Fruiting Baobab trees in pots?

[TheDisGardener]

Does anyone have experience growing baobob in pots? I know some people have grown them as bonsai. But is it possible to grow a baobob that fruits in pots?

[MameyDisco]

What species precisely? These are all robust and large trees, Malvaceae.
They will root into the ground, a pot bound tree will not be as productive as one in the ground. That’s for certain.

[TheDisGardener]

What species precisely? These are all robust and large trees, Malvaceae.
They will root into the ground, a pot bound tree will not be as productive as one in the ground. That’s for certain.

I know they won't be as productive but I live in zone 9a in the USA and they would never survive in ground

[elouicious]

I have 4 ~5 year old baobabs

2 digitata and 2 perrieri-

They are definitely not intended for potted growth but I have been successful so far- next I will probably need to move them to 25g pots-

If someone in the know saw the root structure thought they would probably be horrified- as to whether or not fruit will happen we will see

[shaneatwell]

What species precisely? These are all robust and large trees, Malvaceae.
They will root into the ground, a pot bound tree will not be as productive as one in the ground. That’s for certain.

I know they won't be as productive but I live in zone 9a in the USA and they would never survive in ground

I don't know about pots. I'd guess it'd be OK. I have a digitata that's been in the ground 6 years I think. Grown about 3 inches in that time.

[W.]

Baobabs can get enormous, and even the "smaller" species get to be really big. I am not sure how you are going to convince a potted baobab that it has the right conditions to fruit in. Flowering and fruiting take a lot of energy and nutrients, but I am not sure how you are going to provide such a large tree the space and nutrients to do so.

That being said, I do not want to discourage you from growing baobabs or any other large fruit plant that is not recommended for container growing. I certainly do not practice what I preach as far as not growing plants which get too large for containers. My 8-foot tall jackfruits would tell you that.

[pineislander]

Probably your best bet would be to grow multiple seedlings then graft mature budwood from a fruiting specimen.
If you have success it would certainly be a source of pride and story of determination despite tough odds!

[Nick C]

Only time will tell. Its definitely worth experimenting.

I think mine is probably around the 5-6 year mark.

This is a pic from the end of last season. Its put on some more growth this past year but is currently going dormant in my basement at the moment.