A hanging succulent plant called String of Bananas with bizarre-looking foliage. With the season-long growth of banana leaves in hues like yellow, green, and white, it has gained popularity. It is ideal for wall planters because of its tiny leaves and trailing stems. The balcony is the greatest place for it to thrive and look lovely. Place these in a nursery planter (which are well shaped and equal sized).
This plant’s ability to establish a new long stem by touching its stem to the ground and growing a new root is what makes it special. Curio radicans, sometimes known as the “String of Bananas,” is a superb succulent plant that requires little maintenance. They belong to the aster family and were found in South Africa. Asteraceae is the family name, and USDA hardiness zones 10 to 12 apply.
| Scientific Name | Curio radicans |
| Plant Type | Perennial, Trailing |
| Common Names | Bananas plant, String of Bananas, Banana plant |
| Length | Over 34 inches |
| Bloom | Mid Spring |
| Growth Rate | Faster |
| Leaf Shape | Banana look |
| Environment | Indoor/outdoors |
| Light Requirements | Partial Shade |
| Propagation | Stem Cuttings |
| Water Propagation | Possible |
| Watering | 1-2 Weeks |
| Soil | Well draining and nutrient rich |
| Toxicity | YES |
Table of Contents
String of Bananas Care
Care for a banana string The first necessity is to prevent their soil from becoming wet, so be careful not to overwater them in the winter. If a succulent is placed in a warm area in the summer, too much sunshine is another problem. These plants don’t need much water in the winter because they can withstand drought. Always check the soil’s dryness by touching an inch of it; if it’s still wet, wait until the following day to water.
Avoid fertilizer throughout the winter because they don’t like it, and only use plant-based fertilizer and dilute solutions if you notice that your succulent’s growth is slow. The plant fertilizer I use is shown here. There may be a dormant period in the winter when they don’t grow much and spend the majority of their time sleeping. During this season, they merely need water to keep their soil moist.
Additionally, pruning shouldn’t be done at this time because they can experience shock and be unable to recover. Here are some recommendations for caring for string of bananas, one of the greatest indoor plants:
Pests and Diseases
Although it’s extremely unlikely that your string of bananas will have pests, if your succulent plant does, use a pesticide or insecticide to eradicate any mealybugs or aphids.
Soil
Since succulent plants prefer moist soil over soggy soil, the soil in String of Bananas should be well-drained and not remain damp. There is soil mix specifically designed for succulents and cacti that can help you get better outcomes.
further giving it all the nourishment it requires.
You can get this online here. I also use this succulent soil mixture, and it works great. With this mixture, the problem of rotting roots will be resolved, and water will drain perfectly. Perlite can also be used to solve further drainage problems.
Size
When growing succulents like string of bananas, you should be aware of the appropriate pot size and use one that is 2′′ larger after the stems are long enough. This plant was offered for sale in pots ranging in size from 3 to 6 inches. About 4 to 6 feet can be the trailing length.
Water
Although they want moist soil, you shouldn’t water it frequently because they do. Watering should only be applied indoors when the soil is fully dry. Always check to see if the ground is damp.
Water needs to be kept to a minimum throughout the winter because plants are dormant. Additionally, you can spray some after a week or two without harming the plant.
Growth Rate
Banana strings typically expand quickly when left outside in some shade. As a result of its following receiving so much light exposure, it spreads quickly. Though still moderate, its growth rate is better than that of other succulents.
Temperature
Generally Succulents can thrive in a typical home environment and grow perfectly. Growing succulents outside may be difficult in colder regions or during the winter because the temperature is lower at those times and they risk freezing.
The ideal temperature range for a string of bananas is between 50 and 70 °F. Avoid letting the temperature go below 40 to 45 °F as the plant may freeze or have other problems.
Light
They require only a little light. You may have heard this on every platform, but a string of bananas needs partial shade where it receives some sunshine for about 2-4 hours, preferably only in the morning.
If it receives direct sunshine, it will burn or overgrow. Succulents thrive in this environment, but they risk getting burned, and you will see their tips turning brown.
When it’s sunny, it may look like there’s a drought since more people need to water because they forgot. It is best to grow them next to windows rather than in direct sunshine.
Propagation
Anyone can propagate a string of bananas because it is simple to do so. Please read the article below for the complete technique and remember to take a 5–6 inch stem for optimum results.
Repotting
Even if it’s simple, following some suggestions will help. Perlite makes it simple for the soil to come out. When the plant has completely dried, try repotting. Please see the article below for my complete repotting approach.
