I am guessing that there is a winter temperature below which bananas like citrus completely stop growing and possibly even the roots stop functioning. Does anyone know if that is so and what temperature that might be?

Also, with container bananas, is it best to stop watering completely during the winter, or just maintain a low level of moisture.?

Depends on cultivar. But they are generally the same as citrus when it comes to growing. It is the soil temperature which affects growth. Soil Temp of 50 deg F and below, they wouldn't grow. Some are sensitive and stop growth when it reaches 60 deg F and below. Leaf damage occurs when prolonged air temperature reaches 30 deg F and below for the cold hardiest edible banana. And if the leaves are shaded or protected with floating row cover, Leaf damage occur below 26 deg F. When air temperature is above 95 deg F, bananas also slow down in growth in dry arid conditions like California. Ideal temperature for maximum growth is between 75 to 85 deg F in California.

What you have learned about citrus culture, you can pretty much apply to bananas. - Millet

Thanks!

Joe and Millet:
Thanks for the info. Before I was just guessing but
that's what I've been doing all along maintaining my bananas regimen the same as my citrus. And my bananas are all thriving except that I add more steer manure as per Joe's advice but other than that I follow the same procedure more or less.

Here are a couple of banana examples from my experience.
I had a Blue Java (Ice Cream) that barely grew when overwintered indoors at 62 degrees F. I think it grew one new leaf the whole winter indoors. When it got too big I left it outdoors and it lost most of its foliage in the winter (SF Bay area, minimum temperature about 30 degrees F) but bounced back with warmer weather. I gave it away when I moved.

Now I have a Brazilian dwarf that I have been wintering indoors at an average temperature of 60 degrees F. I have been amazed that it continually puts out a new leaf about every two weeks in these conditions.

Bananas require a lot of water in the summer (often every day if hot) but in the winter I wouldn't water more than once a week, assuming it's cool. Just enough to keep the soil slightly moist.

Dwarf Brazilian continues to grow if soil temperature is 50 deg F and over. It is one of the very first bananas to wake up from my yard after the winter.