Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Papaya trees, 1 by rjuddharrison

rjuddharrison wrote:
Yes, I have an overwatering issue during the winter all the time. Because of this, I keep my Papayas in small pots. This does 2 things, 1 helps the root rot issue, and 2 - papayas really don't like their roots messed with- so when summer comes along the trees are root bound in the pot- pop them out and set them in the location I want them for the summer. My one giant papaya in a pot, ( I don't think I'll ever be able to duplicate this feat) did get into a problem with root rot a couple weeks ago when it rained buckets. I thought I was going to loose her, she has 6 big papayas growing- so I took a 1 inch round pipe and poked holes around the perimeter of the pot where the main roots are less likely to be- this allows more oxygen into the pot. If yours are in a plastic pot - then I would advise some sort of aeration. Also make sure the pots are raised, and not setting on a flat surface - I went so far as to put a small fan on the top of the pot pointed down - I'm happy to say she's going to make it. I should add - I was desparate enough to try my first peroxide treatment on it (H202) . It killed me to pour more water on it - and there was some stress- as the leaves fell off, but I believe there was cold temps and a little over fertilizing on my part.
If it's as nice there as it is here - 80 and sunny - I put a couple of mine outside to dry out. In the green house I water them in the small pots once every 3 weeks to a month. I can't remember if I put a picture in this thread of how small a pot I keep the guys in for the winter. I start them in the summer in 2 inch pots and transplant in the 8 - 10 inch plastic pot I save from the nursery (big holes in the bottom) I will leave them in that pot until they are so root bound that I will upsize them once more only if I have to to a 15 inch pot - each time not messing with the roots at all. The papaya is in the green house, the brother to it that I placed in the ground that was the same size is now 12 feet tall with 9 papayas growing- so it can remain small or grow very big. In truth they really don't like being in pots.