Note: Banana leaves are huge and can sometimes get crinkled in shipping. Simply remove any damaged or worn leaves to stimulate the growth of new leaves. During the growing season, you'll see fresh new leaves appear every few days.

1. Planting: Place your Basjoo Banana plant in a warm, sunny spot that has good protection from high winds. Ample sun (6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day) is necessary in order to encourage the giant banana leaves to reach their full growth potential, as well as well-drained soil.

When you're ready to plant, select a site that’s large enough to support the mature size of your Basjoo Banana. Dig the hole to the depth and width necessary to accommodate the root system—typically twice as wide as and slightly deeper than the root ball. Before setting your plant, loosen any tangled roots by hand to separate them and encourage rapid growth. Gently fill the hole and tamp the soil working around the plant with your feet.

To help retain moisture, apply organic mulch around the base of the tree and water to settle the roots.

2. Watering: The Basjoo, like other Hardy Banana Trees loves moist, well-draining soil. Ensure you're watering your Basjoo once or twice weekly - but if you're not sure when to water, check the soil about 2 or 3 inches down...if the soil is dry here, it's time to water.

3. Fertilizing: Like water, Basjoo requires more fertilization than the typical garden plant in order to supply key nutrients continuously throughout the growing season. A layer of compost at the base of the plant applied every 2 weeks should do the trick. We recommend a 28-8-16 water soluble fertilizer. Look for new leaf growth about every 5 to 7 days as a guide to proper application.

Tips: Place wire mesh protection around the base of your plant if animals are eating your plants. Protect leaves from shredding by providing adequate shelter from winds.