Glad you didn't try one! I do that all of the time, wanting to try fruits without firs knowing what they are. Like Costa Rica Finca said, they grow fast, and they could grow into a small tree within two years from seed! There's plenty around here in Fresno that are over the tops of one-story houses, and they have also invaded our irrigation canals, where the seeds are carried downstream and they sprout and grow into enourmous plants.

Jatropha multifida Here is a link that might be useful: Coral Plant

I'm not sure if my experience will help, but I'll try. I have dwarf cavendish outdoors in a shaded location and they can stand shade in lieu of full sun, but they grow slower, and pup less frequently. I know you read that bananas feed a lot, and they do, but not as much as you plan. When I moved in they were neglected for a year (bank foreclosure) and were fruiting so they were neglected on watering and food. Now that they get irrigated at least weekly whether by rain or hose and are fed more regularly they are still slower to pup and fruit than other cultivars I have that get the same attention but more sunlight. So my advice would be to mulch them, don't let them dry out, feed "regularly" but vary the food source. Bananas also like clean wood ash, but don't use ash from paper or cardboard. As far as pups go, once the korm grows and spreads I think you'll have to find bigger buckets too. I also think you'll do better with multiple pots of bananas rather than one. I find that on occasion my pups will outperform the parent in fruit growth and pup production just by being in a different location. I hace some 8 or 9 different bananas and find very different growth habits based mostly on light.

Leona, what exactly translates into a "Tropical" for this thread? Do you mean just the exotic stuff like Cherimoya, Sapotes, Dragon Fruit? Or do low-chill fruit trees count? My most productive, easy to grow, least problematic fruiting plants are my low chill Apples/Peaches/Nectarines/Plums/Blueberries/Strawberries and Blackberries. The only issues with them is thievery by squirrels. I've had very good luck with Figs, Mangoes, Loquats, Barbados Cherry, Miracle Fruit, and many Citrus. My Bananas grow well and look good, but rarely fruit. I suspect I don't feed them enough. Papayas and Cattley Guavas are super easy to grow here, but all the fruit are ruined by fruit flies, so I can't call them a success. If I had to pick just one, I'd waver between Persian Lime or Tropic Snow Peach. Both are superb! Many of my more exotic trees are new, so I can't call them successes yet(G). Lisa