Question
8 year old jaboticaba, 7 ft. tall, grows in a 35 gal. plastic
garbage container resting on ground. Past two weeks were very hot.
Jabo has heavy pine needle mulch and is given 5 gallons water
each week. Leaves no longer are upward; drooping slightly now.
Not responding to water as leaves did prior to 2 weeks ago. It
has never blossomed.
Q. I suspect this tree is now too big for its container. If soil
falls away from roots in an attempt to plant it directly into the
ground, what is the chance that it will survive transplanting?
Q. How shallow can it be planted?  
Any comments / suggestions welcome.  

Answer
Hi Mel, it may well be too big for that container, and it may also have compacted soil , and your irrigation is not fully being uptaken by the roots, (filtering around the root ball and down the sides), I would pop it out and free up the roots and then put it in the ground (where it should be..) at the same level it is planted in the container. Make certain that you don't augment the soil it is planted in, for it needs to adjust to that soil, and if you make the mistake of putting it  into a doctored hole (new soil, compost , manure etc.), the roots will just grow in a circular pattern, and never break out into the surrounding , indigenous soil. This will cause an unnatural growth pattern and weaken the tree considerably down the road. It may take awhile for it to perk up, expect some transplant shock, for it is being done in a weakened state to begin with, but it doesn't look like you have a choice. When you do transplant it, make certain that you water it well after back filling, in order to remove all air pockets, then back fill again to bring it up to level. Nick