Author Topic: Torture for Jabo: Experiments with Jaboticaba Flood Tolerance (Read 8759 times)

Tim · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2012, 12:57:48 AM »

Very cool and interesting experiment. Wish I have the luxury of trying this out. I think Harry floods his tree(s) to force it into bloom but not to this extent. Please update this thread often with pictures and track its growth rate for us. I may have to submerge my seedlings if that helps them grow any faster

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2012, 01:39:54 AM »

stressbaby · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2012, 07:43:35 AM »

I remember reading a long time ago that you could induce potted jaboticaba to bloom by frequently immersing the pot entirely in water.

murahilin · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2012, 09:42:53 AM »

In your previous experiments, did you fully submerse the plants like you're doing now with the hybrid?

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2012, 05:33:22 PM »

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2012, 05:36:19 PM »

TropicalFruitHunters · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2012, 08:02:02 PM »

One would think that too much water would wash out the flavor of the fruit. By your descriptions, it does not.

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2012, 10:17:21 PM »

Quote from: ohiojay on February 17, 2012, 08:02:02 PM

One would think that too much water would wash out the flavor of the fruit. By your descriptions, it does not.

seems like more water, equals bigger fruit...and longer fruit ripens sweeter the fruit gets...so I don't think they are less sweet, although they are lots more juicy and large!

HMHausman · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2012, 08:09:27 AM »

Quote from: ohiojay on February 17, 2012, 08:02:02 PM

One would think that too much water would wash out the flavor of the fruit. By your descriptions, it does not.

At my house, I have experienced some reduction in flavor intensity with excess water. There seems to be a fine line between larger fruit and some flavor wash out. In my experience, the smaller fruit produced in drier times generally have had a more consistantly concentrated, more intense flavor. But as I said, if you reach up to that "fine line", you can get a much larger, fully flavored fruit without significant wash out in flavor. The larger fully flavored fruits are truly a joy to eat.

Harry

Cookie Monster · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2012, 05:36:43 PM »

HAHAHAHAHAHA Ohh that's funny, man. What's interesting is that many sources claim that jaboticaba is not flood tolerant (which is obviously totally incorrect). So, you get uninformed nurseries telling their clients to not water their jabo's but to mist them only -- which leads to dead jabo's.

kimi · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2012, 10:48:18 AM »

wow!! how very interesting. seems like i need to give my jabos even more water than they've been getting?

Cookie Monster · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2012, 11:31:06 AM »

They like plenty of water. Even a mature (25+ year old) specimen in the ground needs water during periods of drought (2 weeks or longer without rain).

kimi · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2012, 02:08:09 AM »

Hi Jeff

i've asked this question in another thread, but can't remember which one - do these trees need regular watering in the colder months (daily/twice a day) as well or will this be overkill?

thanks
kimi

Cookie Monster · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2012, 11:27:04 AM »

The amount of water you'd give it in the colder months would be less, just because the rate of transpiration is less. But, I've honestly never heard of anybody killing a jaboticaba with too much water.

phantomcrab · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2012, 01:43:05 PM »

Does anyone know if there is a jaboticaba that can tolerate some drought?

HMHausman · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2012, 02:27:56 PM »

Depends on what you call drought. I have mine planted in one of the lowest areas of my yard. My impression, from observation, is that Jaboticabas have fairly shallow root systems (based upon how they all went over in the hurricane). So, I don't think my trees have roots that reach the water table. I have gone months without any added water in our drier season and while growth stops, I haven't seen any tree decline. Now, I should say that my yard does get a fairly heavy dew throughout the year and that may contribute some moisture when it is not raining or I am not otherwise irrigating. The bottom line from my perspective is that they love wet....but in the ground, at least, once established, they will do Ok if you have a fairly moisture retentive soil, even if there is an extended dry spell. I can't say what would happen if you are high and dry with really well draining sandy soil...but I don't think it will be pretty of you deny watering.

