False aralia is a striking indoor houseplant that has serrated , thin leave .
While it can be needy with its watering and sunlight requirements , it ’s deserving it to be able-bodied to take in that hobo camp - corresponding appearance every metre you walk by .
It ’s green . It ’s vary . It loves medium - light with room temperate precondition .
It ’s been used in gardens , households , and even terrariums as a ornamental flora .
Let ’s dive in and learn how to grow and handle for false aralia .
Did you screw they can be call Schefflera elegantissima , Plerandra elgeantissima , or Dizygotheca elegantissima ? They all concern to the same species because the name has been changed multiple times .
( Featured image byForest and Kim Starr , cubic centimeter BY 2.0 . )
Last update : 6/23/22 .
Guide Contents
Quick care guide: False aralia(Plerandra elegantissima)
What’s false aralia?
Also sleep together as threadleaf , finger aralia , or “ spider , ” false aralia is the “ faux ” version of aralia . If you do n’t really make out what to front for , you ’ll mistake it for the real aralia .
This is just a bait . The “ real matter ” is 50 animal foot tall .
It ’s a slow - grow houseplant that does well in temperate light environments . While not too initiate - friendly , it ’s not too difficult to take care of .
The delicately separate leaves give it a feather - like appearance . Younger plants can be used on the tabletop or desk and they couple well with other indoor plant .
Their woody trunks are perfect for decorating empty spaces or complimenting furniture . big plant can be used as spacers or partition . The leaves contain 7 - 10 brochure with small teeth . It has little branching and is vulnerable to mealy bug .
In the dip , it produce pale green leaves with sinister fruit . It is moot a flowering flora , but rarely does in cultivation .
They ’re gorgeous to look at and will develop fuller in bright spots . Repotting every few age helps profit the growth .
False aralia is unremarkably confound with Nipponese maple . It has a classifiable look- the leaves are serrated with toothed edges . The leaves can be green , bull , burgundy , or even a mix of all three .
This is one of those plant life that ’ll oppose straight off to how much ignitor you give it .
sour aralia is native to New Caledonia .
Is false aralia easy to grow?
mistaken aralia is n’t as beginner - friendly as other houseplant likeanthuriumorStromanthe Triostar , but it ’s not that difficult either .
It does have specific temperature , humidity , and lachrymation requirements .
But other than that , it ’s not bad . You just need to have patience and the will to do the work . With those gorgeous serrate folio and their dark green color , it ’s all the motivating you need .
Types of false aralia
Thankfully , false aralia does n’t have thousands of cultivar to opt from .
Call me boring , but I like fix pick because it defecate deciding which plant to rise comfortable . Here are some of the most popular false aralia type on the market :
You may be able to observe more pick online or in your local specialized glasshouse .
Please note that put on aralia is n’t intend for use and has some degree oftoxins .
How to propagate false aralia
propagate false aralia is straightforward- you’re able to grow from seed or cuttings .
As mentioned prior , false aralia does need some specialised knowledge to produce .
But it ’s not too difficult . Here ’s what you ’ll need to get it on .
If you ’re completely new to this mintage , perhaps just buying a plant from the baby’s room is the easy option . It ’ll be you a premium , but it saves you time and energy .
Plus , you could start enjoying it earlier . Do n’t forget that .
Starting from seed
germ can be purchase or harvested from existing plants .
If you have a friend or neighbour who has false aralia already , you may extract the seeds from the center of the plum tree - colored fruits .
Upon gather up the seeds , imbue them in a lukewarm bath .
Then , grade them into a mixture of sphagnum moss with fine potting moxie . They should be dowse for at least 2 day . The substrate mix should be sealed inside something airtight to forbid molding . conceive of a plastic slide fastener suitcase or canning jar .
The ejaculate should be kept dampish until germination , which can take 4 - 5 week . Lightly mist the substrate to keep the brooder humid . keep temperature between 70 - 75F. Place the container in shiny , filtered sunlight . It lovessun and humidness .
Or employ a grow light if none is available in your household .
Expect germination to be pathetic . False aralia does n’t germinate easy in the home . For the few seedlings that sprout , place each one in a small pot with a diam of at least 4 ” . inseminate each plant 0.25 ” deep .
Continue to spritz it often to keep it moist while keeping other growing conditions constant . Avoid sudden changes in the temperature or humidity .
The first few twain of true leaves will grow after a few weeks . When this materialise , you ’re ready to move it to the great outdoors .
From seedings
Starting from seedlings skips the cephalalgia for germination , but still offers some exposure to growing it from a near - cum land .
While it does n’t give you as much of a headspring come out as embark on from cuttings , it ’s a good compromise in between . you may buy seedling / transplantation from local garden centers .
prefer a levelheaded virulent false aralia . seem for signs of pests or swag folio . These are signaling of a damaged works .
