Overview
Barbados Cherry Bonsai (Malpighia glabra / Malpighia emarginata) is a tropical fruiting shrub with small leaves, pink flowers and red cherry-like fruit. It is best suited to flowering and fruiting bonsai, shohin and informal upright styles. For UK growers, treat it as: Indoor or greenhouse in the UK, warm summer outdoors.
Placement
bright warm light with some sun
Watering
keep evenly moist but not soggy
Feeding and fertilising
feed during active growth and fruiting
Pruning and wiring
trim after growth flushes; wire young shoots carefully
Repotting
repot every 2 years in warm spring conditions
Propagation
cuttings or seed
Pests, diseases and common issues
chlorosis, scale, aphids, spider mites and weak flowering in low light