Jeff zone 8 N.C.

Yes they can be very slow (for a banana) and not very forgiving as they have no reserves like a larger banana would have in its corm. I gave my NoNo tissue culture no direct sun just artificial light and rain water. Fertilized with very weak soluble fertilizer and not very often. Wait and waited some more. Finally got to a size I felt I could give them real light but not full sun. They finally started growing but were still small. Tripped and fell on them and broke the small trunks about halfway up. Cut the trunk off so they could resprout. All my efforts failed to save them. Again they have no reserves without the corm so touchy little fellows.