How do I divide a bananna plant?

Can I just break off a bananna and plant it?

Or would part of that central stalk (rhizome?) that the banannas grow out from have to remain intact or attached to the bananna?

I have a large healthy bananna plant that has roots growing out of the tips of all the banannas, as well as from the central stalk it looks big and healthy enough to divide up, so that is why I am asking.

Thanks

I am Jelous, My banana plant just sits there, no growth to speak of But at least it isnt dying

Do you have any tricks or hints?

my bananna plant is growing roots at the tips of each bananna.. anyone else experience this?

When you start seeing floating leaves of the banana plant, let it stay on the surface for 2-4 days, and clip off the stem approx. 4 inches below the leaf. Let the leaf stay floating with good lighting. New roots will form below the leaf at the cut.

Let the new root grow to a suitable size (floating still), cut off the floating leaf, and plant the new root with a stub of old stem. My long long ago experiences areif propagating this way, I do not see "banana", but the new plant will grow like any other banana plants.

I've heard some that their banana plant sent out runners at one of the leaf's node, and new "banana" formed at the node in mid water. The stem below the banana will rot away itself and you got a new banana plant. But I've never had the patience to wait for that to happen naturally.

The thick banana is storage place for nutrients, like potatoes. I've never tried to break one off and see if it will grow into a new plant.

Read the last sentence of my original post.

Thanks Dan. I have been wondering about this and your explanation is great.