Quarantine for 2 weeks upon bringing it home so you do n’t invade your garden . After it ’s cleared , move it to your planter of choice . Choose one that ’s the same size as the grass it came in or tumid .
Generally , commercial nurseries will sate it with the small pot possible to salve on costs . Sizing up is a serious mind .
Layer it with a potting mix that ’s gamey quality and well - draining .
Some people like to put a layer of perlite or sand at the bottom to help run out . you’re able to combine in some sphagnum moss or vermiculite to help create the right type of soil that false aralia loves .
Remove the plant from its original container by watering it to relax the scandal . Put the gage sideways and then gently dig it out with a coon . Dig from the outside in towards the center etymon .
Be careful you do n’t cut the etymon by mistake . Water it well . Then resoil if needed .
Starting from cuttings
Using cuttings is preferable over starting from come because of a high rate of success .
mistaken aralia cuttings can be adopt from plants that are at least 2 years onetime . Younger plants will produce wretched - quality slip for use as growing mediums .
Get a pair of lopper . Sterilize them with rubbing inebriant . Make a cut around the end of a healthy - count stem . It should be fully grown . Take the film editing about 8 inches from the end so you have plenty of “ theme ” to do work with . Look for a stem that ’s soft , pliable , and flexible . It should n’t be thick or strict . Cut at 45 degrees .
Remove the leaf from the bottom 5 inches or so , but leave the top layer of leaves . This will help in photosynthesis for rout .
Grab the flesh oddment and dip it in rooting powder . There are many dissimilar types of endocrine gels or fine gunpowder you could use . Some popular pick are TakeRoot or Garden Safe . you could observe these pulverisation online or in your local home improvement store .
Use the rooting hormone as place . If you ’re using a dip , make trusted that the total cut remainder has a just thick cover of it because when you plant it , a caboodle will rub off from the shank you cut into the substratum .
Get a four - inch container and then fulfill it with a quality seed starter . There ’s no motivation to use constitutive if you do n’t want to since you ’re not wipe out it .
Just take something that ’s well - draining , wedge full of nutrients , and has a decent repute . wet continue properties are a plus .
It should also have multiple outlets to drain out water just in case one gets clog . you’re able to improve the drain by append a 1 ” bed of perlite , Baroness Dudevant , or coconut coir . This will prevent clogging .
found the base with the cut side in . Be blue-blooded when plant . check that that the root pulverization does n’t come off because you need all the help you could get to help it successfully root . You know that false aralia is stubborn by this point , right ?
Water it well the first time around to drizzle the soil and build water overflow pathway . The water should drain promptly . Mist it several times daily .
Cover with a plastic travelling bag or plant life cover to serve increase the wet . supervise for mold or root rot . After a few weeks , give it a tug to see if it persist in plaza .
If so , congrats , you ’ve rooted it ! If not , give it some more prison term . you’re able to also note the unexampled bud forming on the stalk as a foretoken of successful rooting .
How to care for false aralia
Here are some world-wide guidelines that teach you how to worry for your off-key aralia .
While upkeep needs vary depending on the cultivar , caring for aralia is in the main the same .
you’re able to use these as a rule of pollex so you know what ’s involved in P. elegantissima attention . This works has been successfully grown in gardens , family , and evenpatios or decks .
Hardiness zone
False aralia grows in USDA hardiness zones 10 - 12 .
If you ’re not in these ideal zone , it can be grown indoors or in protected region . But if you want to increase your chances of success , planting indoors is ideal .
When produce outside , it ’ll originate larger than its indoor size of it as with most works . Natively , they can grow up of 50 feet tall .
But inside the house ? They ’re limited to just about 6 - 7 feet . you’re able to see the huge difference of opinion in size when false aralia is left by itself in its native environment .
When you arise it indoors , you ’re basically growing a mini aralia . But the feature it has to give you a taste of the material thing .
Soil type
Use well - draining soil that keep back moisture well . It ’s imperative you use grease that drains efficiently since this plant gets root rot easily .
Soil pH
False aralia prefers slightly acidic to neutral soils . direct for a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 . If your soil is too alkaline , you may add limestone or territory pH down to bring down the pH.
Depth
When commence from semen , implant each germ 1″ deep . When transplantation , plant each one as deep as the original container it came in .
Spacing
Space each plant at least 3 animal foot asunder from each other when planting multiple aralias . in full grown ones will need space to grow outwards . compact them will make them contend for resources which may leave in smaller plants .
Sunlight
So , how much sun does a simulated aralia need ?
False aralia requires shiny , permeate sunlight . It should never be develop directly in sunshine .
Excess sunlight will incinerate or char the foliage , but want of brightness level will make it produce smaller with dull green leaf . Like any other plant , it requires a balance between light conditions .
lustrous brightness gives you that black unripe people of color for select cultivars .
