Phyllanthus acidus - How to grow & care

Grow Plants / Growing instruction / Phyllanthus acidus

Phyllanthus acidus growing tree of the genus Phyllanthus also known as Star gooseberry tree, Phyllanthus acidus perennial evergreen plant used for the edible fruits, as medical plant and as ornamental plant, can grow in tropic, subtropical or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 10+.

Leaves color green in elliptic shape, leaves grow in pinnate structure

Flower color pink to red in cross shape, the flowers cover the tree

Phyllanthus acidus fruits

Fruits color yellow in round shape, fruits are sour and tart.

Alternative names: Otaheite gooseberry, Malay gooseberry, Tahitian gooseberry, Country gooseberry, Star gooseberry, Starberry, West India gooseberry, Simply Gooseberry tree

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How to grow Phyllanthus acidus growing and care:

Moist soil, rich soil, mulch

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed (Care explanation bellow) / Vegetative Reproduction care – propagation by cutting better to start in the early spring or with temperature of ~26C, requirements: moist soil, high humidity, peat soil, hormone for root growth, highly recommend to use green house (or small plastic box with holes).

Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction?
No, easy to start from seeds

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Invasive in the tropic

Planting season:
Spring to summer in hardiness zone 10a, spring to the autumn in hardiness zone 10b-11, all the year in hardiness zone 12+

Pests and diseases:
?

Pruning season:
Autumn / Winter

How to prune:
For design

Size of the plant:
2-10m, 6-30 feet

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full sun

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, when grow in container need to choose the desirable container if it’s small plant it directly if it’s a big container bigger than 30%-50% than the root ball, every time that the tree arrive to full capacity need to switch to bigger until arrives to desirable size, better to switch the soil once in few years soil lose the viability over time and it’s efficient of care for the tree, when it’s not possible to switch all the soil just part of the soil in the side of the roots (don’t afraid from root cutting), it will bear fruits also in 5-10gallon (40 liter) container (but bigger is better), drainage it’s important and need to make holes and to use peat soil and maybe some lava grit in the bottom or something like that, put a bottom for the container and when water the plant let it fill the bottom but also need to dry in the same day, better to grow as dwarf tree or to grow it as bonsai.

Blooming information

Bloom season?
Spring / Summer

General information about the flower:
Cross shaped flower in red or pink color

Edible Fruit

Fruit harvest season:
Summer

Fruits pests or diseases:
Birds

What can be done with big quantities of Phyllanthus acidus fruit?
Juice, eaten raw, jams

Work requirements on the fruit:
Collect for the tree

How long does it take to bear fruit?
3-5 years

How to grow star gooseberry from seed

Sowing requirement:
Moist soil, humidity, if there is enough seeds just put them direct in the garden in sunny location keep the soil moist and it will grow

Saving seeds and care until sowing:
Dry and dark location

Sowing season:
Spring – better in spring but possible also in the summer and in tropical climate possible all year

Planting spacing:
In different pots, or just to through a lot if seeds in hole and choose the better quality

Depth of Sowing:
2-4cm (0.5-1inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil, high humidity, hot weather

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Germination time:
4-8 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Full sun, moist soil, watering regular and better with high humidity