How to Remove Pups From a Banana Tree

The banana "trunk" is made up of concentric layers of leaf sheaths.


Healthy, vigorous bananas (Musa spp.) will form mats, or stools, that are typically composed of one main fruiting shoot with a tall pseudostem with several pups, or suckers, of various ages and sizes growing out of the base. You can choose to keep a few strong pups attached to the mother plant to grow and replace the main shoot once it has finished fruiting. You can also selectively dig up and transplant the banana pups to form new plants elsewhere.


Water the banana mat thoroughly about a day before you plan to remove the pups to make it easier to dig and to encourage rapid plant recovery.


Break up soil in an area about 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep for the new pups. Choose a site that receives full sun and is protected from strong winds. Dig a planting hole or prepare a container for each pup you plan to remove. If you need to improve soil drainage or fertility, work an organic soil amendment, like well-rotted compost or aged manure, into the site so the prepared soil contains up to 50 percent amendment.


Pull any mulch and loose soil back from the banana to expose the bases of the main pseudostem and pups.


Choose suckers that are 12 to 48 inches tall, or 2 to 4 months old, healthy and free of disease. If possible, choose sword suckers, which have narrow, rather than broad, leaves and are well-attached to the mother rhizome.


Sever the rhizome connecting the chosen sucker to the mother plant, cleanly removing a large enough section of rhizome so you have some roots attached.


Inspect the rhizome and root system and discard the pup if you see extensive symptoms of pest or diseases, such as brown, soft tissue. If it only has a small amount of discoloration or damage, cut off this portion using a sharp, sterile knife.


Plant the rhizome and attached pup shallowly so it is at the same depth it was previously growing. Gently firm soil around the root system to hold it in place and water it in gently and deeply.


Trim most of the pup's oldest leaves off at the time of planting to reduce water loss and encourage faster establishment.


Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch, such as shredded leaves or wood, chips around, though not directly in contact with, the base of the pup.

Things You Will Need

  • Hose
  • Sharp spade
  • Organic matter
  • Sharp knife
  • Loppers or pruning shears

Photo Credits

  • Hemera Technologies/ Images
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