I am starting to come to the conclusion that there are more people with jabuticaba and very little information re. growing them as bonsai is available. So I thought maybe we can collect experiences here.

Just to make sure, I am talking about the Brazilian grape; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabuticaba ; Plinia cauliflora

I got mine from a trader which was selling them as very large already fruiting trees. Not certain whether one could just cut them off, I was assured: Don't worry, it will backbud.

So I removed 90% of the buds, and chopped all branches back to stumps. The roots were washed out completely and cut to stumps too. THen the whole thing was insecticides and imported.


When it came through it was potted and placed in a mini greenhouse.


In spring the growth was good and I did the first wiring. At this time I also cleaned up the main cuts I made earlier.

Lessons:

- They take well to cutting back
- No problems with bare-rooting
- I saw no die-back on any cut made
- Wiring of your pliable green branches has not caused any problems

Mine usually drops a lot of leaves in November when I bring it in. I'll plan on major surgery. Mine came from mail order, probably Brussels but it's been a long time. I like the bark but most of the branches aren't great, so off they'll go. We'll see.