Pruning
Pruning can be carried out and is necessary to control the overgrown stems. If you want a certain trail to grow longer, it may even be a good idea to remove the smaller stems in order to encourage the growth of the other stem.
Uses
It served as decoration by being placed on bookcases, ledges, etc. They might be given a seat in the kitchen or dining room. This plant has gorgeous hanging stems that complement the green leaves beautifully.
Fertilizer
The majority of succulents don’t need fertilizer, and if they do, it shouldn’t be used over the winter. These can be used once a month during the spring or summer growing season. I use this Miracle Gro fertilizer for succulent plants because it was created especially for such plants.
Worm compost is another option you have. By adding it (10–15% only) to your current soil, it will improve airflow and drainage for the string of banana roots. It works best for me when I use Jim’s Worm Compost.
Propagate String of bananas plant
Only if the plant is healthy can stem cuttings be used to reproduce string banana plants, ensuring that new strings of bananas are free from disease. This succulent can be grown in both soil and water. Despite the fact that these plants require around 2-3 weeks to truly show any rooted, people who propagate them in water have observed rapid growth in only about 2 weeks. Change the water daily or every two days to prevent bacterial illnesses.
If you grow them in soil after propagation, it will take at least 15 days to notice any process, but once rooted begins, they will live healthily. Because soil has the nourishment that compost provides and because it fulfills the needs that succulents have, it is an excellent way to cultivate them. Although water can provide some minerals, well-drained soil is where it gets the majority of its macronutrients. Ensure that the growing pot has the necessary openings so that it won’t become trapped in wet soil.
Steps for growing a string of bananas include:
1 . Use a Clean Cutting Tool.
Take a healthy stem off a string of bananas and cut it off. Cut the stem, which should be 5 to 7 inches long.
2 . Pinch off Base leaves.
Remove the banana leaves, which should be about 2 inches long, starting at the base.
3 . Prepare Soil.
Now You can prepare the soil in one of the two techniques listed below, and I’ve specified how much of each you should use to create a well-drained soil.
50% ground soil, 30% sand, and 20% perlite, all thoroughly mixed.
OR
30% succulent and cactus potting mix, 20% perlite, and 50% soil are thoroughly mixed.
3 . Lay the Base of the Stem on Soil.
It’s time to lay the cutting on the ground now. The portion of the banana leaf you remove can be sown inside the soil. There are where the roots will grow.
4 . Water it and keep it moist for some days.
This plant needs moisture because it has no roots and needs water to become moist in order to establish roots. A string of bananas can benefit from routine watering.
5 . Enjoy.
New banana succulent plants can be effectively propagated.
String of Bananas Pruning
This can be done to manage the excessive growth of banana strings. Some individuals prefer to maintain the hanging growth, so they clip the smaller stems that will eventually grow into the longer stems.
The longer stem will grow even longer as a result of the easier access to the nutrients at its tip. Pruning is also used to get rid of pest-infected stems and sick or pale leaves.
If your plant ever experiences these conditions, which is actually very seldom, you can use a pesticide or fungicide.
Repotting String of Bananas
Although they have healthy stems and roots, repotting a string of bananas is simple and doesn’t have to damage the plant’s root structure. When repotting, it’s a positive sign that the plant is healthy if the primary roots are white or light brown.
The procedures for repotting a string of bananas are as follows:
1 . Remove the pale drought looking leaves from base.
Pinch off all of the leaves at the base that are pale, ill, dry, or shriveled first. Make sure to get rid of any faded-looking leaves.
2 . Gently flip the Pot and Take out Whole Succulent out.
It will now be simple to remove the plant from the pot and transfer it to the new one if you flip it over.
3 . Add Additional Soil and Fill the pot.
To fill in the gaps, you can prepare standard Soil for Orchid Potting mix and fill the entire pot from all sides. It receives more soil and fertilizer in larger pots, which can meet its needs.
4 . Water it.
Now that it has been replanted, it is time to water it and keep it wet so that it can recover from the shock.
5 . Enjoy and Care.
You have reported the succulent; now, monitor its development. If there is a problem with the leaves, they can need some sunshine or fertilizer.
They both come from the same family, so don’t be confused by the names; the smaller succulent is known as a string of bananas, while the larger succulent is known as a fish hook. Despite being termed fish hooks in both instances, the plants are actually both Senecio radicans.
