Papaya dropping flowers (forum)

Marcus C starts with ...
Hello everyone,

i am currently growing a Cutting Grown Southern Red papaya in a pot.

I have noticed that the flowers have been dropping off, and i think they are male flowers only (See attached photo)

The weather in Melbourne so far has been very hot and dry for a long time. So, i don't know if the weather has a part to play with this situation as well.

Any feedback is most welcome.
Thank you .
Marcus
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 5th March 2013 8:49pm

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Db says...
I'm also facing exact same issue with couple of my Cutting Grown Southern Red papaya that I bought from Daleys. Both are forming only male flowers in last few weeks. It is raining here since last 1.5 - 2 month and still male flowers only, so I don't think its weather related. (but bigger of my 2 tree has set 4 fruits few months back n they are growing slowly)

May be someone will have some advice..

Time: 5th March 2013 9:55pm

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About the Author Db
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peter 1000 says...
those look like female flowers to me.
my red seedling has 6 fruits which
are also growing very slowly.
my yellow gets female flowers but they
all fall off before setting.

Time: 5th March 2013 10:12pm

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About the Author peter 1000
adelaide
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Db says...
That open flower in above pic is male flower, unopened flower could be female as they have slightly thicker base.

Time: 5th March 2013 11:20pm

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About the Author Db
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peter 1000 says...
odd, the southern red is described
as bisexual, male/female in the
same flower.

Time: 6th March 2013 12:00am

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MaryT says...
peter 1000 the southern red is "80% bisexual" so you can get one of the 20%. Read the fine print!

Time: 6th March 2013 7:54am

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About the Author MaryT
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Db says...
Here is pics of my cutting grown Cutting Grown Southern Red papaya which I'm growing in a pot. As you can see flowers in top new growth are male flowers only. (but tree has previously set 4 fruits) -


Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 6th March 2013 8:08am

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Original Post was last edited: 6th March 2013 8:09am

About the Author Db
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MaryT says...
Well yours must be bisexual then Db.

Time: 6th March 2013 9:11am

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Db says...
It is bisexual, but I'm not getting why it is not forming female flowers in latest new growth. My tree did set male and female flowers both when it set those 4 fruits but now it is developing only male flowers, no female flowers as you can see in photo.

Time: 6th March 2013 9:42am

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peter 1000 says...
your leaves look very pale and blotchy,
id feed it regularly with nitrogen
and pottasium,


Time: 8th March 2013 6:25pm

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About the Author peter 1000
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Tharindu says...
I'm also facing that problem and also my papaya are totally covered with mealy bugs too....

Time: 8th March 2013 8:24pm

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Db says...
Thanks Peter, I feed mine every 2-3 weeks with powerfeed, sulphate of potash, slow release fertilizer, blood n bone and dynamic lifter (just one fert at a time), those leaves became yellow in this summer when temp was high but now tree is growing well after a month of non stop rain here in Brisbane.

Time: 8th March 2013 9:49pm

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Hector says...
I too have the same problem with the flowers not holding. But for sure I know that Male Flowers grow on a long STALK. So if it looks like a male flower but is close to the trunk, it is Hermaphrodite flower. The issue must be lack of nutrients or in the case of a young plant must be that it is not mature enough yet.

Time: 21st May 2015 11:58pm

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TBD says...
I did not know that a papaya tree could have 2 types of female and male flowers
I thought there were female, male and hermaphrodite trees but not mixed female and male in same tree

Time: 9th February 2017 12:20am

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About the Author TBD
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Mungbeans says...
For my papaya plant, it seems like the flowers are not holding. Not sure why. Any ideas? Allusion not sure which gender it is. I've attached a photo. What do you think it is?
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 28th January 2018 6:34pm

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About the Author Mungbeans
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Fruitylicious1 says...
Hi Mungbean


Definitely your papaya is not a male flower it's either a bisexual or a female. With regards to flower drop some possible causes are:
1. Natural flower drop especially the first few blossoms.
2. Excessive heat
3. Overwatering - just enough water to keep the soil moist
4. Under watering
5. Sometimes animals like birds and chameleons can strip flowers when chasing insects close or around the flowers.
6. Over fertilization - excessive vegetative growth at the expense of flowers and fruit set.
7. Young and immature trees usually drop majority of their flower buds during their first season.

As Always....Happy Gardening :-)

Time: 30th January 2018 6:46am

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Original Post was last edited: 30th January 2018 7:25am

About the Author Fruitylicious1
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Mike Tr says...
Female and fruit will stick eventually. They can take a while to open their account even when the plant is healthy as the one in the pic appears to be.

Time: 30th January 2018 10:46am

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About the Author Mike Tr
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coolbreeze says...
Hey all,

Have you guys heard or read stories of changing your papaya from male to female plants with different methods. What are some of your thoughts on this??

Time: 30th January 2018 12:22pm

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About the Author coolbreeze
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Keen Gardener says...
Hi Mungbeans,
My papaya looks exactly like yours. I grew it from seed, it is a healthy looking plant and initially got 5 fruit on it (very small though) but now the flowers just drop off before they set into fruit. I'm pretty sure it is a bisexual because it has both male and female flowers. Im on the Sunshine Coast with sandy soil - have had a super hot summer with hardly any rain but I do water it regularly and fertilize with dynamic lifter and seasol. Not sure what is wrong with it - maybe too much nitrogen by the looks of the growth compared to fruit. Anyhow, its days are numbered if the flowers don't decide to hang around.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 4th February 2019 8:05pm

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Original Post was last edited: 4th February 2019 8:07pm
About the Author Keen Gardener
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