Miracle Berry Plant

If you haven’t heard about the Miracle Berry Plant, then be prepared for a miracle. Eat two or three of the red berries and everything you eat will taste sweet – why eat high-calorie sweet foods when everything can taste sweet?. The amazing chemical in this fruit is called miraculin, and that is exactly what it is. A shrub or small tree from West Africa, it is quite easy to grow indoors, where it will form a shrubby plant maybe 6 feet tall (to 15 feet when grown in the garden), and by the time it is 2 feet tall it will begin to flower. The white flowers develop in clusters anytime from spring to fall, and we recommend hand-pollinating for a good crop. When the berries are bright red they are ripe, and can be eaten fresh or frozen. Do not cook them as heat destroys the miraculin. It could also be grown as a tree outdoors if you live in zone 10, and plants should certainly be placed outside during hotter weather for good growth and fruiting. Indoors grow in a sunny window and maintain high humidity at all times, with frequent misting.

• Eat a few of the red berries and everything you eat for the next hour will taste sweet
• A small tree or bushy shrub, with attractive glossy leaves
• Clusters of white flowers appear in a year or two
• Grow in bright, frost-free place, with high humidity
• Needs acidic soil and regular watering

Grow the Miracle Berry Plant indoors in a sunny window, and outdoors in light shade or sun with afternoon shade. Grow it in acidic soil, with a pH value of 5.0 or less, and water with de-ionized water slightly acidified with a few drops of vinegar. Water frequently, to maintain good soil moisture, but let the surface dry a little between waterings. Should be grown in a humid environment, so mist frequently, and grow in a humid room, such as a bathroom or kitchen. Use an artist’s brush to transfer pollen from one flower to another, to ensure a good fruit set. Outdoors growing two trees may also improve fruit development. Trim lightly in spring as needed to control growth, but over-trimming will reduce blooming. Keep outdoors when night temperatures are over 40oF, and acclimatize plants to colder outdoor temperatures gradually, by first only putting it outside during the day and bringing it in at night, choosing a warm night for its first full 24 hours outside. Outdoor periods will reduce the risk of it contracting the usual pests of indoor plants.