String of Bananas Care + Where to Buy A Healthy Plant

The String Of Bananas is genuinely an excellent plant. With the green leaves that take the shape of tiny bananas, you can simply watch as it trails down when placed on a hanging pot.  

If you previously owned a string of pearls, which is their close relative, and you had a hard time with that plant before, this succulent is different and much easy to take care of. However, you might experience leaves frequently falling off from the string of pearls and wonder if it’s the same as the string of bananas? The answer to that is NO! They don’t. The String of Bananas is equipped with thick stems that make them less delicate than Strings of Pearls. 

Care tips

Since they are succulent houseplants, you will be placing them inside your home. As for the temperature, the String of Bananas can well adjust to average home temperatures. If you are comfortable, then, most likely, these plants are too. Just be mindful not to place them near your fireplace or under your air conditioning unit as it can cause problems, for they do not do well under extreme temperatures.

For the lighting, string of bananas likes getting bright indirect light, also make sure the top receives the sunlight. Since they are succulents, they like it dry, its best to place them in an area where they can get at least six hours of sun time to promote a more compact and appealing look. To ensure that all sides of the plant are getting enough sunlight, rotate them every once in a while to get consistent growth. Always know that you should not place them under direct sunlight or next to heat conductive things in your house because the leaves on this plant can get burnt.

The String of Bananas are plants that can tolerate drought. It would be best if we allow the soil to dry out in between waterings. Do not let them sit around in moisture for a while but do not keep them dry for too long as well. This plant is susceptible to root rot, so always be mindful not to overwater them. Our fellow plant people recommend that they should be watered from the bottom as well. 

Since the plant is considered succulent, they do not need fertilizer, but giving them would still benefit healthier growth. Using organic or Houseplant fertilizer will do the job. Always feed them on its growing period, which is during summertime. Only light feeding is recommended, and make sure that they get watered thoroughly before giving fertilizer. They are pretty sensitive when given fertilizer directly as it can cause root rot. 

When it comes to the soil, any light, organic succulent, and cactus mix is perfect for this plant. They require a well-draining soil mix since they can get root rot. You can buy ready mixed fertilizer, or you can always go ahead and make your own. These plants have a shallow root system, so make sure you also get a shallow pot. When it is just bought from the nursery, it is a recommended practice to remove them from the nursery pot and get either a terracotta pot, a concrete pot, or even any phorous pot because when it is kept in their nursery pots, it can accumulate fungus, criteria and root decay. 

Usually, the string of bananas is not susceptible to pest infestation, but you may want to look out for mealybugs, spider mites, and other scale insects. Early detection and acting upon these pests can help avoid plant infestation that may affect plant growth. 

These plants do not need you to re-pot them regularly as they are okay with being rootbound for a while, although repotting once every few years is good since you will be renewing its soil. If you plan on doing so, it is best to do this during the growing season as it will give the roots more time to recover on their new soil. You will have no problem with repotting this plant as its leaves do not fall off easily. 

Is it safe for pets?

If you have a furry friend that likes to nibble on things, it is recommended that you keep the plants out of reach as it might cause problems when this plant is ingested into their stomach. You can hang it o simply place it a the top of your shelf, this does not only keep it away from your pets, but you’ll love how it looks as it trails down from its pot.

 GET YOUR OWN HEALTHY STRING OF BANANAS NOW!

Photo credits: 

• The Spruce / Krystal Slagle
• @thriftygrrl