I need a plant tall enough (about 4-5ft max to plant behind a fountain. Had red tip banana but it was not dwarf and ended up over eaves of home. Area is shaded from 1 pm on. Thanks Carol Brenden
Here is an article that has information on shade shrubs.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/shgen/shade-loving-shrubs.htm
Also visit your local garden center for varieties specific to your area.
How to grow and care for a cold hardy banana tree
This article will give you an idea of what these bananas require: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/banana/growing-cold-hardy-bananas.htm
outside care
This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/banana/growing-cold-hardy-bananas.htm
When is the best time to plant a banana shrub plant
Now, or Spring, summer, fall, when your shovel and compost are ready and when you will be able to follow up on watering. Don't plant before you leave town or are too busy to water daily for a week or ten days, then weekly or twice weekly during the hot season until the plant gets established.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/banana-shrub/how-to-grow-banana-shrubs.htm
In the past, my banana tree produced a couple of offshoots which grew larger than the original plant. These eventually "killed off" the original plant and one of the offshoots resulting in just one plant again. The "winner" is now big and healthy but has an offshoot growing right beside it and under its leaves. Should I cut this offshoot back to dirt level? Because the offshoot is attached I don't think I can or should try to remove it totally.
This article should help
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/banana/dividing-banana-pups.htm
is it a problem if i just leave the pups and don't separate them? my banana plant is potted in a large pot and not in the ground
The pups will drain necessary water and nutrients from the parent plant and can eventually kill the original plant. These articles should help.
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/banana/how-to-divide-a-banana-tree.htm
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/banana/dividing-banana-pups.htm
One of my banana trees has begun blooming. So far it has grown 2 hands. Now the last couple mornings I find a purple leaf on the ground along with the new flower buds. Could it be the ants that I see all over them on the ground or birds? I'm so bummed that we only end up with 2 bunches of bananas.
Bananas need regualr watering to sustain the large tropical leaves and produce sweet tasty fruit. You should expect to water slowly and deeply every 2 or 3 days during the warmer months. A test when to water is when the top 1/2-1 inch of soil is dry. If you planted in a shady spot or one that tends to stay wet for some other reason you may have water less. Bananas are susceptable to root rot and don't like continually wet soil or standing water.
Banana plants are heavy feeders and would benefit greatly from regular feeding all during the growing season. Best would be to apply a small amount of a balanced fertilizer containing all the secondary and micro nutrients every time you water, next best would be to give a full dose of fertilizer once a month. When the flower is produced I recommend cutting back on nitrogen.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/banana/problems-affecting-bananas.htm