miracle fruit

aneh starts with ...
HI my miracle fruit was growing some small fruits very slowly and now they have just dried up and died and the plant isnt looking too good either, it is sitting under shade by 50% shade cloth half the day and full sun the for about 3 hours, has anyone got any ideas or had this problem too?

HappyEarth says...
My miracle fruit is fruiting like crazy and is in shade nearly the whole day. It gets a bit of early morning sun and thats it. When ever i've moved it out for a bit more sun (even in winter) the leaves start drying up and dropping off.

As wendy said, make sure your soil or potting mix is acidic and if its in a pot bring it indoors during winter otherwise its going to look pretty sad at this time of year with the cold and wind you get there in perth.

Rich
www.happyearth.com.au

HappyEarth says...
Hey Aneh, my experience with growing miracle fruit the last few years is that they can fruit anytime of year ... especially if you bring it inside during winter.

Rich
www.happyearth.com.au

Rich says...
Hi Aneh,

I'm in Perth too and have been looking for a miracle fruit tree. Where did you get yours from?

Thanks in advance,
Richard.

Phil@Tyalgum says...
Gemma any chance of getting some seeds? Could swap for a Rollinia, Finger lime plant, Canistel, Peanut tree or something. Always wanted to try the miracle fruit. Thanks.

John Mc says...
I can oblige you there Phil@Tyalgum, I have plenty.
The nursery near me has very mature trees (Guessing 5+ years of age)mature fruit hanging off them. They're asking $50 per tree. Not bad for a miracle fruit tree about 1 meter high.

Julie says...
I would love some seeds too, but I don't really have any seeds to swap. Would some one like to sell me some? I will also pay for postage, of course.

It would be great to be able to drink lime or lemon juice with no sugar.

John Mc says...
Hey Julie,
I'm happy to send some, but what restrictions are there to send Miracle fruit seeds to WA? Fresh or seed only? I've read a lot on this forum and Ebay about it. I suppose they have their reasons for restricting certain, looks like all, vegetative material.

JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Hi HappyEarth,

My miracle tree had 4 fruits when I bought it 2 months ago. It is flowering now. May I please ask if I have to do hand polinating or 'BUZZ polinating' to get fruits set.

It has been very healthy, green leaves. I water the tree with miracle grow fertilizer once a week. It is permanently inside the lawndry with glass window. Please let me know if anything else I need to do apart from what I have done so far.

Many thanks in advance.

Lucy.

JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Hi Happyearth,

Many thanks for your advice. Much appreciated.

I worried that the plant is being inside the house with no bees it may never set fruits but I am much happier now.

Jimmy says...
Regulation 16, must be free from weed seeds and be of a permitted species.

Julie says...
Thanks Jimmy, but I wanted to know if it IS a permitted species. I just couldn't work it out.

gus says...
Joe at Tass1Trees told me last saturday that he was getting in miracle fruit trees this week for anyone who is still interested

gus says...
No, I have tried them in tablet form though. They are amazing aren't they? Do the fruit themselves actually taste nice?

Brad says...
did you try Tass 1? pretty good bet and joe is great

gemma says...
Hi Sampa, yes I have frangipanis galore! Both white and pink. I could send you a couple of small branches if you like. Though they're pretty easy to propagate if there are any in your neighbourhood, just break a branch off, wait a couple of days for it to dry out, and stick it in a pot. If there aren't any in your neighbourhood maybe it's too cold for them. Anyway let me know your address if you want me to send some.

Jantina says...
Hi Greenjay, I could send cuttings but I suspect Williamsport is in the USA.

Greenjay says...
I just found out its illegal to grow sell or ship miracle fruit to the US but i'll keep you posted on when they pass the fruit as ok

Jantina says...
Now you need to find out if you can import cuttings. Are you sure you can't get this plant in America? Perhaps ask on the Cloud Forest Cafe, they are very helpful.

Greenjay says...
Ive. Looked but i havent found any near williamsport pennsylvania

Rev says...
well its not illegal to export them from Australia

Customs says you have to declare whats in the box
you get given the c2 sticker at the post office
i just write 'seeds'
tick no commercial value or $5
tick Gift
sign it
show ID - or dont - you dont have to, just say you dont mind if they check it

thats your duty fulflled
on the other end thats the importers problem
and really ve never had a problem sending anything to the USA

with recalcitrant seed, better to use EMS
more expensive but it does the trick

curious says...
I have just sprayed white oil on my citrus trees, curious to know if the Miracle fruit tree would benefit ?

trikus says...
Easily sourced in USA ...
http://www.miracletaste.com/index.php/topic,6.0.html

Greenjay says...
Could someone send me seed i really want to try them

trikus says...
Greenjay , these seeds are easy as to source in USA , have you heard of google ?