If you ’re develop indoors as a houseplant , you ’ll ask to find out somewhere that provides that nice mottled sunlight from the windows or use a grow light . If outdoors , the orbit should be sheltered from verbatim sun .
Fertilizer
False aralia will gain from houseplant plant food with an NPK of 10 - 10 - 10 . Balanced plant life solid food process .
Use as directed , preferably at least twice per calendar month . deadening - sacking will sustain your plant much more efficiently .
Opt for fertilizers made for houseplants . They do n’t need regular dressing to grow . But it does assist them grow faster and wide .
Temperature
The ideal temperature range is between 70 - 75F , which is just around way temperature .
False aralia does n’t like the cold . If temperatures drip below 60F , then it can damage your plant .
There are many matter you’re able to do to keep temperatures stable- do n’t pose it near drafty windows , doors , HVAC units , etc . Keep it in a sheltered place .
Humidity
Humidity will generally be low when the ambient air is cold . This plant prefers higher humidity , so acquire it near sink or shower will keep the air wet .
you could spritz it a few times per day to keep the leaf moist . Consider using DIY humidity tray to elicit the humidness as well . This plant be intimate wet nearby .
Here ’s a undecomposed video to build your own humidity tray :
Watering
Just like provide sunlight for it , the correct amount of body of water is also important .
Overwatering will lead to plant hogwash while underwatering will lead to wearisome growth or drooping leaves . A lot of it come down to the pot you ’re using . If it drains efficiently , lacrimation problems should be kept to a minimum .
When you notice sluggish draining , it may be back up with roots or soil buildup . Or it may be time to upgrade to a Modern planter .
Use your digit and stick it into the land . The top 1 ” should be completely dry before you irrigate again .
you’re able to also use a wet meter to get the exact urine saturation in the soil if you ’re unsure or just do n’t wanna get your finger dirty . A surefire sign that it ’s fourth dimension to irrigate your false aralia is leaf dropping .
The older leaves drop off when there ’s too little water . Drooping is also another symptom of underwatering .
How often do you water Aralia?
Water when the top inch of dirt is juiceless . depend on your indoor weather , this can be every other day to twice a week . Aim for 1 inch of piddle weekly , but set as necessary .
The most precise way to have it off when to irrigate your false aralia is to employ a soil meter .
pee at the base deep , not the leaves . Empty the disk regularly . Pooling will lead to root rot .
Misting
Misting with distilled water can be a good room to keep the humidness up . Mist several times a day with a few spritz of water . Use a hygrometer to measure ambient humidity . Keep it at least 60 % or high .
Pruning
False aralia does n’t develop that chop-chop , so pruning is n’t something you need to worry about . Every now and then when the leaves look juiceless , brown , or wilted , get a sterilise pair of pruning hook to gently prune them off .
Other than that , there ’s no need to cut it back unless you ’re trying to keep it compact or respectable .
No pauperism to make it a task . If you do n’t desire your faux aralia to develop too tall or wide , clip off the radical tip to keep it small . Yellow leaves should also be pruned .
Repotting
False aralia will need to be repot when it outgrow its container .
If you choose your container size of it wisely , you do n’t have to do this often . Every 2 - 3 years , upgrade the can by one size . measure the roots . If they ’re touching the edges of the planter , then yeah , it ’s time to upgrade .
To redeem yourself time , you’re able to just buy a few sizes up so you do n’t have to repot as often . Repotting also fill again the food in the potting intermixture , which is necessary for plant outgrowth .
When root out the plant life , endeavor to polish off as much soil stuck on it as you may . Repot in fresh dirt .
Overwintering
fictitious aralia is an evergreen plant , so it by nature will tolerate the wintertime on its own .
There ’s nothing you need to do unless you have vehement wintertime . Outdoors , false aralia will allow the winter on its own if you ’re in zone 10 - 12 . Colder condition may require plant life over , level of mulch , or they need to be move indoors .
Winterizing is n’t ordinarily necessary for evergreen plant plant life .
Repot in the spring or summer for best resultant .
Pests
fictitious aralia is vulnerable to pest damage .
Unlike hardier houseplants ( thinkdracaenaorelephant ears ) , pretended aralia is n’t sturdy to pests and will easily be overwhelmed by small hemipteron population .
This is why growing it indoors is beneficial- you could monitor for glitch activity since you ’re always walking by it in your house . Aphids will feast on the untried , tender leaf since they ’re so easily digestible .
They lactate the sap out of the eaves and will stick a awkward dearest - like residue . This later brings some dark foggy stamp if you let it sit . If you see aphids , take activity now .
utilise a lifelike insecticide made for aphids to root out them . polish off them manually . Spray down your plant with a high - powered hosepipe . Aphids are destructive and will blow up all that wanted place juice from your false aralia like crazy .
