Banana Plants Love 'em! Updated 3/27/12

[Aquarist]

Good morning,

Below are two photos of some of my Banana Plants. They are doing great. Some of them have leaves larger than a 50 cent piece and 6" tall. I have a total of 13 of them in my 33g long and all of them are doing great.

I'm considering adding more.

They seem to be a very hardy little plant.

 

[wisecrackerz]

Those really are quite attractive plants, Ken. Do you fertilize or provide any special lighting? Does your BN bother them at all?

 

[Fall River]

They really are cool looking. Do they root into the substrate or just sit on the surface?

 

[James95]

They root into the substrate. I have a couple from my Lfs. Really cool plants and very hardy!

 

[cletus]

I've seen them before and almost got some. They are so neat looking.

 

[Gamer]

I honestly think they're the most attractive aquatic plant I've seen. I really love the look of them. The bottom that resembles a minI bunch of bananas and then the lily pad like leaves on them. I have a few in my 29, not as good as yours. But hope they take off better soon.

 

[allaboutfish]

I like them but don't at the same time. the banana looking things stand out too much in a planted tank. after a couple weeks in my tank mine already have the pads at the top of my 55.

 

[Aquarist]

Thanks!

I haven't had any issues with these plants and my BN Pleco. Yes, they eventually root into the substrate.

For fertilizer I dose with Flora Pride every two weeks and I use SeaChem Flourish Root Tabs.

My lighting is a T5 HO 28W, 1 bulb. Tank dimensions are in my Aquarium Info.

Here is some more information on them:


I'm glad to hear that AllAboutFish! I hope mine continue to do as well. I've read about the lily pad that can shoot way up to the top of the tank.

Thanks again! I hope to add more tomorrow, depending on if I can get them at the PetCo. If not, I'll have to wait. Hopefully they will have some before my $5 coupon expires.

Ken

 

[soltarianknight]

Honestly, they are always all over the LFS, my issue is that I only have about .8watts per gallon on my tank XD. Think I could pull it of?

 

[Aquarist]

Hello,

I can only suggest that you try 1 or 2 of the plants and see what happens.

They are fairly inexpensive.

Ken

 

[ZeeZ]

I can never get my banana plants to stay alive for more than a few months. I have good success with other plants but for some reason, banana plants just don't like me, I guess.

Maybe I should try again...

 

[soltarianknight]

Hello,

I can only suggest that you try 1 or 2 of the plants and see what happens.

They are fairly inexpensive.

Ken

$8 per plant at my lfs(any plant though) I might ask to try one. Their lighting in their is less then substandard.

 

[wisecrackerz]

Hmmm, that's good news! I'll have to recommend them to my bf for his new tank; with those sturdy roots and tall leaves, it looks like those could make a betta and some cory rescues pretty happy

 

[James95]

$8 a plant is VERY pricey. The ones at my lfs are about $2-4 each depending on size.

 

[Dino]

Gasp. I used to sell 20+ leaf plants for 5$.

 

[allaboutfish]

Hmmm, that's good news! I'll have to recommend them to my bf for his new tank; with those sturdy roots and tall leaves, it looks like those could make a betta and some cory rescues pretty happy

bettas love em, mine rested on the lily pads.

 

[Brainlady]

I love them! I have them in all my tanks, the leaves are so pretty and I have a little 'forest' of them in with my Endlers to hide in.
Ken, the leaves of yours look greener than mine... great pictures and makes me think I should add fertilizer.

 

[Aquarist]

Good morning,

The Banana Plants are only $2.79 at Live Aquaria.com $8...a bit high. 10 of the ones I have came from there too.

Harpua2002 has them for sale in the Buy/Sell/Trade section. If my PetCo doesn't have them today, I'll order some from her. I've always been pleased with everything I've purchased from her, fish and plants.

Thanks!

Ken

 

[Fall River]

+1 for Harpua. I just read her fishroom build the other day. Very impressive, and I plan to support her as much as I can in the future.

 

[Aquarist]

Banana Plants/Updated Photos

Good morning,

Some new Banana Plant photos. These plants are growing amazingly well.

To get the photos, the tank lights were off, room lights were dimmed and I used a flash.

Fertilizers:
I use SeaChem Flourish Root Tabs
Flora Pride every 10 days. I change 50% of the water in this tank every 5 days.

My lighting is T5 HO 28W 6700K

This tank is only 13" deep.

Tallest leaves are about 7" to 8" and the leaves are just about double the size of a 50 cent piece.

Ken

 

[Lucy]

They look really great Ken!

 

[soltarianknight]

I'm going to get a few next week, we shall see how they manage in my low light and moderate light tanks.

 

[Aquarist]

Thanks Lucy!

It took the plants several weeks before the couple of leaves started growing so tall. I have 11 other banana plants in the same tank that I added a couple of weeks later and they haven't taken off as well, but they are growing and sprouting new leaves. I haven't lost the first banana plant to date.

Ken

 

[Dino]

They are a very tough plant.
I love them too!

 

[Aquarist]

HI Dino

This tank being my first ever heavily planted tank, I'm loving it!

