Miracle Berry Plant

With the Miracle Berry (Synsepalum dulcificum) get ready to enjoy lovely white flowers and the incredible fruit that aptly gave it the name it so deserves. What else would you call a fruit that seems to make everything you eat taste sweet? Even lemons! The Miracle Berry is a partial sun lover commonly grown outdoors in USDA growing zones 9-11 but can also be successfully container grown and kept indoors in the colder seasons. The berry bush reaches a mature height of about 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide which means it does not take up a lot of space.

Choosing a location: Place your Miracle Fruit in a location with filtered sunlight, or partial shade. If potting, choose a decorative container and place it next to a sunny window in your favorite room for container grown plants. When the weather warms up, move your Miracle Berry outdoors as long as temperatures remain above 50 degrees. Provide rich soil, with lots of organic matter and watch this Miracle perform.

Note: This product grows best in well-draining soil. When you receive your plant, you may notice small, white beads or rocks in the soil - this medium is added to increase drainage and keep your plant happy and healthy! 

Planting Instructions (in ground):
1) Make your hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep.
2) Carefully remove the berry bush from its container. Tap the sides of the pot to help release any clinging particles/roots.
3) Place the bush in the hole and carefully back fill, tamping down the soil as you go to eliminate air pockets.
4) Water the area to settle the soil and then mulch to retain soil moisture.
*Do not let the plant sit in wet soil! Root rot can set in quite easy if the roots are left in any standing water.

Planting direction (potted):
1) Plant your Miracle Berry in a container using an acidic soil. Go 1-2 pot sizes larger than what the plant initially came in. Drainage is essential so make sure there are lots of drainage holes on the bottom.
2) Aim for around a 5.0 soil pH with your potting medium and lightly tap down on the soil as you fill in the open potting space.
3) Do not over-water the plant. Make sure the surface soil is dry to the touch before adding more water.
4) Add a water soluble fertilizer and follow the application directions on the label. Use sparingly but increase frequency in the summer months.
5) Try to achieve an environment close to your Miracle Berry’s native tropical climate. Increase humidity around the plant as necessary. This can be done by misting the leaves once a week with a water spray bottle or plant mister.
6) When the roots take up the entire container it’s time to transplant your Miracle Berry. Move the plant into a slightly larger container using more soil to fill in the extra space. Make sure the plant remains at the same depth it was in the previous container.
*Tip: If the edges of the root ball feel dense to the touch along the wall of the pot it is time to move up a container size.

Watering: Take care not to over water which can lead to root rot and other problems. Be sure that your soil dries between watering the plant. Use your index finger and stick into the soil down to a depth of about 2 inches. feel around for moisture and if it feels dry, give it some water. If the touch still feels moist, hold off on watering a bit longer.

Fertilization: Miracle Fruit plants will accept a whole host of fertilizers and as long as the proper pH is accomplished, it will do well. Apply to recommended levels on the packaging.

Pests: Scale can be a common challenge but is easily controlled. A simple remedy is to use a mixture containing 10 drops of dish soap in 2 cups of water. Add some cinnamon extract and bye bye scale.

Tips:
*Miracle Fruit also does best in humid conditions, so avoid dry-air conditions when possible. A clear plastic bag placed over the plant can help maintain a suitable humidity level if the ambient humidity is low.
*Flowering and fruiting will increase by ensuring soil contains an acidic mixture of half sphagnum peat moss and half perlite.
Dress the area above the root ball of the Miracle Berry with an acid-forming mulch like pine bark or coffee grounds at a depth of 1 to 4 inches.