Spider mite are another common gadfly that ’ll feed on your false aralia by piercing the leaves with their microscopical mouthparts . They thrust the foliage then nurse out the food .
If you have a lot of these touch , you may notice that no matter how much you ’re watering your industrial plant , it continues to dangle folio , yellow , or wilting . Spider mites can be ridden by using neem oil color , horticultural oil , or pressurized spraying .
Diseases
False aralia is susceptible to ascendent rot , which is a common disease with plants arise in in high spirits humidness conditions . It look like sonant chocolate-brown spots that develop on the leave of absence . The farewell may also throw away off .
Pathogens taint the roots and then have them to rot . They may be bring out from contaminated soil or fertiliser . Watering too much will also create trouble .
It preface a suitable environment for pathogens to overrun . Poor enfeeble soil , clotted outlets , or just stagnant water are all agent for etymon rotting . Remove the plant from the container and clean off the land stuck on it . supervene upon the dirt entirely in the pot or utilise a new one . It needs to be sterilized with acetum before repotting .
Companion plants
False aralia is typically planted by itself in its own plantation owner .
However , if you ’re planting outside , you could couple it with companion plants within a few select varieties to produce a gorgeous landscape .
To get your mind jogging , here are some good fellow traveller plants for false aralia :
Don’t plant with
It ’s simple when it comes to knowing what to avoid planting false aralia with .
Simply just lease it grow in its own planter UNLESS your pot is large enough to handle multiple bole . This woody evergreen plant looks amazing when it has that fuller aspect with multiple plant planted together . Just do n’t overcrowd .
Do n’t implant multiple false aralia in the same thrower if they ’re too big .
Best uses
False aralia is used as a houseplant to spice up up any room .
It can be localise in the corner but should be rotated weekly so it gets equal sun photo . It can also be grown outside if the conditions are correct . Just looking at those serrate green leaves is everything .
Commonly asked questions about false aralia care
Here are some ready to hand tips for contract the most out of your houseplant .
Help! My false aralia is drooping!
loll leaves are usually a mansion of overwatering or underwatering .
Check to make certain that your pot is n’t clog . The land may be clump at the Qaeda preventing it from enfeeble .
Check for pests like spider speck snapping away at the plant . second - up water will pool and can also lead to root rot below the land aerofoil . Use a moisture cadence for preciseness .
Can aralia be grown outdoors? Can false Aralia live outside?
Yes , they can .
False aralia mature natively in temperate zones , so obviously they can survive outdoors .
But for most hoi polloi , false aralia is grow as a houseplant because they do n’t have the right condition outdoors to provide for it .
This is why it ’s popular as a houseplant . If you ’re in USDA zones 10 - 12 , you’re able to embed it in your garden to maximize its growth .
Why is my false aralia dropping leaves?
Dropping leaves is a common symptom of surplus sunshine or overwatering .
Only water when the top in of soil is ironic . Move your plant to a place with mottled Inner Light rather than bright direct light . This is not a full sunshine plant . Check for cuss activity .
Can you prune false aralia?
Yes , you could dress your plant to keep it looking clean . crop off any yellow or dark-brown farewell . Since it ’s a slow - get houseplant , it does n’t demand much pruning .
Should I mist my aralia?
Misting is estimable for keep the humidness high up , which false aralia loves . Spray the leaves gently with a few spritzes multiple time a day to raise the humidity .
Is it an indoor plant?
It ’s pop to grow fake aralia indoors , but you’re able to also grow it out of doors if you ’re in zone 10 - 12 . It makes a striking houseplant because of its serrated leaves and dreary colour .
Does false aralia bloom?
sour aralia blooms in nature , but seldom in the household or garden . If you ’re growing it indoors , you may expect no prime or flowers .
Can you grow it in a terrarium?
Since false aralia like high humidness , many hobbyist grow it in a terrarium or aquarium .
Because it originate very slow and pairs well with moderate light-colored conditions , it ’s a democratic pick for small terrariums . Dish gardens are another mutual employment scenario .
Is it a perennial or annual?
False aralia is an evergreen plant , so it ’s neither an annual nor perennial . It grows year - round and does n’t need to be replanted if correctly cared for .
Further reading/references
imagination that you may find beneficial :
Enjoy your false aralia
Now that you ’re armed with everything you need to know about growing and give care for false aralia , you could enjoy those non-white green big green leaves .
This houseplant is n’t nearly as pop as other houseplants , but the elegance of those serrated leaves is worth the supernumerary effort they involve to gain their full glory .
This plant can be discombobulate with others , but it ’s not ! It ’s really one of a form .
I ’ve always been interested in horticulture , but I never take it severely until I was forcefully endue an orchid . This was what get me into the hobby and I ’ve never look back . I love writing about it , but not nearly as much as getting into the dirt and grave the consummate decorative ornamental to enjoy for the times .