Rev , should be able to get you plenty when the season starts .

John Mc says...
yes, Im just north of Sydney and the Miracle fruit bushes are just beginning to stir.

BJ says...
Hi Greenjay,
Why dont you try someone a little closer to home?
This guy is in Puerto Rico and sells the seeds. It is probably a good time for them right now too:
http://organicfarm.net/seeds.htm

He has some really good other stuff that I might have to try sometime soon.

hardy says...
i have tried to plant the seeds in a "jiffy greehhouse pot" (home depo). i have 2 wierd looling sprouts out of 18 seeds so for. is that normal? what do the sprouts suppose to look like, mine look like a small stem with no leaves. i got my seeds from my tree, its 4' and i got it from a grower in orlando

rianti says...
Hi, does anyone know where I can buy mature miracle fruit tree in (or around) Sydney? Thanks!

hardy says...
let me ammend my statement.....i now have 6 healthy seedlings about 3" to 4" tall ad have planted 12 more seeds.... i have found out that it just takes patience.

Michael says...
Hi Rianti ,

I can spare you one for free . It's about 30 centimetres high and should be fruiting soon this year . I went crazy and bought 3 from bonnyrigg garden centre and 2 from daleys . The 3 from the garden centre is already fruiting at 60 cms . I am driving pass Leichardt this Sunday to visit a friend in the city . I can drop it off you you . Should be around 9:30am in the morning . If you are interested just drop me an email at Michaeldang@mail.com

Michael says...
Hi Chillilover,

Thanks for the kind comment .Judging by your forum name you must be into chillis ?I just bought two Bhut Jolokia plants from my local garden centre loaded with fruits . They were not cheap @ $22.50 a plant but's it's worth the money for chilli freaks like myself.

chillilover says...
Wow Michael that was expensive. I have been unsuccessful in germinating these yet but i have a red bhut which emerged yesterday. Let's see how this baby goes. Below is what i am currently growing.

Just sprouted:

Hungarian black
Cap 1492
Aji Lemon
Big Jim
Trinidad scorpion
Inchanga (hook emerged 15.01)
Peppadews
African Honey

Plants:

1. Thai chilli
2. Cap 217 hyper
3. Bishops hot
4. Cap Pub 1486
5. Sweet Datil
6. Po Cheong
7. Pimente de neyde
8. Orange Lantern
9. Orange Monzano
10. Peruvian White
11. Nagabon
12. Hot Cherry
13. Hot store variety
14. Orange T Scorpion
15. Red habanero
16. Orange Habanero
17. Chocolate Habanero
18. Yellow Habanero
19. Inferno
20. red cayenne.

Mike says...
Chillilover that is quite a collection and I have widdled mine down to just a few.Is 14 a Butch T? If you get a dorset narga,buht jolokia and an infinity you'll want for nothing.The Thai one could be any of about 50 types and the most prized gourmet ones go from white to red or are thin and curl like a pigs tail.I dry mine in a drier and give them away fresh and dried.My buht is a beaut and finally is covered in flowers.

MaryT says...
How long does it take for the Miracle Fruit to start fruiting? Mine does not seem to be doing anything though I checked it this morning and discovered it's been covered by the coffee tree and it's actually put on new growth underneath the coffee leaves.

Pictures - Click to enlarge
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MaryT says...
Hi Kim - No, this is my seedling. The pictures above are of a tree I bought in 2010, I think. It has been over 30 cm for some time but shows no signs of flowering or fruiting and I am happy to let it be. We've had a lot of rain in Sydney and everything is growing faster than I can cope because I have a container garden. Had to give a number of trees away.

Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1

David says...
Saw some cutting grown plants at the organic markets this AM. Didnt think miracle would grow from cuttins, each was $18.00.Very healthy looking.

Mike says...
Miracle fruit are only a novelty and my 1m tall 5ish year old plants pumps out the fruit (1000+ in its last fruit flush) but I don't use them.It would be good if there were interesting ways to use the fruit.

Mike says...
I didn't think of that Lucy.I have only one plants not plants.A few months ago I gave away a pot with about 100 seedlings in it and don't plant them any more.Nearly all the guava and cha'um cuttings died but I'll just keep doing it until some survive.

John Mc says...
Mike, the only propagating success I've had with guavas is to air layer them, or seed of course.

kim says...
Hi Jujube - that's a great idea! i've never thought of it before. Seems a lot of people bring their miracle fruit plants indoors - do you think they will survive in the ground? if there's high chance of survival, i might follow your lead and grow some as a hedge and harvest the fruits for sick people.

the only plant i've got is rather sickly looking, though it always seem to have flowers/buds on it. i was planning on repotting it and bringing it indoors when it gets a bit colder.

kim says...
You've got me thinking about your fantastic idea now Jujube - first i'll just have to wait and see how my plant reacts to winter. if its easy-ish, then i will definite think about getting more as they will no doubt benefit a lot of people.

