I'm unable to split my zebrina this year, can I safely chop down a few and not kill off the entire plant? I over wintered her in my living room and she continued to grow. Thanks for any advice.

You can chop a few down but they will grow right back from the same stumps. You did a great job of keeping that alive indoors.

Alice, I wasn't sure they would grow back 😉

If it were mine, I'd unpot it and split it into 2 sections to pot up separately. More plants to use, sell or give away.

Christine, it has been my experience that all bananas just continue to grow until they flower/fruit, a shoot will come up from the middle of the stump. I know you said you could not divide it this year but maybe you could get some help and follow Karen's advice. I would use an old bread knife to divide it.

Bread knives work great, but I've used saws and an ax to do it when we lived in the islands.

LOL,, yes on a large musa in the ground. Maybe a back hoe even but this one is in a pot. No big boy (or girl) tools needed.

that would be very funny to see.Thank you all for you advice

I have a potted Blood Banana (Musa acuminata 'Zebrina') but I'm not even sure if it's still alive because I left it at our other house when we moved. It would die back somewhat and look pretty pitiful during colder winters and when the weather warmed in spring, I would just cut off the ratty looking leaves .. new shoots would occasionally appear alongside the main stem.

Large plants would require some work to divide but since your plant is still small, it may not be a difficult task of splitting the underground rhizome.

I wish it were that easy for me to be able to split it, I have some major health issues which makes it impossible for me to do, I did ask my aide to help me so hopefully she and I can get it done, other wise it will have to stay in the same pot and I'll cut some down. She did so good last year and I'm hoping she'll do the same this year, here she is last summer in all her glory. Thank you all for your advice, I'll keep you posted If it ever warms up, she may just make it out doors this year

What a beautiful plant.

Alice, she's one of my favorites

It is a gorgeous plant, Christine! You've convinced me that I need to get another one. I haven't had them in years.

Christine, WOW ... great growing, that is a gorgeous plant! I hope you will add that photo to the database!

You've done a great job, Christine.

Thank you so much Karen & Lin, my biggest challenge has been keeping her alive in my living room all winter with very little direct sun.
Karen you should get another one 😉

It is hard for some of the plants in winter, but we make do and they do too!

I think keeping that alive and looking so good in a typical home environment is amazing. Good job.

Just an update of what we managed to accomplish, we were able to cut away one clump and chop down a few, they both look a little naked but a few weeks out in the sun will change that. So here's Momma & Babies Thank You all for your words of encouragement, and now I must buy a new serrated knife