There is potential for zinc toxicity if you plant in galvanized pots ....... especially if soil/water pH are on the acidic side. There is plenty of potential for you to have complete control over your plants ht and width, but controlling its mass requires a little more finesse. IOW, your trunk is going to get thicker and thicker over time. You'll need to learn how to maintain your plants root system, because vitality, growth rate, and branch extension are all negatively affected by root congestion. At the approximate point where root congestion progresses to the stage where the entire root/soil mass can be lifted from the pot intact, limitations related to said congestion start affecting the plant and become progressively more limiting until there isn't much left of the plant. Usually, the plant succumbs to insect infestation or diseases as congestion worsens. BTW - potting up (as opposed to repotting, which includes root pruning) is not a cure for root congestion. It temporarily/partially leaves some of the associated limitations, but ensures those limitations will ALWAYS be in play until such time that you or someone familiar with root work actually gets their hands in the root mass and corrects the congestion. Al

Heavensabus, Glad to hear your collection is expanding. Most people hear will tell you that one pot size larger is the best because you want the roots to dry out fast to prevent molds or rootrot. I don't always agree with this. My latest additions were my three mango trees. I potted two of them in pots that were quite a bit larger and so far it has worked out well. The mango likes soil that is free draining but they also like to be kept moist. I let my first one dry out and it nearly killed it. I would read up on the surinam cherry and find out what soil conditions it requires. I also would find out the rate of growth. My mangoes are growing fairly fast and that is another reason I potted them in larger pots. I have never been good at the size of the pot when they use the gallon measurement. I go by the diameter also. I hope that helps and I am sure someone here will have experience with the surinam cherry. You could also check the search engine on gardenweb and find usefull info there. I have found tons of info on my potted trees there. Goodluck! Andrew

If allowed to root into ground the pot won't control size at all. If not the final size will be proportional to pot size, watering frequency, and water holding capacity of media. Watering once a day my fruits in 12 gallon pots have reached about 4-6ft height and spread. When they get rootbound they just quit growing, or at least slow to a crawl. I've fruited many things in 3-5 gal pots even trees like apricot and nectarine. But it takes constant care.

I would use what works best. I use shade cloths for my orchids and they work great. I don't get the heat like you but I do have friends that take their trees out of the full sun and place them in part sun or shade, under trees or partly planted in the ground. So many ways to protect your trees from heat. You just have to become creative. You mean spray the trunk white? By the way there is a product that you could use in your fertilizer regimen that will help the plant with heat stress call 'Pro-tek' made by Dyna-gro which does wonders.