Common Name: Barbados Cherry, Wild Crapemyrtle, Acerola, Manzanita
Scientific name for
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
Malpighia glabra L.
The original home of Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
West Indies
.
Botanical description Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) are evergreen shrubs, about 3 meters high. Leaves are oval to oblong-lanceolate, about 10 cm long.
The flowers are in the bushes of Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra), pinkish to reddish in color, gathered in tent inflorescences, while the fruits are round, red in color, up to one cm in diameter.
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) propagation
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) are propagated by planting seeds during the spring and summer seasons, where the seeds are planted in pots or wooden planting boxes in an environment of compost + silt that is well fertile at a ratio of 2: 1, and they are taken care of until the appearance of the real leaves.
After the appearance of the true leaves, the plants are separated into pots or planting bags until they reach a length of 20-25 cm, where the plants are rotated in pots or larger planting bags, and they are taken care of until they are planted in permanent land.
Shrubs are also propagated by planting cuttings, which are planted after being treated with a suitable root stimulant (according to the recommended recommendations).
After the formation of a suitable root system, the cuttings are separated into pots or planting bags, and they are taken care of until they are planted in sustainable land.
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) watering
Care must be taken in the process of irrigating the shrubs without thirst or drowning, as the shrubs are irrigated at intervals commensurate with the nature of the soil and the environmental conditions in the region in terms of high air temperature, intensity of winds and atmospheric humidity in the region.
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) fertilizer
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) are fertilized using the mineral fertilizer NPK 10: 10: 10 of the major fertilizer elements nitrogen – phosphorus – potassium at a rate of 300 g / bush from the age of 3-5 years.
Provided that the fertilizer is added in two equal batches, the first batch is added during the month of March, and the second batch is added during the month of August or October.
The bushes should be fertilized using well-decomposed organic fertilizer during the winter service in the month of December at a rate of 2-3 kg + 200 gm of 15% monosuperphosphate fertilizer / bush of 3-5 years of age.
bio-fertilizer of Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
are fertilized using environmentally friendly bio-fertilizers instead of using environmentally friendly (chemical) fertilizers:
Among the most important biofertilizers used are the following fertilizers:
1- Use the water soaked in compost, known as compost tea.
2- The use of atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria known as Azotobacter.
3- Use Trichoderma fungus, which helps shrubs to absorb rock phosphates in the soil.
4- Using active dry brewer’s yeast during the spring season at a rate of 20 gm / bush at all ages.
5- The use of humic acid, which helps the soil to retain irrigation water, especially in light and sandy soils.
Also, humic acid helps the shrubs to absorb the microelements in the soil, such as magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, manganese, and the rest of the microelements in the soil, so that the shrubs can grow well.
Soil suitable for Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
It is important to plant ornamental shrubs in a light, well-drained, well-ventilated soil, free of harmful mineral salts, as the shrubs are sensitive to salinity, whether soil salinity or irrigation water salinity.
Shrubs should also be planted in soil that is neutral in acidity and alkalinity, where the soil PH should be between approximately 5.5-6.5, in order for the bushes to grow well.
Light requirements for Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
It is very important to Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra), in sunny, well-lit places, so that they can grow well.
As light is important for the process of photosynthesis, in which the plant absorbs energy from the light reaching the mechanism in the representation of carbon dioxide + water to build carbohydrates from which the rest of the other nutrients necessary for the continuation of plant life are created.
The process of preparing and preparing the soil for planting seedlings of the ornamental melbegia shrubs in the permanent land:
When wanting to plant ornamental melbegia shrubs in sustainable land, the following should be followed:
1- The place for planting seedlings is determined, provided that it is in sunny, well-lit places, and that the soil is light, fertile, well-drained, well-ventilated, free of harmful salts, and neutral in acidity and alkalinity.
2- The area of the place for planting the seedlings is determined, provided that it is 100 cm long and 100 cm wide, then the soil is dug and stirred, with the weeds, grills and stirrups removed.
3- After digging and turning the soil, the following components are added to the planting site.
* Adding well-decomposing organic fertilizer at a rate of 1-2 kg (depending on the size of the seedling + 200 gm of monosuperphosphate fertilizer 15% + a fungicide suitable for soil rot control (according to the recommended recommendations).
4 + After adding the previous ingredients, the soil is stirred well, then left for 48 hours until it is well ventilated.
5- After 48 hours have passed, the seedlings are brought, provided that the seedlings are treated with the following ingredients:
* Dipping the roots of the seedlings for a period of 3-5 minutes in a suitable fungicide to combat root rot + a root stimulating hormone solution such as indole butyric acid (according to the recommended recommendations).
6- After the seedlings are treated, they are planted in the chosen place, provided that they are exactly in the middle of the place, and they are well fixed, by gently pressing the soil until they are well established.
7 – After planting the seedlings in the permanent land, irrigation is done without drowning, and appropriate fertilization is applied to the size and age of the plant.
trimming and pruning Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
The process of pruning and trimming Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) is carried out in Libya, by removing broken, dry and deformed branches, as well as removing branches infected with fungal diseases and insect pests.
The tangled branches inside the heart of the bushes must also be removed in order to allow light to reach the heart of the bushes,, in order for them to grow well.
Control of insect pests in Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
It is important to pay attention to the control of insect pests that affect ornamental shrubs in Malbegia, such as mites, aphids, mealy bugs, gassid insects and thrips.
Where the bushes are sprayed,
* Use of malathion 57% at a rate of 3 cc + 15 cc of royal summer mineral oil / liter of water.
The spraying should be done in the early morning and the bushes should be washed, and the spraying should be repeated 21 days after the previous spraying, until the pests and insects are completely eradicated.
Cultivation of Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) in home gardens:
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) are among the most beautiful shrubs that are grown in home gardens, where they are planted in flower beds, and they are also planted in the garden individually or in groups, in order to give the garden the desired aesthetic look.
Benefits of Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
1- Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra) are among the most ornamental shrubs that are planted in gardens and public parks.
2- Ornamental shrubs are one of the most common types of shrubs that are planted in home gardens, due to the beauty of the bushes as well as the shape and beauty of the flowers.
3- The bushes produce delicious fruits, from which delicious jam and jelly are made.