Ken

 

[Dino]

Planted tanks bring an added joy to fishkeeping for me.
Since I am interested in both plants and animals ( which is why my degree is in biology, rather than anything more specific) a planted tank covers both.
Then with my geology interest, the rocks I add to a tank also covers that.
Then, reading, which I do ALOT.
So, keeping a planted tank combines many aspects of my life.

 

[Aquarist]

Very good points of view Dino and I understand.

Now I can garden in my aquarium and not have to deal with 100's of mosquito bites gardening outside. LOL I'm a mosquito magnet!

Ken

 

[Dino]

While they usually do not bother me, both my mom and her youngest sister are magnets as well.
I think the stink of reindeer, keeps them at bay.

 

[Aquarist]

Banana Plant Going to Bloom?

Good morning,

New growth on Banana Plants. Notice the tall stalk with a slightly thicker top but no leaf. I think it is getting ready to bloom but I'm not certain. These are my very first Banana Plants. This stalk has shot up in just 7 days and it's already almost as tall as the tallest stalk with a leaf.

The leafless stalk is best seen in the 2nd photo.

I read that the plant will bloom/white/4 to 5 petals on the bloom.

I took the photos using a flash and the tank lights on. Too, you can see that the KerrI Tetras really are blue

Thanks for looking and for any responses that you may have.

Ken

 

[pirahnah3]

Looks like some happy plants from my point of view.

 

[Akari_32]

Happy plants! =D

They look amazing! All you use are Flourish tabs, and FlouraPride?

I've already seen a big difference in my plants, after just a week of using LeafZone (with Flourish tabs). They're a lot greener, and younger plants are growing at light speed Its so fun watching plants grow from day to day, especially when the are about to flower, like yours =D

 

[Aquarist]

Good morning,

Thanks for the replies!

Yes, I only use Flora Pride liquid fert and SeaChem Flourish Root tabs.

The stalk has grown even more now. I expect it to reach the top of the tank very SOON.

All of my water for water changes is prefiltered, heated, and treated with water conditioners in a separate 29 gallon tank. I have also added Peat Pellets into the filter of the 29 gallon and the 33g tank itself.

Peat Moss is great for outdoor plants, so I have to believe it is doing my aquarium plants a world of good too.

Thanks again!

Ken

 

[Akari_32]

Oooh, peat moss! That's a good idea! I might have to try that....

Stems with flowers grow really fast. I like watching them grow through out the day

 

[Chicken farmer]

nice banana plants!!!!!!! I just bought 1 from petco yesterday. I really like it. hope it makes it.

will they regrow leaves if they come off or not? I saw some at petco with no leaves, just wondering.

 

[Akari_32]

nice banana plants!!!!!!! I just bought 1 from petco yesterday. I really like it. hope it makes it.

will they regrow leaves if they come off or not? I saw some at petco with no leaves, just wondering.

Plants need leaves to do photosynthesis, to make their food, to live. So, yes, they will

 

[Chicken farmer]

hmm, I wonder if they could give them away for free? because they probably throw them away since no one want a plant with out leaves.

 

[Akari_32]

hmm, I wonder if they could give them away for free? because they probably throw them away since no one want a plant with out leaves.

Just ask

 

[James95]

Actually, most banana plants arrive at the stores without any leaves. Stores usually order the bare root (the little bananas) and let the leaves grow in the store or when you take them home to your tank.

 

[Aquarist]

Good morning,

Mine were very tiny and only had 2 or 3 new leaves on them when I purchased them.

Yes, cut the dead leaves off and new ones will grow in its place.

Ken

 

[Jaysee]

I like how you can scroll through all the pics in the thread without reading the thread.

Not that I didn't want to read your thread ken I just wanted to see what banana plants looked like.

 

[Aquarist]

Understood JaySee

I hope to be posting photos of the bloom before long.

Ken

 

[LockedBox]

Hey those look nice! Do you think a crayfish would destroy them if given the chance?

 

[Aquarist]

HI LockedBox,

I've never kept crayfish, but I've read information that they may very well uproot plants in a planted aquarium. Check out the link below:



Ken

 

[LockedBox]

Oh yeah that I know, when I got him I had a fully planted tank, he took great delight in devouring them all. The consensus seems to be that they will leave some plants alone though, so I'm trying to feel around and find out which plants those are.

 

[Aquarist]

LockedBox,

Create a thread in the link below and ask your question. Maybe someone that has had crayfish and banana plants will respond.



Ken

 

[Aquarist]

New Stalk At Water Line/New Photos

I just turned on the fish room lights to check the plant.

Tank lights are off and I used a flash.

The stalk is now to the top of the tank. So it actually grew 12 to 13"s in 8 days or so. I'm excited to see what happens next. arty0011:

Ken

 

[Lucy]

Wow Ken! They really grew fast and look great!

 

[Aquarist]

Thanks Lucy!

Ken

 

[Akari_32]

I've had a Lily grow over an inch an hour one day. It was so cool! Grew like 7 or 8 inches in 5 hours! Can't wait to see pics of the bloom! =D

 

[Aquarist]

Good morning,

Wow! It's really growing! Still waiting on a bloom.

Ken