No matter how careful you are with your plants, unexpected issues can arise now and then. Environmental causes are the leading factor in most cases, such as changes in weather and the amount of sunlight the room receives.
Even though a string of bananas is one of the sturdier plants when it comes to surviving in harsh conditions, they too can be affected by their fair share of problems at times.
Despite their capability of surviving specifically well in dry conditions, the string of bananas plants suddenly drying up is an issue we have been observing and hearing about lately, which is what we will be talking about today.
So, what can cause a string of bananas to dry up, and how can you save it?
The two primary factors that can cause a string of bananas to dry up are underwatering and sunburn due to overexposure to direct sunlight.
To save your string of bananas from drying further, immediately move it to a shadier area, mist it with water, and check the soil for signs of dryness. If the soil is dry, water your string of bananas immediately.
As it’s hard to tell what’s exactly causing your string of bananas to dry up, we will be going into detail about the possible causes, the signs they come with, and the appropriate course of action to take to save your plant for each separate case.
Table of Contents
Why Is My String of Bananas Drying Up?
While the string of bananas is a plant that can handle dry environments very well, it can also eventually dry up, just like any other plant, if the conditions are too severe.
The most likely reason behind a string of bananas drying up is sunburn, in which case you will notice that some of the leaves are becoming brown, dry, and shriveled.
As sunburn is most likely to affect the upper leaves closest to the window side, if only these leaves are drying up, whereas the lower leaves away from the sun are doing well, it’s an undeniable sign of sunburn in almost all cases.
In more severe cases, sunburn can present itself in the form of brown or black spots on the leaves, which is another thing to look out for, and a confirmation that sunburn is indeed the reason behind your string of bananas drying up.
The other reason behind a string of bananas drying up is underwatering, in which case, the drying will start from the lower leaves and gradually make its way to the upper leaves.
In the case of underwatering, you will notice that the leaves and stems dry up, the plant growth becomes stunted, the soil becomes dry to the touch, the leaves start yellowing and wilting, and may even fall off.
As both underwatering and sunburn are problems that can quickly kill your plant, we highly recommend reacting as soon as possible if you observe any of these signs on your string of bananas.
How to Save a String of Bananas That Is Drying Up?
Saving a string of bananas that is drying up requires immediate attention and identification of the problem.
Here are the preliminary steps we recommend taking to understand what’s wrong with your string of bananas.
- Start by moving your string of bananas from the sunlight to a shadier area.
- Check the moisture status of the soil by sticking your finger into it. If the soil feels completely dry, even in the deeper areas, skip the next step and start treating your string of bananas for underwatering as quickly as possible.
- If the soil is wet enough, try to find a pattern between the affected areas. Upper leaves closer to the window being more affected is a sign of sunburn, whereas lower leaves, or all the leaves of your plant drying up (especially at the tips) and wilting points towards underwatering.
Moving on, we will be talking about the actions we recommend taking to treat your string of bananas both for underwatering and sunburn.
First, let’s talk about what you should do to save an underwatered string of bananas.
The best thing you can do to save an underwatered plant is to water it as soon as possible and mist it leaves to hydrate it the quickest way you can.
As the soil staying dry for too long can cause it to clump up and prevent it from distributing the water properly, it’s also a good idea to check the soil thoroughly for these clumps and break them.
Finally, here is what you should do if your plant is suffering from sunburn.
If you haven’t already, start by moving your string of bananas to a shadier location as quickly as possible.
Afterward, cut the leaves that are completely dried out to promote new growth, as the dried leaves only end up causing the nutrients of your plant to go to waste.
If you had to prune many leaves, you should also water your string of bananas less than usual, as it won’t need as much water as before.
How Often Should You Water String of Bananas?
A string of bananas isn’t a plant that requires a lot of water, where the risk of overwatering is far greater than underwatering.
The best way to find out how often you should water your string of bananas is to check the moisture status of your soil with your finger and water your plant when the soil feels dry.
We don’t recommend using watering schedules as it may take different amounts of time for the water to dry, depending on the environment.
How Much Light Does String of Bananas Need?
A string of bananas plant enjoys bright, direct sunlight, but you shouldn’t expose it to direct sunlight for long periods either, as such a scenario can cause your plant to become sunburnt despite it being quite resistant to sunlight and dry environments in general.
We recommend allowing your string of bananas to get at least six hours of bright sunlight during the day, preferably spaced as evenly as possible to avoid sun damage.
If you wish to, you can also use artificial lights for your string of bananas as a more consistent and risk-free option.
Why Is My String of Bananas Skinny?
If the leaves of your string of bananas are becoming skinnier, thinner, and paler, it may be a sign that something is going wrong.
As various issues can cause your string of bananas to become skinny, we can only tell you the probable causes behind it.
- Not enough sunlight
- Not enough fertilization
- Underwatering
- Depleted soil
Wrapping Up
Your string of bananas drying up can be a very saddening scenario to face, but hopefully, your plant will pull through with a quick intervention to the situation and adequate care following it.
While either sun damage or underwatering can be the factors behind your string of bananas drying up, it’s possible to find out which one is responsible by looking at the signs and save your plant by applying the correct treatment.