How to Grow Banana Shrub (Michelia figo) at Home and Fertilizing Tips

Today we introduce the "banana shrub" (Michelia figo), an evergreen small tree from the mallow family (Malvaceae). After it blooms it carries a light fragrance and at the same time has an elegant posture, making it very popular on the flower market.

How do you care for a banana shrub you have bought? It originates from tropical regions, so it has relatively high temperature requirements; if the temperature is too high or too low it will directly affect its growth. Its suitable growing temperature is 18 to 28 degrees Celsius. In winter, when caring for it, be sure to move it indoors to avoid the flowers being damaged by freezing. In summer, because there is a lot of light and it is relatively intense, at this time you should promptly place the plant in a relatively shady spot, and wait until the sun is almost setting before putting it out again. Doing this ensures sufficient light and also prevents the leaves from being scorched and wilting due to overly strong light.

In terms of humidity, plants that originate from tropical regions generally like a moist environment, and during their growing period the soil must be kept moist. In autumn, when it is relatively dry, pay attention to maintaining air humidity; when necessary, you can use a spray bottle to spray water around it to increase the air humidity.

In terms of watering, the banana shrub needs appropriate watering, and the best soil condition is slightly moist. If you want it to grow relatively well, before watering you can first feel the condition of the soil and only water once you have confirmed it is dry. When watering, do not pour it down from above the flowers; instead, slowly irrigate from beside the flower pot, letting the soil absorb it slowly as much as possible. After watering, also check whether there is standing water in the bottom of the pot; if there is, promptly drain out the excess water to prevent its roots from soaking in water and rotting.

If you want the banana shrub to grow normally, fertilizer nutrients are indispensable. If it does not absorb nutrients well, then with this kind of care it is likely to develop yellow leaves and have a shortened flowering period. Therefore it is recommended to apply decomposed organic fertilizer once every half month, such as soybean cake water or chicken manure water. Doing this can balance the nutrition, and it is also relatively mild and easy for the plant to absorb. However, note that fertilization should be stopped in summer and winter to avoid fertilizer damage.

If you want the plant to grow healthily, then pruning the flowering branches is also essential. Generally speaking, it can be done according to the plant's growth or personal preference. The pruning targets are some weak branches, leggy branches, overly dense branches, and so on. After pruning, ventilation can be increased and the growth of new branches promoted.