- Water. These plants can be slightly fussy when it comes to their water consumption. They prefer a steady amount of hydration.
- Sunlight. Generally speaking, all varieties of False Aralia enjoy bright light and indirect sunlight. ...
- Temperature and Humidity. All varieties of False Aralia love warm weather. Their ideal temperature spectrum is between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Fertilizer. Fale Aralias are not heavy feeders and do not require routine fertilizing to be successful. With that said, they can be slow growers.
- Pest and Diseases. False Aralias are susceptible to common houseplant pests. It’s not uncommon for Aralias to be affected by scale insects, spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids.
How do you take care of a false aralia?
False Aralia Care Instructions. Water the plant when the soil is dry at a depth of 1 inch. Drench the pot with water and empty the saucer under the pot after the excess drains through. Fertilize every two weeks with liquid houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer and monthly in fall and winter.
Where can I find false aralia?
False Aralia is native to New Caledonia. This is an island in the South Pacific, near Australia. Is False Aralia rare? This plant is not rare, but it’s not something that is always in stock at plant stores. If you want one and see one, snatch it up! Is false aralia toxic? These plants are toxic if eaten. Keep them away from pets and children!
How cold is too cold for false aralia?
Take note: False aralia hates to be cold! The ideal temperature range for the false aralia to thrive is somewhere between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, though it can handle brief dips in temperature to about 45 degrees. However, prolonged cold temperatures below 60 degrees will cause the plant to drop leaves and eventually die.
Why is my false aralia dropping leaves?
A common cause of leaf drop in False Aralia is moving the plant. They like to stay in one spot! If you need to move them, just be prepared for a little leaf drop! Big swings in temperatures can also cause leaf drop. Be sure the plant is not near a vent or drafty window.
Should I mist my false aralia plant?
Spider mites and mealybugs are the only pests of concern. A severe spider mite infestation can kill the plant. Wipe the undersides of the leaves with a soft cloth dipped in insecticidal soap and mist the plant twice daily for a week. If the plant doesn't show signs of recovery after a week, it is best to discard it.
How much sunlight does a false aralia need?
False aralias grow best in medium to bright light. Like many houseplants, they grow just fine in medium-light conditions, but grow faster, fuller, and lusher in brighter spots. Water false aralias when the soil starts to dry.
How often should I water my false aralia?
False Aralia loves humidity, so be sure to give it a good drink. Water until the soil is saturated and water drains from the holes in the bottom of the pot. Wait about a week when the soil becomes dry before watering again.. It's important to saturate this plant thoroughly.
How do you grow false aralia indoors?
False Aralia Indoors (Dizygotheca elegantissima)Plant Feed. Once every month during growing season.Watering. Keep soil evenly moist.Soil. All-purpose potting mix.Basic Care Summary. Thrives in a warm location with bright, indirect light. Keep soil consistently moist.
What is a gold crest False Aralia?
False Aralia 'Gold Crest' This plant is an evergreen shrub or small tree. This plant is easy to care and maintain for. It can be grown outdoor in full shade or filtered sun during warmer months or indoor as house plant. It can be grown in ground, best grown in pot indoor.
Why is my False Aralia losing leaves?
The plant loses leaves if the soil is too wet or too dry. During the winter, when the plat is resting, allow the soil to dry out more before watering. Temperature: False Aralias like warm temperatures between 65-85°F, 18-29°C. If the temperature dips below 60 degrees, a False Aralia may lose leaves.
Why is my aralia drooping?
The reason the plant looks wilted, then, is the roots are sick and not functioning properly. The most common reason for this is a fungal infection of the roots called root rot.
Will False Aralia leaves grow back?
Pruning. False Aralia is slow-growing and doesn't need pruned unless you want to control its height. Over time, it will drop its lower leaves, revealing a single tree-like trunk. If you want, you can keep it short and shrubby by cutting it back each year.
How do you care for aralia?
Aralia houseplants are an easy-to-grow houseplant that has been popular for centuries. Aralias grow best in medium to bright but don't let the sun hit the leaves too long or it will scorch them. They appreciate higher humidity like a bathroom or kitchen and water them just enough from keeping the leaves from wilting.
Plerandra elegantissima
There are some houseplants out there that take a bit of extra work to keep happy, but they’re so beautiful that they’re worth it. False aralia is one of those plants.
What Is False Aralia?
