Want to do Jackfruit right this time...

[Daintree]

This is my fourth shot at jackfruit.  I bought a really sweet, creamy jackfruit from the local Asian market and planted the seeds.  They are just starting to sprout, and I am trying to nip a problem in the bud before it happens AGAIN.

Every time I try to grow jackfruit (always from seed from store-bought fruit), they do great for a while, then when they are about 2 ft tall they start looking deficient in something (looks like potassium or magnesium?), drop all their leaves and die.
I am just stumped.  I have zone 10 and zone 12 greenhouses.  I use a good quality, fast-draining potting mix, feed regularly but not heavily, and I can give them any size pot they want, up to about 30 gallons. I don't know why they aren't happy! I have a lot of other tropicals (cacao, all sorts of annonas and guavas) that I have had no problem with, but I really struggle with jackfruit (and mango and lychee).
I read something in a post a few years ago about pruning the taproot. Thoughts on that?
Any advice on amount of water/nutrients/light for young jackfruit?

Thanks!

Carolyn

[FamilyJ]

Jakfruit Love water, i find they prefer to be more on sitting water side then the dry side

[Elitebettas]

In my experience, believe it or not, they do not like chemical fertilizer. They burn very easily.  Mine is 2 years from seed growing in a very large pot. It’s flowered already and too tall/huge to move with only one person. Good luck. They make beautiful trees.

[Dane]

I would say fertilising isyour problem. I’ve only ever watered jackfruit seedlings and they all grow big and strong !

[Johnny Redland]

I would say fertilising isyour problem. I’ve only ever watered jackfruit seedlings and they all grow big and strong !

I second this. In burned (but didn’t kill) 2 of my jackfruit seedlings with fertilizer. Use time release if you must...it tends to work really well with Jacks

[Elitebettas]

Yep. I use worm castings, Dr. Earth, and the fallen leaves as mulch to amend my soul.

[Daintree]

Thanks!
Keep them moist, and no fertilizer - got it!
I have a couple of other trees that can't tolerate any fertilizer, so I will put the baby jacks on my list of trees to not fertilize.
Elitebettas, how big are your pots?

Carolyn

[Cookie Monster]

You can (and should) fertilize jackfruits and all other tropicals I'm aware of with osmocote (controlled release) without issue.

For a time, I was growing trees for sale, somewhere into the thousands at one point. I simply gave them a sprinkle of osmocote about twice a year, and they grew very well. This is what most smaller growers do down here. The larger growers use a fertigation system.

Pick up a bag of osmocote plus and fertilize away: https://www.amazon.com/Osmocote-Outdoor-Smart-Release-8-Pound-Fertilizer/dp/B00GTDGMHC/

[Daintree]

I do have some Osmocote Plus. I will give them a bit when I pot them up.

Thanks!
Carolyn