Very nice photo Looks like you have many plants an trees looks like a heavenly place to spend some time in

Thanks Dale! On cold, wintery days I can take a "mini-vacation" by simply walking a 100 feet to the greenhouse. The thermostate is set at 60...as a minimum (night or cloudy day temp), it vents at 80. Most sunny, winter days it will be 75-80 inside, during daylight hours. I have live birds in there (caged)....so with some tunes and snacks it's almost like being in the tropics. It's easy to spend all day in there....in shorts and a tank top!

Is that where your hiding those rare endangered birds you kidnapped from SC ?

Laaz and Dale, I have been inside Citrus Joe's greenhouse many times. He keeps his greenhouse in MUCH BETTER SHAPE than I keep mine. Whenever Joe comes over to my place for a visit I don't want to be shamed, so I hurry up and clean up the greenhouse before he arrives. Joe, I need a couple Miracle Fruit seeds from you to start my plant???? Hey guys, I'm lucky to live by such a nice guy and Joe. - Millet

Hi Millet. I'm just joking with Joe. How long do Miracle fruit take to produce from seed ?

joe real nice plant

Miracle fruit from seed -- 2-3 years for the first fruiting, so not long. But they are bizarre in the way they grow. During the first year, you'll do well to get the seedling more than 2 inches tall with more than 3 leaves. During that long initial period, it's making a root system. Then in the second season the top "pops" to grow up to a nice 1-gallon container size shrub, at which time it starts to flower. If you try it, I recommend pure Canadian peat moss as the medium. They like a lower pH than any other fruit that I know of, including blueberries. Try to stay under pH 5.0 if possible.
Malcolm

Hey Guys....thanks for the kudos. Millet and his greenhouse don't take a back seat to anyone, especially me. I envy his spaceous operation where he can grow (some) plants directly in the ground. With his "chemist" background most times he's about 4 interlect levels over my head, still we have a great time and can collectively research & resolve most citrus dilemmas. For a couple of citrus collectors with relatively green thumbs we both sure missed the boat on pc savvy related to posting photos...thanks Laaz for bailing us out. Keep the faith, we'll get it figured out eventually. ps..Laaz with reagards to the birds, seriously...the only birds I saw while in Charleston were Turkey Buzzards...really!

Turkey Buzzards ? Hell we have so many of those, I'll send ya a dozen for your greenhouse.

Dr. Manners, you say to grow the Miracle Fruit in pure Canadain peat moss. Sould I also germinate the seeds in the same medium? Any temperature best for germination? Approximately how long after seeding is germination. If I remember correct Joe's plant did exactly as you wrote above, and really grew in the second year. Thanks - Millet

The plant in the photo is growing in 2 parts chcs and 1 part pure Canadian peat, with a dash of S.T.E.M. and a pinch of bone meal, Osmocote on top. As Dr. Manners mentioned they like a really low ph. I use the same mix for (container) Blue Berries, Azaleas and Rhody's. Right now I don't have a Lychee but I'd guess it would like the mix/ph too.

We germinate them in pure Canadian peat, and grow them on in that medium permanently. I have had my oldest one for well over a decade.

As for temperature -- I don't know the limits. We sprout ours in a warm (80+) greenhouse with no problem.

Lychee likes higher pH -- 6.0-6.5 would be excellent.

Malcolm