How to Care for an Indoor Papaya Tree

Papaya trees are tropical plants that produce juicy orange, yellow or pink fruit. They are damaged or killed by temperatures that drop lower than 32 F, which greatly limits the areas where they can be grown outdoors. Papaya trees do well in planters and thrive indoors if provided with a warm, brightly lit location. They can be started by planting seed taken from a ripe papaya. It's important to choose a self-fertile papaya cultivar if you would like the tree to bear fruit, as pollination is unlikely to occur indoors even if two or more trees are planted.

18-inch planter
Screen mesh
Gravel
Sterile potting mix
Sharp knife
Fungicide
Water-soluble fertilizer
Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Select a planter that is a minimum of 18 inches deep and 18 inches wide. It should also have holes in the bottom for drainage.
- 2
  Position a piece of screen mesh over the drainage holes to keep soil from escaping.
- 3
  Spread 1 to 2 inches of gravel over the screen mesh.
- 4
  Fill the planter with sterile potting mix, to within 2 to 4 inches of its rim.
- 5
  Cut open a fully ripe papaya and remove the desired number of seeds. Rinse them well to remove their protective coating.
- 6
  Dry the seeds thoroughly and sprinkle with fungicide to prevent a condition known as damping off, which papaya seedlings are especially prone to.
- 7
  Plant the seed at a depth equal to half its width and water until the growing mix feels evenly moist. Place the planter in a location that maintains temperatures of approximately 80 F.
- 8
  Move the planter to a location that receives sunlight most of the day once the seedling sprouts. Avoid positioning the planter near an air vent.
- 9
  Water when the top inch of potting mix feels dry from spring until winter. Water only when the soil feels completely dry during winter months.
- 10
  Feed with water-soluble fertilizer, in the amount and frequency instructed on the package.
- 11
  Clip off spindly, dead or damaged branches as needed.

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