Plant guide:ð Banana
Back to Plant Clinic
â MinorðĐš
Nutrients
Potassium Deficiency in Banana
Commonly affects: Musa acuminata, M. balbisiana (Banana)
Older leaf margins develop a yellow-to-orange scorched border that progresses to brown, while the leaf centre stays green longer.
Potential Causes
- 1Insufficient potassium relative to banana's very high demand as a heavy-fruiting plant
- 2Sandy or fast-draining soil with poor potassium retention
- 3Heavy nitrogen feeding without balancing potassium
Solution Steps
- 1Apply a potassium-rich fertiliser formulated for fruiting plants
- 2Feed regularly through the growing season, since bananas are exceptionally heavy potassium feeders
- 3Mulch with composted banana leaves or wood ash in moderation to recycle potassium
Prevention Tip
Bananas need more potassium than almost any other common container fruit â a dedicated banana or fruiting-plant fertiliser prevents most deficiency issues.