My grandmother has alzheimer's as well as other ailments and a lot of her medication has to be crushed up to be effective, she is an example of someone who will really benefit from the miracle fruit berries.

:)

Mike says...
Jujube,John Mc I know some people successfully propagate guavas and cha'oom with cuttings, but I have only rarely had them take.Maybe I should be chopping guava roots and leaving them to sprout.My marcotting efforts have also been pretty poor of late.

Mike says...
Lucy, Guavas are tough and seem to enjoy being treated rough.The is little risk of fungal infection.I should do it with the pineapple guava as it needs to get out in the world.

Mike says...
Lucy there is a chance the pineapple brazil guava seeds won't grow true to type and could revert to the standard P.guineense.This afternoon I dug around both guavas very deeply and couldn't find a root.They both must be rootless poles that go to the centre of the earth.

Mike says...
Lucy I will get them propagated they are just being a little defiant at the moment.Today I planted a Hung chanh plant and got a so dua as well as a moringa (I don't know the vietnamese name for that).

Mike says...
Mary I plant them pretty deeply already.The mexican cream,yellow cherry guava and chinese pear guava have obviously shallow roots but the 2 good types don't.I'll try them in different substrates,with and without rooting powder and hope now that temps are more comfortable they will take.

Mike says...
Mary I take it back about the mexican cream as I just ate a very large sweet one.If I get these 'pineapple' brazilians going and send you and and you'll be spitting out the yellow cherries in horror.My yellow cherry produces well but they aren't much better than the strawberry guavas and it is on a short probation.I reckon it's time to hack for your strawberry.You might be surprised at how many of my plants are now contributing to the garden in a more 'earthy' way.

JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Hi Mike,

So Đũa - Sesbania grandiflora
Chùm ngây - moringa
húng chanh - lemon basil

I love So Đũa - Sesbania grandiflora flowers in soup but very expensive stuff to get.
Chùm ngây - moringa
húng chanh - lemon basil

JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Hi Mike,

Did you grow the herb with thick leaf if yes then it is Coleus (syn. Plectranthus) amboinicus?. We call it "Tần dày lá". That herb is very good for coughing. I add the chopped leaves to seafood sweet and sour soup.

Hung chanh is lemon basil, the bush between the durian and the Thai guava near the middle gate in your garden.
Soursop price is quite reasonable. TSV Sunday market sells it for $7. I have never heard of african yellow passionfruit. The yellow passion fruit is always sweet so I recon that one may be the same.
I am a very slow typer today because the mouse does not work any more.

JUJUBE FOR SALE IN MELBOURNE says...
Hi Mike,

You are very good not to depend to the mouse. I am quicker with one.
This is the first time I have heard about african yellow passionfruit and also the sweeter granalilla . I love the flowers they are so beautiful and decorative. I have 2 big curry trees in Melbourne that I only use leaves a couple of times a year. It is a very handy tree to have.

Mike says...
Lucy,I now have rows and rows of seedlings and shallots popping up.The african passionfruit could just be an improved panama.The big common granadilla use to be called P.macrocarpa and now is considered the same species as the smaller,sweeter granadilla and they are all P.quadrangularis now.

MaryT says...
I bet half of what you planted is twice as much as you need anyway - it just means less surplus to hand out, right? Don't worry, we'll still be your friends. :)

MaryT says...
Wow that's exciting, Mike, especially the Carica monoica flowering! Yours is the land of plenty. :)

Mike says...
John Mc, it is about 35cm tall,quite robust and has clusters of flower buds in 2 leaf axils.Another is only about 12cm and spindly and the rest I passed on to other forum folk.

MaryT says...
Back to the miracle bush Mike, I'm still waiting for action with mine. The seedlings you gave me are doing well; slowly but surely they're sprouting one leaf at a time. :)

Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1	Picture: 2

MaryT says...
Thanks Mike, though '2 years' in Paradise is probably a lifetime for us mortals. :) Anyway it's kinda fun keeping count of the leaves - three on 4 April, five on 14 April - and that's only because we had a bit of a heat wave.

Michael D says...
Hi Helen,

I don't think this plant is known to help with diabetes . You should try growing Dragon fruits or Bitter gourds instead. Or for cooking try growing the Stevia herb as a sugar replacement or sprinkle cinnamon on your foods .

rianti says...
TO MICHAEL of WAKELEY,

I don't know why but I have only read your post from Jan 2012 where you offered to give me a miracle fruit tree for free - VERY sorry for not seeing that earlier and thank you heaps for your generous offer! You are very kind.

