Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener: Why Did Papaya Seedling Flop Over?, 2 by LakotaWolf

LakotaWolf wrote:
Hi guys,

I live in Southern California. My boyfriend's parents have a small papaya seedling that is growing in a container. I believe they planted it from a seed from a grocery-store papaya, but I'm not positive about that. It's several months old now.

The seedling has been doing very well, but a few days ago (after some weird back-and-forth weather that was rainy, then super-hot), the top half of the seedling flopped over. My boyfriend reported that the trunk/leaf stems felt soft and squishy that same day.

I felt the trunk yesterday and it felt relatively firm, not squishy or anything. If I attempt to gently straighten the seedling, it resists a bit. The leaves also felt relatively robust; not dry or shriveled, but the newest leaves growing appear very translucent and feel fragile. (see attached picture).

My boyfriend's parents do tend to over-water, and the house gets a lot of morning dew this time of year, plus the backyard doesn't get a lot of sun. I know these are all less-than-optimal conditions for growing plants (especially fruiting plants), but no other plants in the backyard have exhibited this papaya seedling's floppage. I don't think the pot was laying on its side for any significant amount of time either.

Does anyone have any theories why the seedling, which was growing straight and fine up until now, would suddenly flop over? Is there anything we can do to remedy it? Should we perhaps gently pull the seedling upright and stake it?

Thank you.