Temperature

• Most types of bananas prefer warmer temperatures that do not get below 65 degrees F, which makes them suitable for growing indoors---or outdoors in the summer and indoors in the winter. Some varieties of dwarf bananas such as "Ice Cream" can tolerate a frost for a short period of time.
  
  

Light

• Bananas prefer full sun; however, they can tolerate 30 percent shade and still produce fruit. Plants that are grown for decorative foliage only should be grown in 30 to 60 percent shade to obtain deep colors in the leaves. Fruit production plants grown in full sun will tend to have slightly yellower leaves.
  
  

Soil, Water and Fertilizer

• Bananas need rich, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, that retains moisture but does not stay wet. They are very susceptible to rot and fungal infection, and risk is increased if they are over watered and allowed to sit in soppy soil. They will not tolerate any flooding.
  
  A mature banana growing in full sun will use a lot of water and should be allowed to dry slightly between each watering, but never allowed to dry out completely. Outdoor-grown specimens benefit from frequent deep watering.
  
  Apply fertilizer evenly and regularly especially in the warm growing season. Once a month is adequate. Use a balanced fertilizer that is slightly higher in phosphorus, such as 8-10-8 NPK, is best. Younger plants should be given a quarter to a third of the amount of fertilizer as a mature plant.
  
  

Winterizing

• In some locations, bananas will die back in the winter months and resprout in the spring. For areas that get colder, it might be better to grow them in containers and bring them indoors when nighttime temps drop below 28 degrees F. For areas that only get a light frost, the above-ground part of the plant can be saved by building up the soil around the base of the plant or wrapping the trunks with a blanket. Often, strategically placing a banana under an eve or on the warm side of a house will give just enough frost protection to keep the plant from suffering damage in the cold.