1. Dwarf Cavendish will mature at about 12' in tropical conditions. In typical indoor container culture, they rarely exceed 6'.

2. It is rare for bananas to fruit indoors. Otherwise, typically at 18-24 months.

3. Bananas are tropicals and will be killed by even a light frost, and cool weather around 40 degrees is enough to shock them.

Any other hints or tips for this drawf banana tree? I imagine i'll take it indoors sometime in September or October, when ever it starts to get cold. Should I pot it up into a bigger container next Spring?

To thrive, they have to have daytime temps in the mid 80s and nighttime temps above 70 or so. This is what makes them hard for the average grower.

frozen: Thanks! The thing is growing like mad. Of course, it's currently experiencing the TN Summer, which is quite close to what you describe as its ideal conditions. It's probably twice the size of the pic above right now. I haave to figure out where i'm going to put it in the Fall/Winter when it starts to get cold though. Maybe i'll get lucky & get a few bananas off it late next Summer. If I never get a single one off it, it's still a very beautiful plant. =)

I grew banana tree in southeast georgia 4th year it was somewhat yellow in september. A vistor from KY came by one afternoon to get some wild grapes he said add 8 lbs 5-10-15 to tree next spring late feb. I cut truncks down to about 3 foot an add fertlizer that year there was no yellow look all green in oct. there was bunch banana that pop out. Every year after that I had 2 bunches banana's small but banana. Best time to look for banana bunch is day before Frost pick it if have bunch. Banana plant does like wet feet but don't grow in water incline that wet help mind there was sand and carpet grass in place I grew mind. People ho visited from cential fla. said mind tree look better theres. Potash more important as fertilizer than high nitegeon. If your truncks get 4 inches are larger cut them 4 foot up stalk if don't cut into green growth inside.

Here's an updated picture of it. Less than one week from the original one above. Amazing growth on these things! =)

{{gwi:122600}}

Check the banana forum there is loads of information. Many people who live in cooler climates dig them up and bring them inside during the winter and then replant them in the ground in the spring/summer.

All your questions and more are on:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/banana/

Hope this helps!