Barbados Cherry are related to Singapore Holly and Surinam cherry. It displays weeping branches of ovate pointed leaves. Open, pink flowers and red fruit. There are three varieties of malpighia which are used as bonsai subjects. Each has unique characteristics. In their native tropical American environment, they may be found in the under story of tropical forests or on rocky hill sides near streams where the soil is rich and moist. Plants may be obtained by collecting during the summer months, but can also be purchased from a nursery or started from seed, hard or soft wood cuttings or root cuttings taken in the summer.
Never let the soil completely dry out. Whenever the soil seems dry, thoroughly water your tree until the water runs clear from the bottom. In the growing season, this can be daily.
Cherry Blossoms are flexible; plant in multiple exposures. Full sun, partial shade, or mostly shady locations will all work.
Since your Barbados cherry bonsai is in a small pot, and not the ground, it needs nutrients. A slow release (pellet based) fertilizer is perfect for this, and can be added sparingly every 1-2 months during the growing season. If you plan on eating the cherries, you should stick with a fertilizer that you're comfortable putting on a food producing plant, but dilute it to at least half the recommended strength.
Trim back the new growth to the farthest safe point that looks good to you — but never remove all of the new growth. A regular trim will help keep your Barbados cherry bonsai tree short, while helping the trunk grow thicker.
Fruit plants, and nut trees as well, need a certain amount of time spend dormant in temperatures from about 32 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (0 to 4.5 Celsius) in order to develop flowers and fruit in the spring, summer, and fall.
