Orange peels can help keep aphids away and protect your plants when you use them in a natural pest repelling spray. Just add the peels to a spray bottle and fill with hot water. It is safe on plants and a more natural, chemical free way to repel bugs.

You know that last bit of coffee that always seems to be left in the carafe? Don’t just pour it down the drain — you can use it to fertilize your container-grown plants. Coffee grounds (and brewed coffee) are a source of nitrogen for plants, which is the nutrient that produces healthy green growth and strong stems.

Banana peels are good fertilizer because of what they do not contain. They contain absolutely no nitrogen. This means potassium-rich banana peels are excellent for plants like tomatoes, peppers or flowers. Banana peels also contain calcium, which prevents blossom end rot in tomatoes.

You cannot grow a banana tree from a commercially cultivated banana fruit. But, you can procure the seeds from a supplier to propagate a banana tree.

Ah, the elusive Gros Michel banana. It’s difficult to find Gros Michel bananas in North America because they can’t be produced commercially anymore due to a fun fungus called Panama disease.

Bananas and plantains(cultivar of Musa) are propagated vegetatively rather than sexually because nearly all cultivated varieties are seedless, and fruits develop parthenocarpically (in the absence of seed development).

You need not worry about banana tree roots damaging the foundations of your home, sidewalks, or even your underground water lines. While the size and reach of the root system may be substantial, it will not cause damage to your home or infrastructure, unlike many other trees.

Wait until the flower stalk has plump fruit that is full size, but still green, before you cut the remainder of the flower stalk.

Dividing banana plants should be done only when the pup being divided has grown to at least a foot (0.3 m.) Pups that are removed from the parent plant before they develop their own roots are not likely to survive. To separate banana plants, gently remove the soil around the plant’s roots and sucker.

You may allow the flower stalk to grow or cut it off just below the bunch of developing bananas. Bananas generally take four to six months for fruit to reach full size after flowering, depending on temperature, variety, moisture and culture practices.