Papaya is a tasty tropical fruit that can become a fairly large tree in gardens in warm climates. If you don’t have a warm climate, growing papayas in pots indoors is an option. It requires some special care and adequate space, but is doable.
Before you tackle the task of growing a papaya tree indoors, be sure you understand its care needs and ensure you can provide them inside the home.
Papaya trees require full sun, so you should have a window that provides bright, direct sunlight for at least six to eight hours every day.
Papaya trees also require a lot of water. The container you choose should drain well, but don’t let it dry out. Keep the soil consistently moist, watering every few days.
As a tropical plant, papaya grown in pots will need warm temperatures and plenty of humidity. This can be hard to achieve indoors, especially in winter. Temperatures should be about 80 degrees F(27 C). Use a pebble tray and mist to keep humidity up around the tree.
Use a rich, fertile but loose potting soil. It should drain well. Too much water on the roots can lead to rotting.
Papaya trees grow fast and use a lot of nutrients. Use a balanced fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season.
Root rot is a major problem with papayas. You can avoid this by making sure your soil and container drain well, and by not overwatering. Diseases that affect papayas include papaya ringspot virus, anthracnose, phytophthora blight, and powdery mildew.
Several pests can attack papaya trees, including mites, whitefly, fruit fly, papaya webworm. These are more of an issue outdoors, however.
If you think you can provide the right conditions, you can grow a papaya starting from seeds you collect from the fruits. Start with a large container, at least 15 to
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