Sea grape plant grow and care – as shrub, tree or vine of the genus coccoloba also known as Seagrape, Sea grape perennial evergreen or semi-deciduous in colder area, can grow also used as ornamental plant and can grow as bonsai or as hedge plant, for the fruits and the leaves grow in tropic, mediterranean, subtropical climate or as indoor as houseplant with the right care and growing outdoor in hardiness zone 10+.
Leaves color is green in the color changed to red-orange, shape of the leaf is round to heart-shape.
Flower color is white the flowers grow in cluster, the flowers grow separate to female or male flowers different plant.
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction
How to propagate:
Propagation by cutting better to start in the early spring or with at least temperature of ~26C, requirements: moist soil, high humidity, peat soil, hormone for root growth, highly recommend to use green house (or small plastic box with holes).
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No, but if the is not place it’s better to graft male and female stem on the same plant
Difficulties or problems when growing: Nothing special
How to plant: Dig a hole as deep as the current root ball plus extra 20-40%, put in the hole organic matter, hummus and dried leaves and mix it with some soil, put the tree and loos little bit the root ball above the hole, plant the tree and cover it and don’t push the soil too much strong but not too much lightly because it won’t be stable, after this put mulch to keep moist on soil, put water, for the next two weeks put every day (better in the morning) , better to take care that the plant will be stable, and if not support it with bamboo or a stick that it won’t fall.
Planting season: In tropics climate can be all year in colder area spring
Pests and diseases: Aphids
Pruning season: Autumn / Winter
How to prune:
Recommend to keep it small easier to pick the fruits also prune design and dead parts, for tree when young need to prune all the side branches or shrub need to prune the top of the main trunk in order to induce more side branches, and as vine need to help the tree by trellising and cut anything that not go with this way.
Size of the plant? 1-10m, 3-30 feet
Growth rate speed in optimal condition: Fast growing in the right condition, medium growing in les optimal condition
Water requirement: Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun, half shade, full shade with light
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant (indoor)? Yes
Sea grape plant care indoor: Need to know that as houseplant need to care that will have enough light, the soil will be well drained and ventilated
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes, size of the container at least 25-50 liter (6.5-13 gallons) possible bigger and also possible to grow it also in small as bonsai, better start with container that bigger than the plant at least 70-90%, need to switch the container to bigger when root ball over grow the container, better to switch in the winter, when the plant arrive to the desirable size of container need to switch the soil once in a few years by new soil when switch to new soil cut roots and prune the plant, need average amount of water with good drainage, soil can be potting mix or peat soil with perlite, better to use bottom for the pot.
Blooming information
Bloom season: Spring / Summer
General information about the flower White flowers grow in cluster, female and male flowers that grow on separate plant
Thinning the bloom: Not enough pollination from the male trees
Pollination is done by: Bees
Edible fruits
Fruit harvest season: Spring / Summer
Fruits pests or diseases: Aphids
What can be done with big quantities of Sea grape fruits? Eaten raw, juice, jams, alcohol
Work requirements on the fruit: Pick the fruits
How long does it take to bear fruit? 2-5 years
How to grow sea grapes from seed
Sowing requirement: Moist soil, humidity, if there is enough seeds just put them direct in the garden in sunny location keep the soil moist and well-drained soil
Saving seeds until sowing: Dry and dark location
Sowing season: Spring – better in spring but possible also in the summer and in tropical climate possible all year, possible to start indoor in the end of the winter,
Planting spacing: In different pots, or just to through a lot if seeds in hole and choose the better quality
Depth of Sowing: 2-4mm
How to plant: Dig hole bigger than the seeds and cover and better to cover with vermiculite
Conditions for seeds germinate: Moist soil, high humidity, hot weather (better in green house)
Watering requires for Seeds: Average to big amount of water, need good drainage and to check when grow in pots not that the soil will be viable
Germination time: Possible 1 month but 4-8 months until 1 year and even more (2 years after sowing possible that it will germinate)
Condition of seedling: Full sun, moist soil, watering regular and better humidity
