Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewsion
Yes it's quite windy here at times and yes it's quite cold. That's why I have chosen to grow indoors and to use light and heat for the plant
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It can be very windy here also. However, we probably have more sunny days than you do; sun can be blistering here.
When I lived in what was technically a zone 6 (NW edge of Washington, DC) according to older maps, I raised plants that grow like weeds outside here. (My zone here is technically 9 but behaves moves like 10.) I did not grow bananas then but I did have a calamondin orange, snake plant and pony tail palm (purchased at 5" tall but 20 years later was 6') among others. (I don't remember all 30 or so I had.)
They spent their winters in front of a floor to ceiling south facing poorly insulated plate glass window; I used no extra lighting or heating. I fertilized with generic Miracle Grow about once a month. They were in regular potting soil. They were watered weekly for the most part until their drainage bowls were full. They looked fine during the winter (snake plant bloomed) but they were obviously thrilled when I set them out for the 7 months of not winter. Bees made sure I picked little oranges in November. I firmly believe you get better results if you can let plants enjoy nature for part of the year. Since that's not your choice, I'm no help I guess.