Japanese Aralia / Paper Plant

Fatsia japonica

description

Japanese Aralia is a bold evergreen shrub with large glossy hand-shaped leaves.

benefits

Pet-friendly, non-toxic to animals
Suitable for containers

How to care for Japanese Aralia

sunlight

In Japanese woodland, Fatsia grows beneath a leafy canopy, so it suits bright, filtered light indoors rather than hot sun.

Bright indirect light

Best for fuller growth and large glossy leaves. Place near an east or north window, or a few feet back from a brighter window behind a sheer curtain. Strong direct afternoon sun can scorch and fade the foliage.

Low light - tolerated

It can handle a shaded room, but will grow more slowly and may become sparse. Keep variegated forms brighter than solid green types to help preserve their pattern.

Rotate the pot every week or two so the large leaves develop evenly instead of leaning toward the window.

watering

Keep the soil lightly and evenly moist, but never let Japanese Aralia sit in water. Water thoroughly until excess drains away, then empty the saucer.

Spring to early autumn

Check about once a week and expect to water roughly every 5-10 days. Water when the top 1-2 inches of mix feel dry; bright warmth, small pots, and airy soil can shorten the interval.

Winter and low light

Growth slows, so watering is often needed about every 10-21 days. Let a little more of the mix dry before watering, especially in a cool room, but do not allow the root ball to become completely dry for long.

Lift the pot after watering and again a few days later. A noticeably lighter pot is a useful signal to check the soil before watering.

Constantly wet soil can cause root rot, especially in winter. Use a pot with drainage and do not leave water standing in the cachepot or saucer.

humidity

Japanese Aralia grows beneath humid forest canopies, so it appreciates evenly moist air indoors. It usually adapts well to normal household humidity when kept away from heat sources.

Acceptable indoors

40-60%

Aim for at least 40% relative humidity. Around 50-70% is ideal, especially in warm rooms or while new leaves are developing.

Keep it away from radiators, heating vents, and hot sunny windows, which dry the large leaves quickly.

Dry air may show as brown, crisp leaf edges or tips, curled new growth, and more frequent spider mites.

How to raise humidity

Run a humidifier nearby during the heating season.
Group plants together to create a slightly more humid pocket of air.
Check that the soil is not drying out unusually fast in warm, dry rooms.

temperature

Preferred temperature

15-24°C (59-75°F)

Winter minimum

10°C (50°F)

Japanese Aralia comes from mild, shaded woodland in Japan, so it appreciates steady, slightly cool room temperatures. It copes better with a cool spot than with hot, dry air, which can leave leaf edges brown.

Keep it away from radiators and check that leaves do not touch cold window glass in winter.

Avoid sudden drops below 10°C (50°F) or repeated cold drafts, which can cause leaves to yellow and drop.

nutrition

March - August

Feed about once a month while your Japanese Aralia is making new leaves, using a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half the label strength. Do not fertilize in autumn and winter unless it is still actively growing in warm, bright conditions.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen supports the large, glossy foliage. A regular balanced fertilizer provides enough without pushing soft, weak growth.

Apply fertilizer to already moist soil, then flush the pot with plain water every few months to prevent fertilizer salts building up.

soil

Rich, airy, moisture-retentive soil

Fatsia likes roots that stay lightly moist but never sit in dense, soggy compost. Use a quality indoor potting mix with compost or coir, plus perlite or fine bark to keep it open and draining.

pH 6,0 - 7,0

This is slightly acidic to neutral, a range most standard houseplant mixes naturally provide. Avoid strongly alkaline garden soil, and refresh old, compacted compost when repotting.

Choose a pot with drainage holes and only size up one pot width at a time, so excess wet soil does not linger around the roots.