lost within its suckers. Low doses of phosphorus cause stunted growth, leaf breakage, and unproperly formed roots.
Potassium
Potassium causes conventional stimulation on young banana plant shoots. Additionally, it helps speed up the fruit’s ripening and maturity. Therefore, potassium is a great nutrient to help improve overall banana plant quality.
Natural Methods
Coffee Grounds
Did you know coffee grounds are a quality banana tree fertilizer? Coffee grounds happen to be a great source of nitrogen for banana trees.
To use this natural method, take used grounds and add them directly into the soil. Next, spread your coffee grounds evenly around the base of your plants, then water your banana tree regularly.
Additionally, leave coffee grounds to soak in water overnight, then try watering your banana tree with coffee-infused water.
Organic Composted Manure
Manure is another natural choice of banana tree fertilizer. Composted manure contains nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus your banana trees crave.
Use composted manure at the base of your plant without allowing it to touch its stems. Remember, it’s impossible to overfertilize using natural solutions.
What Does Banana Tree Fertilizer Do?
If you are weighing the pros and cons of different banana tree fertilizers, here’s why they’re essential overall. Banana tree fertilizers will help improve the growth rates of your banana trees, leaf growth, and overall color.
Banana trees are heavy feeders and need these nutrient boosts to give you fruit. Non fertilized banana plants will grow, but they won’t provide you with fruit.
Pay Close Attention To Ingredients
Overfeeding your plants with commercial fertilizers could cause harmful effects. Adverse effects include smaller banana bunches, lower-quality fruits, and poor banana plant growth.
Remember to use only proper banana tree fertilizer amounts necessary; never more or less. Natural fertilizers are impossible to overuse, but with everything, use amounts that make sense for your plants!
Do Some Research!
I encourage you to dig into your own research and compare the results with this guide! In addition, the best way to research this topic more in-depth is to ask fellow gardeners for advice or talk to your local garden centers.
However, some of my best findings are from asking my friends, family members, farmers, landscapers, and gardeners. Ask them directly what methods they’ve found to be most successful.
You Can’t Go Wrong With a Best Banana Tree Fertilizer
I think it’s fair to say that banana tree fertilizer is a crucial part of care to promote strong and healthy fruit in your banana tree’s life cycle. If I had to choose just one, the Banana Fertilizer Fuel by Wellspring Gardens is the winner due to its success rates and pinpointed use for banana trees.
Using this best list of the greatest products on the market today, you honestly can’t go wrong when choosing any of these! Just think of the amazing success and bunches of bananas you’ll soon enjoy now that you’ll know how to fertilize your banana trees properly!
Excited for more banana content? Then check out my banana tree page for info guides, growing tips, recipes, and more!
Shopping for your garden can get overwhelming, fast. So if you’re looking for advice on tools and supplies, then you’re in the right place!