Plerandra elegantissima is a pretty distinctive little plant. The leaves have heavily toothed edges and the coloring can be copper, burgundy, or medium green, or a mix of all three, depending on the cultivar and the amount of light it receives.
Cultivation and History
The first false aralia was introduced to the Western World in 1873 at what is now known as the Chelsea Flower Show in London by horticulturist John Gould Veitch.
Propagation
You can grow false aralia from seed or from cuttings, though neither method is particularly reliable. That’s probably why most people simply opt to purchase a plant.
How to Grow
Finding the right balance of light to provide these plants can be tricky, but it’s the key to a nice display.
Pruning and Maintenance
This plant isn’t a fast grower, so you won’t have to worry about pruning or repotting very often.
Cultivars to Select
There aren’t a ton of cultivars out there, and a lot of plants are simply sold under the generic common name or botanical name, like this one that’s available in a three-gallon pot from Plant Vine via Amazon.
How to propagate false aralia?
Propagating False Aralia. False aralia can be planted by seed or propagated in the spring using stem cuttings. To take cuttings, use a rooting hormone for best results and keep the stem cuttings in a warm, humid place for a few weeks until new growth emerges.
How much humidity does false aralia need?
Additionally, false aralia loves humidity and will need humidity levels of at least 50 percent most times in order to thrive.
What is false aralia?
An immensely popular houseplant, false aralia has beautifully textured foliage, with deeply serrated leaflets that start out a copper or burgundy shade and eventually deepened to a rich green. The juvenile plants tend to have more textured foliage, while the adult leaves are more deeply-lobed. Though the plant can reach heights ...
What temperature does false aralia thrive?
Take note: False aralia hates to be cold! The ideal temperature range for the false aralia to thrive is somewhere between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, though it can handle brief dips in temperature to about 45 degrees.
Why are my aralia leaves turning brown?
However, be mindful of exposing the plant to any direct rays of sunlight . They can damage the thin, delicate leaves and cause them to brown.
Can you use False Aralia in potting soil?
Soil. False aralia does not do well in "sponge-like" potting mediums, so opt for a peat-based mix instead. Make sure your chosen blend has plenty of coarse material—you want something that retains moisture but drains quickly and does not become water-logged.
Do false aralia like water?
False aralia prefer a steady supply of adequate moisture and are somewhat picky about it. Good drainage is essential to growing the best plant possible, but take care not to overwater the plant (you'll know if it's getting too much hydration if the leaves begin to wilt).
How to Grow False Aralia Plants
False Aralias have become some of the most popular houseplants. Aralias in small, decorative containers look great as coffee or side-table pieces. Taller, mature Aralias in larger containers are useful for decorating rooms and larger spaces.
How to Care for False Aralia Plants
Caring for a False Aralia plant is simple – which is why we love them as houseplants! Once you’ve got their location picked out regarding sunlight exposure, all that’s left is to make sure the soil stays moist and the humidity consistent.
Common Varieties and Cultivars
Although there are few varieties and cultivars within the S. elegantissima family, this is a plant with many closely related cousins. Here are some varieties of S. elegantissima as well as some alternatives to consider, most of which have similar care requirements.
Overview
Habitat
- False aralia is native to New Caledonia. The lower foliage bears a strong resemblance to marijuana, but the plants are not related. Although you can grow them outdoors in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, they are grown as houseplants in most parts of the country. You can also grow them in outdoor pots, but they are difficult to acclimate to indoor conditions after spe…
Cultivation
- Care for false aralia plants includes regular watering and fertilizing. Water the plant when the soil is dry at a depth of 1 inch. Drench the pot with water and empty the saucer under the pot after the excess drains through. Fertilize every two weeks with liquid houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer and monthly in fall and winter.
Symptoms
- False aralia doesnt like to be moved. A sudden change in location causes the leaves to drop off. Make environmental changes gradually, and try not to move the plant in winter.
Prevention
- Spider mites and mealybugs are the only pests of concern. A severe spider mite infestation can kill the plant. Wipe the undersides of the leaves with a soft cloth dipped in insecticidal soap and mist the plant twice daily for a week. If the plant doesnt show signs of recovery after a week, it is best to discard it.
Treatment
- Handpick as many of the mealybugs from the plant as possible. Treat the areas near the base of the leaves with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol every five days, especially where you see the cottony masses of insects. Insecticidal soap is helpful when mealybugs are in the crawling stage, before they attach to the foliage and assume their cottony appearance.