I bought this banana plant last summer and it's had quite a hard time to say the least. It suffered an extensive spider mite infestation late last year which resulted in all of its leaves being cut off and its stem was damaged by the wind to the extent that it was literally on a right angle (some sellotape and a splint later and it seems to be doing okay). It's popped out 9 new leaves over winter (I have a relatively warm house in a fairly mild part of the UK) and an offset which also seems to be thriving. The only issue is that the offset is coming from the stem as opposed to the soil, which means it doesn't have any of its own roots. I don't know how or if I can propagate it, but would seem like a shame to get rid of it. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated!!

No you should not get rid of it. It will eventually send out its own roots, then you can remove it and have 2 plants if you want. But its also nice to have a clump

Will it send down its own roots if the offset is coming out of the stem rather than the soil?

It looks kind of like a water sucker. Musa reproduce vegetatively from corms that form mats under the soil. I actually do not think your plant is potted deeply enough. When they produce suckers, they make 2 basic kinds....water suckers, and sword suckers. Sword suckers are tall and fast growing with very narrow leaves. They are the plants that 'carry on' the stand after the mother plant fruits and died. Water suckers and smaller slower growing and have wider leaves. Their purpose is to help expand the stand and make a colony but at a slower rate.

If your banana had been planted a little deeper, the sucker would have eventually made its own roots. As it is now, it is dependent on the roots of the mother.

You can leave it, or, you can take it off and try potting it up. It might grow on its own and it may eventually produce a sword sucker, or it might not.

I was told by a fellow doing research on bananas to always leave three plants in a clump. Once the fourth starts growing you can take out the main or mother plant. By that time it should have bloomed and will be ready to die. Not sure if that would apply to a plant grown in a pot indoors but I agree with Gina, leave that pup. Do you know what variety you are growing?

Hi, thank you to both.

@Gina1960 - the offset has only been growing for the last 6 weeks. It has grown exceptionally quickly and now I have noticed another small one coming off the stem. If I were to repot the banana now deep enough to cover the offset stems, would they send down roots eventually? When I originally repotted this plant, the pups were not there. It would be nice to be able to propagate at some point and have multiple plants.

@ardesia I believe it is a Musa Basjoo but I could be wrong.

Musa Basjoo gets to be a big plant, 10' - 12' or more. Obviously it would be limited when grown in a pot but it is still not suited for pot culture. For a Musa it is ridiculously hardy, do you have a spot outdoors to plant it? For a container I would suggest a Dwarf Lady Finger, Dwarf Cavendish, I think there is a Tiny Tim and there are several decorative ones with red and green variegation on the leaves that stay modest in size.

Yah my basjoo get to be over 12 ft. I have one that tall now. Definitely not suitable as a container plant

Musa basjoo can be planted outside in areas that go down below the freezing point of water. I grow them in S. Pennsylvania where winters go below zero F (-17C). The plant of course doesn't live, but the corms below the soil come up the next year. Protect them from mice. I grow them in well mulched areas with plenty of water. The side shoot like the OP shows can be buried lightly and it will start to grow roots. When the roots are evident, slice with a sharp knife and plant. Like others have pointed out, it is tough to grow these in a pot, but I don't want to discourage you. Surely people grow them potted to full size all the time.

Certainly outdoors and in very large pots.

Hey guys, thanks for your advice. Unfortunately I don't have a garden so my only choice is to grow indoors! I expect it will get exceptionally tall as it's fast growing but I don't mind that in the house. As for the offset - I will try to plant a little deeper into the pot and cover with soil and hope it sends down roots.