The Fatsia Plant or Japanese Aralia originated in the sub-tropic forests of Japan, Korea, & Taiwan. Fatsia plants are a type of evergreen plant that can be grown both indoors as a houseplant and outdoors in frost-free areas. A Fatsia Plant has shiny, leathery, medium green palmate (hand-shaped) leaves that grow at the ends of stiff stems. Fatsia Plants are compact upright plants that can grow up to 6 ft. tall, even indoors. Prune a Fatsia Plant aggressively to help keep the growth under control and the shape attractive.
LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS: A Fatsia does well in bright filtered light. If you move it outdoors in the spring and summer, be sure to keep it in the shade.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS WATER: Allow the top 50% of the soil to dry out before watering. The leaves may even start to droop a little. Brown brittle leaves indicate under-watering. Soft leaves that turn yellow and fall off indicate over-watering.
FERTILIZER: Use a well-balanced liquid plant food every other week in the spring and summer at 1/2 the recommended strength.
TEMPERATURE: A Fatsia likes cool temperatures especially in the winter when it is resting. It does well in temperatures between 45-55 degrees in the winter and never above 70 degrees during the rest of the year.
HUMIDITY: This plant likes medium to high humidity
FLOWERING: When used as an indoor plant, a Fatsia rarely gets the tiny white blooms found on it when it grows outdoors. Black berries usually follow flowers.
PESTS: Fatsias attract spider mites, Mealy Bugs, scale, and Aphids.
DISEASES: Since this plant likes medium to high humidity, powdery mildew may develop on the leaves. Provide good air circulation and try to keep the leaves dry.
SOIL: Use a light, rich, fast draining potting soil.