While the rope of bananas is entirely green, the line of fish hooks has a blueish hue that occasionally appears to be green. Fish hook plants are succulent and have extremely thin leaves, whereas banana strings are larger than these and resemble banana fruits in that they have more juice and body fat in their leaves.
If you ever become confused, place both on a table and you’ll see that the string of fish hooks is larger but thinner, and the string of bananas is thicker but smaller.
Since they both look the same and can only be distinguished as succulents if they are placed on a table for inspection, many people confused this plant with another.
Similar propagation and pruning techniques are used on fish hooks and banana plants, and repotting is also carried out in a string of fish hooks.
String of bananas Sunlight
Heavy sunlight that falls directly on plants doesn’t sit well with these succulents. To flourish, they require filtered or partial sunshine. Additionally, if you want to expose them to sunlight, limit its exposure to no more than a couple of hours each day to prevent burns.
String of bananas flower
They feature long stemmed, white flowers. Although they don’t smell and float in a curved shape, they are attractive. In the winter, flowers can be seen; they often take place outside. Rarely does it bloom when grown indoors.
String of bananas aerial Roots
It is a problem that can be rectified with a little care, so the first thing you should do is make sure the plant is receiving enough water. If not, roots may have begun to develop in unexpected areas where they shouldn’t have, as a result of the lack of moisture.
Why do aerial roots, which originate from their own stem and should grow inside soil, instead emerge above it and with exposed stems? In this situation, either you are overwatering the plant or there may not be enough macronutrients.
That is easily attainable from liquid plant food; click here to purchase. If they aren’t getting water, you can also fix the problem by providing them ordinary water. Simply emerging from the stem in quest of water, roots.
If the other two problems are not with your plant, you must also provide them with nice, suitable partial sunlight.
Once you learn that the roots are white or pinkish in color, you will be able to identify them with ease.
String of Bananas growing Upwards
There are relatively few instances where a string of bananas is perceived to be growing upward; in these cases, there is no difficulty or other reason; rather, the bananas are just going to a spot with more of this type of intense light.
If not, the succulents would all continue to dangle from the basket. They appear extremely nice. If you have these sprouting upward, it is uncommon and magical.
How much light does a string of bananas need?
The leaves of the banana trees should not be exposed to sunlight for longer than two to three hours at a time. The best advice is to provide banana trees a bright, bearable morning light that doesn’t damage their foliage. Banana strings often develop in partial indirect sunlight; if exposed to excessive sunshine, they coil up and becoming dry, brown, and yellow.
Given that the afternoon sun has higher heat and can harm our string of bananas, many people think it would be best to give them a few hours of sunlight before returning to shade. My suggestion is to put them in a North-facing window where they can get the least amount of light and see if that works best for them for a few days. If not, move them.
Additionally, if your banana plant is flourishing in a specific spot, leave it alone and relocate your other plants there. It won’t experience any shock as it shifts its location. As long as you take gentle care, you might observe some banana plants that grow well.
How fast does string of bananas grow?
The growth rate is substantially more rapid when only a little bright light is provided. Additionally, you can use a stem cut from a string of bananas; otherwise, it would take longer for the root to form.
Can you trim string of bananas?
Yes, you can prune a banana string to promote growth. By pruning the smaller stem, you help the other longer stems grow, allowing them to live much longer. To make it healthy, also cut off the unhealthy stems.
how often to water string of bananas
Since they are succulent, string of bananas only require water every two to three weeks. Alternatively, check the soil by inserting your index finger approximately 2 inches into it and feeling for dryness; if not, do not add water. Bananas are not watered every two to three days to cause the root to rot.
When watering a string of bananas, the location of the plant is crucial. If the plant is growing in partial sun and receives 2-4 hours of sunlight each day, water will be required in 5–6 days. Banana growers indoors might wait 14–15 days before checking the soil and watering it.
If there is light inside the home, the soil may dry, although it is difficult to do so. If the soil does dry due to fans, you might need to provide water sooner rather than later. Additionally, this plant adapts if you fail to water it. It will continue to develop for a few days, but if you give it water, more gorgeous banana leaves will grow.
Is banana water good for succulents?
As many people have heard, bananas are good for humans. In the same manner, banana juice and the fruit’s outer layer are both necessary and can work as fertilizer, providing plants with a wealth of nutrients. Banana peels may function as plant food when they deteriorate.
How do you revive a banana string?
With its well-drained soil and 2-4 hours of direct sunlight, banana string can be rejuvenated. Stems that are ailing or old can be pruned. You can remove some of the leaves that appear faded or pale.