Lavender Star (Grewia)

[TRGlover0001]

Good morning- Thomas here. Im pretty "green" to Bonsai and very new the Bonsai Nut. Came across a few articles on the Lavender Star here and was drawn in. I have purchased one my self from a local nursery and am looking for some ideas or thoughts on how to shape or train my new treee. The tag says 3-4 years old. Do I need to repot immediately. let it grow and get acclimated to my sun room. Any suggestion is most appreciated and thanks for allowing me to learn from you all.

 

[Carol 83]

I've had one for a year or so, and was just recently gifted another one. They are pretty bullet proof. I'm letting my older one grow out in a larger pot, to bulk up the trunk some, so haven't done much in the way of pruning. They like sun. If it's inside, start outside in some shade, to get it acclimated. Hopefully, the more knowledgeable people here will chime in. I see you have alot of blooms, good for you. That's why I got mine. Welcome!

 

[milehigh_7]

Here is a pretty good care sheet. http://www.bonsaitoolchest.com/v/vspfiles/caresheets/lavender-star-flower.pdf

 

[TRGlover0001]

Great resource Clyde- thanks, I like your idea Carol of starting it outside first. It was in the shade at the nursery under a greenhouse cloth canopy so it was getting filtered light. you think I still need to start outside first?

 

[Carol 83]

Those care sheets are great. I have printed one off from there, for every tree I have, great reference tool. I am pretty new here and to bonsai, so please defer to those more knowledgeable. Mine did great outside all summer, but I put it in the shade at first to get used to being outside.

 

[milehigh_7]

What really struck me is how acidic they like it. Down around 5.5.

 

[Carol 83]

I saw that. I have just been using plain old Miracle Grow, but I do have some azalea fertilizer.

 

[AALen]

I don't really do anything differently with my Grewia except the occasional iron boost when I see a few yellow leaves. They're pretty tanky in every regard. They bloom all the time and grow pretty vigorously, but they are slow to thicken so your Grewia may be a few decades away from developing a significant trunk, sorry to say. If you just want a cute small plant with beautiful flowers, you'll enjoy your Grewia for its constant (though pretty shortlived) blooms.

The bonsai tool chest care sheets are neat primers, but beware some of the the info isn't accurate. Some of the advice appears based off experience, but much of it is based off info floating around the internet (the good and the bad).

 

[Lobaeux]

I've got a grewia that i couldn't really do anything with. I put it in the ground, and it's growing out, but not up. Might be interesting to see what I can make of it next year. The do grow pretty slow.