Why do papaya trees drop flowers without fruiting?
Written by
Liu Xiaohui
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.The sight of papaya flowers dropping off without fruit can be very discouraging to many gardeners. My first papaya tree dropped off about 90 percent of its flowers. I eventually discovered a solution to hand-pollination. Female flowers that have a bulging node on the end need to receive pollen from male or bisexual varieties of flowers. Growers may be disappointed, as they don't realize that natural pollinators do not often visit indoor or sheltered papaya plants.
Pollination Fixes
- Hand-transfer pollen daily using a soft brush
- Identify female flowers by swollen ovary base
- Store male pollen in foil for 48-hour viability
Nutrient Solutions
- Apply high-phosphorus fertilizer (5-30-5) at flowering
- Test soil pH monthly, adjust to 5.5-6.5
- Add compost tea weekly for micronutrients
Climate Control
- Maintain 60-85°F (15-29°C) with grow tents
- Use row covers during cold snaps
- Mist leaves to cool plants above 90°F (32°C)
Cycles of soil moisture will cause flowering to drop. I use Bluetooth soil sensors to monitor soil levels in real time. Papayas require continuous moisture without being waterlogged. My drip system provides 1 gallon of water each day to each 25-gallon pot. This reduced flowering drop from 70% to 15% in just one season.
Do not disregard situations of micronutrient deficiencies. Although I did not realize it at the time, the yellowing edges of my leaves were an indication that my plants were lacking magnesium. After using a foliar spray of Epsom salt (1 tbsp/gallon) every 14 days, they recovered with green growth and sustained spurts of bloom! I also used a balanced fertilizer along with the foliar application.
Read the full article: How to Grow Papaya: 8 Essential Steps for Success
