Celebrating 10 years of helping your gardens grow!
[
The Garden Helper][
Gardening Basics][
"How to" Guides][
House plants][
Glossary of Terms]
[
Garden Encyclopedia][
USDA Zones][
Monthly Reminders][
Galleries][
Recipes]
[
**** The Gardener's Forum ****]
Jerusalem Cherry
Solanum pseudocapsicum
December 21,1997
Sharlene Floam wrote:
Hi there! Received a Jerusalem Cherry - know it is poisonous - no animals
or little ones near by - would like to know the care it takes? Light -
water- indoor/out temps. Thanks a million.
Good morning Sharlene,
I didn't know much about the Jerusalem Cherry plant (Solanum pseudocapsicum)
before you wrote. Most of what I found out didn't surprise me a bit. I knew
that it was in the same family as Nightshade, and like Nightshade is very
toxic. It did come as a bit of a shock to find eggplant and potatoes in the
same family though.
Jerusalem Cherry is a tender perennial. As a houseplant, it requires full
sun to thrive, but it will survive with moderate to bright light.
Mist the plant often. Temperatures above 70 degrees or lack of humidity
will cause the plant to lose its leaves and blooms. The plant should be
potted in a rich, well drained potting soil, and kept moist during the
growing cycle. Feed with a liquid 5-10-5 'blooming houseplant' fertilizer
every two weeks while the plant is growing vigorously, but discontinue
feeding when the plant has finished blooming.
After the fruits have dropped, cut the plant back drastically, and in the
spring, when ALL danger of frost has passed, plant it outside, in a semi-
sunny place. If you live in a frost free zone, the plant will develop into
a nice 2-3 foot, woody shrub. If you want to keep the plant going in frost
zones, you will need to dig the plant up, repot, and begin the cycle all
over again.
[ The Garden Helper][ Gardening Basics][ Encyclopedia]
[ Plants by name][ Plants by botanical name][ How to Grow a Garden][ Monthly reminders]
[ House Plants][ Web Graphics][ Nature Gallery]
[Gardeners Forum][ Gardening Glossary]