After much googing I found a mature (1m tall) tree at Wyee Nursery so I bought 2 of them (yes, I drove 3hr return trip haha..). They are fruiting now and what a fruit! :)

Wandering around says...
We bought our Miracle plant from Fitzroy nursery in Rockhampton, they are a wholesale nursery as well. I don't think it cost us that much, about $10.

Markmelb says...
Keep it inside over winter and dont water it - mine lasted 3 years and got to a good size but because i had peat (for acidity) in mix it didnt dry out in time before it got below 15c inside and karked it - i got to try the berries and that was enough.

Markmelb says...
Yes Julie - thats from my experience - I do same to Moringa which is surviving inside - has lost all leaves and has some shoots now growing on top - roots like it dry but not wet and cold. Dont know how they grow to fruiting in Pheonix where they get frosts but they love the heat. I think that guy mulches heavily for insulation?

Markmelb says...
IanW - sounds like a good mix you're trying - keep us posted as may get another in future if yours goes ok - berries are quite a novelty.

Julie - must qualify that the miracle fruit and the Moringa will only exist dry over winter inside as its in a type of hybernation due to being below say 15c but over 10c whilst inside but once spring hits you will notice them waking then give small amounts till it gets to 18c+ then you can water normally.

Julie says...
Mark, that's strange. Moringa survive winter here, though they lose their leaves. Winter is when we usually get all our rain, so they are both cold and wet!

After reading your post, I moved one in a pot into an unheated greenhouse. The other one is too tall. No matter what I do it grows tall and skinny, and refuses to bush out at all.

Markmelb says...
Julie - you can hack moringa back alot - you should prune anyway - Heres a video of a guy I watch in Phoenix Arizona chopping back his Moringas he uses for shade.I guess their winters although cold & short is pretty dry?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkeFVm3cJ0

Markmelb says...
Do you use heating at all to keep room at !7c? as dry warm air not good.They are older leaves too - if that happened to top leaves is an issue. feel how damp is it at drainage holes - if its dry maybe a light water on top say 2 cups no more and wait a few days. You have a better chance near Sydney keeping alive than here in Melbourne.

IanW says...
I'm in the Inner West of Sydney, and I have good insulation. I've only used a fan heater a little on the last few nights for spot heating myself.

The soil was dry, and more of the leaves were crisping, so I put half a cup of water, waited a few days, and then watered with a full cup. Now the soil at the bottom is damp.

I'll check the soil regularly and water minimally when dry, but it looks like my environment isn't good for completely drying the soil out. I've also started misting the leaves when I mist my kiwi and feijoa seedlings.

IanW says...
The plant looks unhappy, with some crisping up top. I'll consider repotting in azealea mix, although that has wetting agents added. Its in a sunny window facing South. Getting sunlight reflected off the flats next door.

Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1	Picture: 2

IanW says...
The plant went outside for Spring and Summer. It didn't grow any new leaves, and lost some more and browned some more. Now its cold again, I've brought it back inside and put an LED lamp on it since my windows don't get any direct sunlight. I noticed tiny red dots moving on it - spider mite? There's nothing on the underside of the leaves and no webbing. I'm spraying it with a tiny amount of detergent dissolved in water, as suggested on some websites. I'm amazed it hasn't died! I suspect I shouldn't have planted it in such a large pot, but if I repot it now I could stress the plant too much.

I recently purchased a new miracle berry seedling from Daleys. I really don't want the new one to catch the red mites from the sick one!

David01 says...
Hi IanW,

You don't need LED lamp unless room temp drops below 10C for young Miracle plant. Indirect sunlight through windows should be okay in winter. I found detergent mixed with oil does not work as claimed and often damage the young leaves. All my plants treated with alcohol+water spray and so far it works with mites, scale, and small insects and the spray does not cause any harm to young leaves as Alcohol will evaporate in few minutes. The ratio depends on case by case. But for spider mite the ratio is 1:2 (1 part Alcohol 70% 2 parts tap water). You may need to repeat 2 or 3 times. One dose a day. Cheers

David01 says...
Hi IanW,

It’s a Isopropyl Alcohol - IPA ( C₃H₈O). It contains 70% to 99.8% of Alcohol mixed with water. The mixture is used for antiseptic to kill germ and bacteria. Its common name is Rubbing Alcohol. You can buy it from ebay under “Isopropyl Alcohol or IPA�. The link below info about IPA
https://www.drugs.com/inactive/isopropyl-alcohol-159.html

Note: Ethanol alcohol is used for fuel and drinks and Methylated spirits has mainly ethyl alcohol that has additives 5-10% of methyl to make it more toxic mainly for industrial use