Harry

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2012, 12:09:31 AM »

fruitlovers · « **Reply #18 on:** May 10, 2012, 03:19:05 AM »

Quote from: HMHausman on February 25, 2012, 02:27:56 PM

Depends on what you call drought. I have mine planted in one of the lowest areas of my yard. My impression, from observation, is that Jaboticabas have fairly shallow root systems (based upon how they all went over in the hurricane). So, I don't think my trees have roots that reach the water table. I have gone months without any added water in our drier season and while growth stops, I haven't seen any tree decline. Now, I should say that my yard does get a fairly heavy dew throughout the year and that may contribute some moisture when it is not raining or I am not otherwise irrigating. The bottom line from my perspective is that they love wet....but in the ground, at least, once established, they will do Ok if you have a fairly moisture retentive soil, even if there is an extended dry spell. I can't say what would happen if you are high and dry with really well draining sandy soil...but I don't think it will be pretty of you deny watering.

Harry

Hi Harry, my observations go along with yours. I've seen large jaboticaba trees in Kona (dry side of the island) go for months without water. But they do have high air humidity there. So the trees can survive long periods of no ground watering, even without good water retaining soils (Kona soils are very poor and rocky.) But the jaboticabas, even large trees, are not at all happy without regular ground watering. What they do is go into survival mode: abort fruit production, leaves droop down also to help conserve water. As soon as it rains they perk right up again. So if at all possible you should always water jaboticabas regularly, as they won't fruit otherwise, or get few small fruits.
There are some types of jaboticaba relatives that are from the cerrado and other drier parts of Brazil that can take drought much better. Berto can probably help here.

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #19 on:** May 10, 2012, 03:38:27 PM »

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #20 on:** May 23, 2012, 07:46:29 PM »

mikesid · « **Reply #21 on:** May 23, 2012, 09:46:21 PM »

Quote from: ASaffron on May 23, 2012, 07:46:29 PM

Looks like jabo died!

The water receded with evaporation until the top of the plant was sticking out of the water about an inch or so....then came a heavy rain! It beat up the foliage...and made this already sickly looking plant, take a turn for the worster.

If I left her in the water, it would have died for sure...so I took it out and set it under another tree...and I'm seeing if it will leaf out again....but I'm pretty sure it finally rotted....although! it could leaf out!

So I think a jabo seedling can survive about 4-5 months underwater...before dying...of course this depends on a bunch of other factors (I always add that disclaimer )

I'm not sure, but I think a more mature tree could handle just a bit longer...but it could be the opposite is true....

I think the long duration of viability while being immersed, most likely corresponds directly with the typical duration of the flood season in Brazil.

I think they can survive almost all year long with just the lower portions of the roots sitting in water...but I'm beginning to believe it's optimal to water jabos so they have eventual drainage, consistent and slow passage of water through root system , and fresh new water, rather than sitting stagnant water...although flooding them for weeks at a time, then allowing draining (air to enter root system, promoting root growth?), and thereafter, keeping wet, but not flooded for a few weeks...then flood all over again...and repeat process through growing season??

Maybe u can save money on water by keeping them flooded for weeks? Not sure...but i've gotten in the habit of just hand watering them heavily every day....unless it rains heavy, or I feel to lazy but GOD forbid I miss more than 2days watering! Leaf wilt! small fruits! less flowers! Angry Jabo!

Sounds like you figured out your next experiment! Thanks for keeping us posted. I will definitely be trying a couple of the jabos I'll be getting soon

(thanks), in my aquaponics system and will make a separate post for that to keep y'all updated.

Tomas · « **Reply #22 on:** May 24, 2012, 12:50:35 PM »

Hi Adam,

Thanks for sharing the results from this experiment. I bet you would have a hard time to kill camu-camu with the same kind of experiment.

Tomas

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #23 on:** May 24, 2012, 02:35:05 PM »

Tomas!

now u know my next experiment!

p rivularis may end up underwater oneday to!

KarenRei · « **Reply #24 on:** May 24, 2012, 08:07:40 PM »

Great to know this about jaboticaba! I've got what's probably the only one in Iceland, and it's a pain and a half to import plants, so I *really* don't want it to die!

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Author Topic: Torture for Jabo: Experiments with Jaboticaba Flood Tolerance (Read 8759 times)