The String of Banana Plant Care | Unconventional Knowledge

If you have a particular interest in botany, especially in peculiar plants, and you seem to be a big succulent lover. In that case, we are here to give you the perfect addition to your garden: Not only do these succulents look lovely and beautiful and produce fascinating fragrant flowers, but the growth of them is effortless. The temperature is natural and believes us; we could not fight either. So in this discussion, we will discuss a string of banana plant care. 

It will be a perfect guide to a string of banana plants, everything you will need to know, essential tips for growing and caring for “Senecio Radicans” Succulents. These are the species that belong to the Asteraceae family, having flowering succulents. This plant usually grows in desert areas, at the bottom of the rock, and native to South Africa. There are several names for this plant, like a string of banana, Banana Vine, Necklace Plant, Creeping Berry, and Fish hooks.

String of Banana

A string of banana plants is closely connected to the String of pearls, Curio Hallianus. These plants are one of the best choices to grow for most gardeners, especially beginners, and are considered as low- maintenance house plants. 

Moreover, these succulent plants have a splendid look in gardens, pots, hanging baskets, landscape decorations, and beautiful pieces of nature.

Keep your eyes on reading to know how you can do the String of banana propagation in water, growing and watering banana succulents.

• The scientific name of banana succulent is Senecio, in Latin, means older man. Most probably because of their hanging feature and lazy stems.
• A banana plant origin is from South Africa and is often grown along with ground covers with other plant species.
• Senecio Radicans give a lovely look if grown in the arrangements of Rosette-patterned succulents.
• A banana string can handle the hot temperature, bright sunlight, and warm environments like other desert species.
• The succulent plants require a perfect medium like well-draining soil, but the pots must have drainage holes in the base when grown indoors. For getting the best result, the pot of the plant should be dipped in the water, 25% submerged, to provide a high hydration and absorption level. 
• It would help if you opted for fertilizers that are low in nitrogen but rich in potassium and phosphorous, as they need feedings occasionally regularly reporting after every 2 to 3 years.
• These succulents need regular watering if the soil is dry and can store large amounts of water to make them drought tolerant.
• The plants are detrimental to health if ingested, so it is better to grow them where dogs and cats cannot reach leaves and stems.
• The banana succulents have 1250 species of small climbers, trees, shrubs, and aquatics. 

More Features are;

• This plant is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. 
• The succulent plant grows well in summer months, has banana-shaped leaves, and forms large carpets or slender stems’ waterfalls.
• Senecio Radicans can grow up to 2 feet, also considered evergreen, but prostrate stems can grow up to 3 feet in length and 0.08 to 0.12 inches in diameter.
• They are flexible, green in color, and succulent too.
• The leaves are shiny enough, fleshy, and dispersed on stems.
• The String of bananas can grow upward, and its leaves are banana-shaped and curved.
• They show the shades of green to a blue color when erected.
• The leaves are somewhat spherical and identical to banana shape, and sides are partially glowing, allowing absorbing direct sunlight.
• The String of bananas displays a few inflorescences during their blooming period from late winter to early spring.
• The clusters of flowers consist of 1 to 4 small flowers that show white, yellow, and lavender colors.
• Their sweet fragrance is like cinnamon, and the flowers are like paintbrushes and not too impressive.
• They resemble too much with the other hanging plants like a string of pearls—a string of turtles, a string of dolphins, and a string of hearts.

How to Care String of Banana

Yes! No doubt we all love succulents. Not only do they have attractive foliage patterns, but the growing process and taking care is also straightforward. If you can manage the temperature, environmental needs, natural home, the fuzzy banana succulent will cause you no worry on the way.

Instructions 

• First of all, you should take the precaution of the location where you want to grow it.
• If the temperature at that place is below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, you should better grow it in a pot placed according to temperature so that you can protect it from the extreme weather conditions and make it alive and fresh.
• If we talk about humidity, if it is greater than 50 % to 60%, watering so much can cause problems for you.
• When the plant gets more bright and indirect sunlight, it can flourish more in most cases.
• If you grow them indoors, put the pots where they can get more sunlight in the morning and some shade in the afternoon.
• It will help if you keep your succulents in the bright place of your homes.
• The north-facing windows and near east south are the perfect places where they cannot get indirect sunlight. If we talk about the String of banana vs. fish hook, these plants can grow in the high light area near the south or west window, and you should keep them away from bright sun or hot glass, it can burn in it, and this issue makes them a bit different from banana succulents. 
• Senecio Radicans can grow well where the temperature is less than 50 degrees, but like the other desert species, they can do well even in scorching temperatures. 
• The succulents can also flourish at room temperature if stored indoors; however, they prefer temperatures from 50 to 55 during the sleeping period.

Watering of the String of Banana

Senecio Radicans are like other succulents so that if we water them at moderate levels, they can grow well.

• If you overwater them, your plant may get root rot, so you should be careful.
• This plant consists of plenty of succulent stems and leaves makes them tolerant for drought conditions for more extended periods. You could say that your plant will forgive you if you forgot to water them.
• You should adopt the soak and dry method to water your succulents to get the best results.
• Check the soil periodically, in between watering, to avoid overwatering the banana string plants.
• When you notice that your soil has become dried, it means that they need to be soaked in enough water. 
• Removal of excess water is essential because your plant does not like waterlogging and soggy conditions.

Propagation of String of Bananas

You cannot even imagine that the propagation of the String of bananas is relatively very easy. The most common propagation method is through stem cuttings, as this is as good to grow a healthy baby plant.

No doubt most of the gardeners fail in doing so rather have fun, but few of them can offer you a 100% price of the succulent plant but do not give the cost of shipping.   

• You should cut 2 inches of the succulent leaves for better growth.
• While propagating, you should not dig lower leaves in the soil.
• The cut pieces should be kept in a warm and shaded place.
• The cuttings are ready to plant after 3 to 7 days once they hardened well.

The String of Banana Plant Care: FAQ Section

How much sun does a string of bananas need?

The String of banana succulents needs bright, direct light if grown indoors. You should choose a location that can receive up to 6-hours of sunlight in a whole day.

It can also do well in undergrown lights so this all about the String of banana plant care.

How do you take care of the banana string plant?

You can take care of banana string by planting the stem in a container filled with coarse potting soil; make sure that the box has a drainage hole in the bottom, as it is likely to rot in soggy and poorly drained soil. Place the plant in lightly moist soil but not in soggy until you see the indication of healthy growth and cutting is successfully rooted.

Why is my String of bananas dying?

The most common reason for dying banana string plant and getting brown color is sun damage or sunburn. It means that your plant is getting plenty of light. The String of banana is looking shrove, dry, turns brown, will become mushy, and ultimately will turn black due to rot.

Conclusion

To end this topic, I will say that there is no solid reason to turn your back on this fantastic precious houseplant! If you give a little attention to it, it can show significant results, as it is a drought-tolerant succulent. Either way, your efforts will be fruitful to grow lovely fragranced flowers or banana-shaped foliage leaves. Thanks to the most effortless propagation process, to say this plant is somehow mortal.

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