i got a grafted kari starfruit tree last year, i pruned it several times last year and it flowered and produced little fruits but they all fell off, i’m assuming the tree is still too young to hold fruit. this year i chopped it drastically to just a few inches above the graft site because it was growing awkwardly and too heavy on one side. it grew back and i’ve pruned it a few times this year. i’ve up-potted it several times now since i got it. i just think the growth rate is too fast and i’m afraid i must eventually put it in the ground. if so then i have another tree that will require heavy winter protection. the only other tropicals that grow as fast as my starfruit tree are my moringa tree and bananas. i was really hoping to keep it in a pot but most likely i won’t be able to for too long. but then again, i do NOT want to put it in a pot so big that i can’t carry or move it. anyone growing starfruit in the ground in 8b/9a?
Wow, my tree is not growing that fast!
Are the soil requirements similar to something like figs or pomegranates? Can you get by with a heavy perlite + pine bark mix in a larger pot that is still fairly light?
i grow everything in compost which is a little lighter/looser than soil so that helps but i guess i can put some pine bark mulch as well, going to try to keep it in a pot as long as possible.
I highly recommend perlite as well if it doesn’t mess with the requirements of your trees. I found big bags on Amazon fairly cheap. It’s very expensive at brick and mortar store near me.
Perlite used to be fairly high in fluoride, would burn the leaves of plants sensitive; chlorophytum, dracaena, etc.
@randyks I’m just seeing this and wondering if that might be the cause of the brown tips on the leaves my jabuticaba.
My Kari has done so well this year outside since getting it’s dried out root mass broken up. I was really hopeful the last round of flowering would result in fruit, but no. It’s flowering yet again, and I think I finally see a teensy tiny fruit!!! also, finally see some tiny bees on the flowers.
Looking like it, when they start fruiting they go all out! A big tree can produce 700 lbs at a time.