The flowering banana is tropical, but it can be summered outdoors then brought inside in the winter. It can also be grown as a house plant, but needs warmth and moderate humidity. Give the banana bright light with some sun for best foliage color and flowering, although they will tolerate moderate light. The soil should be moist, but well-drained. Fertilize monthly with a balanced fertilizer or one containing more potassium than nitrogen and phosphorus.
Bananas are prone to potassium deficiency.
Outdoors in subtropical and tropical areas, plant bananas in rich, well-drained soil that is moist, but not wet. In good soil they adapt to full sun, but need a little afternoon shade in drier, sandy soils. Fertilize the plants three to four times during the growing season. Joe Freeman is host of public television's At Garden's Gate and is chief horticulturist for Cypress Gardens. If you have a question, write to Cypress Gardens, P.O. Box 1, Cypress Gardens, FL 33884 attn.