Tips to Grow Starfruit in a Container
In order to get optimal result, you may follow below tips to grow starfruit in container:
1. Choose the best variety
There are so many variety of starfruit tree available, but if you want to grow starfruit in container then you may choose only “Dwarf Hawaiian” and “Maher Dwarf”. Both of them are the best starfruit variety to be grown in container. They will have flower and fruit for many years in about 10-inches container. “Dwarf Hawaiian” has a sweeter taste, larger fruit but bares fewer than the preceding while “Maher Dwarf” bares small to medium sized fruit on a 3 foot tall tree.
2. Keep optimal climate condition including temperature and sunlight
Starfruit tree need high temperature min. 60 F or 15 C for flowering and optimal fruit result. The starfruit tree will have flower of will be blooming throughout the year if we can give consistent temperature and sunlight. It seems grow starfruit in a container is a great idea to keep optimal environment condition, you may place the potted starfruit anywhere that fits the condition.
3. Keep growing medium in acidic condition
Growing medium in acidic condition about pH 5.5 to 6.5 can cause starfruit tree will grow more quickly and bear more heavily.
4. Avoid overwatering
The starfruit root is resistant to many disease but the tree is very sensitive to disease. Water the container starfruit regularly but don’t over water to grow starfruit in container and keep the tree stay healthy.
5. Apply a balanced fertilizer
A balanced fertilizer is required especially for starfuits grown in container. You may give the fertilizer in spring until fall. It is recommended to use slow release fertilizer so you can apply it every few months.
6. Treatment the disease
During winter, the starfruit tree may show iron chlorosis signs that the young foliage become yellow. The symptoms will clear up if the weather is warm so you may wait a bit or you may spray the tree with chelated iron as the treatment to the disease.
7. Pruning
If the tree is healthy then starfruit tree grown in container will often begin blooming right away when only one and half foot tall and may be you can get a few fruit. Be careful when you prune the old branches since the flowers emerge off older wood tree. It is recommended to prune back the out reaching branches in the late winter prior to spring growth spurts for the dwarf varieties in container.
So if you have a plan to grow starfruit in a container at your home, just remember 7 tips as described above. Good luck ..!
You may also like this: Tips for Growing Watermelon
A balanced fertilizer is required especially for starfuits grown in container. You may give the fertilizer in spring until fall. It is recommended to use slow release fertilizer so you can apply it every few months.
6. Treatment the disease
During winter, the starfruit tree may show iron chlorosis signs that the young foliage become yellow. The symptoms will clear up if the weather is warm so you may wait a bit or you may spray the tree with chelated iron as the treatment to the disease.
7. Pruning
If the tree is healthy then starfruit tree grown in container will often begin blooming right away when only one and half foot tall and may be you can get a few fruit. Be careful when you prune the old branches since the flowers emerge off older wood tree. It is recommended to prune back the out reaching branches in the late winter prior to spring growth spurts for the dwarf varieties in container.
So if you have a plan to grow starfruit in a container at your home, just remember 7 tips as described above. Good luck ..!
You may also like this: Tips for Growing Watermelon
Reference: gardeningknowhow.com; photo credit: peranghijau.blogspot.com