Bananas are popular indoors and out. These gorgeous tropical plants make excellent houseplants if you have a bright spot for them. Commonly called banana trees because of their thick stems, the best varieties to grow as houseplants stay about 3-4 feet tall. Other varieties can grow much taller! 

Their bold, tropical look makes them an excellent focal point next to large windows or patio doors. Bigger varieties grow leaves that can stretch to 6 feet long, so they're not houseplants for the timid!

Grow bananas as houseplants in the brightest spot you have. These plants like plenty of light. They respond well to both natural and artificial light, so if you don't have the right windows at home, consider a banana for the office. 

Water them enough to keep the soil moist, but not wet. That's often once or twice a week, but will vary because of factors such as plant size, pot size, temperature, and light. 

Being true tropical plants, bananas appreciate abundant relative humidity. In homes with dry indoor air, boost humidity levels around the plant to keep the leaf edges from turning brown and crispy. 

Fertilize banana houseplants monthly with a balanced houseplant fertilizer to keep them happiest. You can fertilize less frequently, but they'll grow more slowly. 

Note: Banana plants are not intended for human or animal consumption. 

Outdoors in frost-free areas, grow bananas in a spot with full sun or part shade. They appreciate moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, such as compost or in large containers. (If you grow bananas in pots outdoors, be sure to have a heavy container so the plant doesn't blow over in the wind.)

Bananas are perennials that colonize via suckers -- so be sure to plant them where they have room to spread. Because they're perennials in the tropics, you can cut them back to the ground if the plants look ragged or get damaged; they'll quickly resprout from the roots.