Am I Taking Good Care Of My Japanese Aralia?

Did you placed your Japanese aralia in partial to full shade location?

Did you planted your Japanese aralia in well-drained soil?

Did you provide a place in a cool room for your plant, but not in a way of very cold drafts?

Are you making sure that the soil is kept consistently and evenly moist during the growing season?

Do you fertilize your plant regularly during the growing season?

Do you repot your Japanese aralia when it outgrows its pot?

Do you keep your Japanese aralia free of pests and diseases?

Japanese aralia grows best when places in partial to full shade. Exposure to bright, direct sunlight can bleach the plant's leaves, so only place it beneath diffused morning light, never harsh afternoon rays.

The hearty Japanese aralia plant is not too picky when it comes to soil. It prefers moist but well-drained soil (clay, chalk, and loam all work) that is neutral to slightly acidic.

The Japanese aralia plant prefers cooler temperatures, doing best in rooms that are kept to a temperate 60–70 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not necessitate any additional forms of humidity to thrive within your home but should be kept away from particularly strong or cold drafts.

Regular moisture is essential for the Japanese aralia during its growing season (spring and summer). Water regularly to ensure the soil never dries out, saturating the soil completely until water runs from the container's drainage holes. During the fall and winter months, cut back on your watering slightly to allow the plant to rest.

To give your plant an added boost of nutrients, feed it regularly with a weak liquid fertilizer throughout the growing season. Cut fertilizer back to once a month or so in the fall and winter.

Because Japanese aralia can grow to be so large, keeping an eye on it pot is important. Once the plant is showing signs of outgrowing its vessel (like roots growing out of the drainage holes), or at least once a year, replant your Japanese aralia in a larger pot.

Good job! You are taking good care of your Japanese aralia.

Japanese aralia is susceptible to a variety of aphids. They're fairly easy to control if caught early enough and can be killed off using a neem oil spray. More notable is the Japanese aralia's issue with mealybugs. To rid your plant of mealybugs, rub the foliage down periodically with cotton swabs lightly coated with alcohol.