Thanks SO much for the information Nate & Sandy ... I'm very grateful. I am truly dreading seeing my yard go from my 'tropical oasis' to bare in the next few weeks & months.
Nate, this is my 3rd year growing and it is certainly addicting. Each year, I add another variety or two, so I'm always nervous about winter, as they all seem to have their own overwintering quirks. In the past, I've potted up & brought in all my bananas, using a back bedroom with 2 small windows & adding a little extra light from a grow light that I run overnight every 2-3 days -- just enough to keep them alive without costing too much money. I think I'll run it a little more this winter, as I didn't notice a big spike in my bill & I know they'd love the extra since our outdoor light is so gloomy during the winter.
I've had one VERY large Dwarf Cavendish that was just too big, so it's gone in the basement ea. yr. with surprisingly great luck. It flowered and started to produce bananas this year on it's 3rd year out, but if you look at my post from the beginning of the season, you'll see I had a bad timing issue for that to pan out all the way to maturity. First 2 years, I used progressively bigger pots -- last year, I had to use a Roughneck trashcan that I put a large pot upside down in the bottom to cut down on the amt. of soil needed. I filled it in the basement & then had a friend bring the plant down (after cutting back all leaves but the center) with a dolly and finished potting it up. Had to lean it in a corner last winter, as it was too tall. My basement is actually around 70 deg. with the furnace being down there, plus it never gets dark because of several windows (one right by it) & the fluorescents being on since my laundry is down there, yet it didn't seem to bother it a bit. When the days started getting longer in spring, it sensed it being by a window & the leaf would start pushing out and away we'd go. Even the pups would survive and start sprouting at the same time. I'd give them a month or so outside and then remove them to be on their own.
This year, I have so many plants, I think I'm going to have to brave trying to overwinter a few more down there & am nervous to see what will happen, as my "big mama" DC was so sturdy, I didn't have much worry. Guess we just have to try things when we live "up nawth".
Thanks again, all.
Annie