Japanese Fatsja (Fatsia japonica) is an evergreen shrub native to the Japanese Islands. We know it as an extremely decorative houseplant with low requirements. However,Japanese fatsja can also be successfully grown in the garden , introducing an oriental atmosphere. Learn thesecrets of growing fatsjiat home and in the garden. Find out what arefatsji diseasesand how to propagate fatsia yourself at home!
Japanese Fatsja - Fatsia japonica
Japanese Fatsjais a plant with extremely decorative leaves.Large, palmate leaves of fatsja are quite large (diameter up to 40 cm), and the whole plant can reach up to 2 m in height in garden cultivation and much less in pot cultivation. If necessary, its growth can be limited by pruning, which fatsja tolerates very well. In natural conditions, creamy white flowers appear on the fatsja in autumn, followed by berries in the form of blueberries. In our climate, however, the plant is unlikely to bloom, and its main decoration is its leaves.varieties of Japanese fatsja :are very popular
- fatsja 'Variegata'- with leaves with bright edges and limited growth, which makes it easier to keep this plant in pot growing
- fatsja 'Spider's Web'- with leaves covered with hairs resembling a spider's web
Growing Japanese fatsji at home
Fatsja is one of thevery easy to grow potted plants.It has low light requirements. It can even grow in deep shade. However, he feels best in a place with a lot of diffused light. Fatsja varieties with brightly colored leaves, such as the above-mentioned varieties 'Variegata' and 'Spider's Web', need more light.Fatsia should be protected from direct sun, as the sun's rays burn the leaves
Fatsja tolerates a wide temperature range - from 10 to 25 ° C. However,the optimal temperature for growing fatsja is 18-20 ° CFatsja very often suffers from overheating. This situation most often happens in winter, when the radiators heat up. This is manifested bydrying and curling of the tips of the fatsja leavesTo avoid this, during the heating season it is necessary to sprinkle the leaves several times a day and ventilate the room where the fatsja is grown.
Japanese fatja 'Variegata'
Fig. Krzysztof Ziarnek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Universal potting flower soil is perfect for growing Japanese fatsja . The soil in the pot should be kept slightly moist. When the soil in the pot becomes excessively dry,fatsja leaves start to wiltA similar situation occurs if the substrate in the pot is too wet. Overfilling the substrate additionally leads to the shedding of leaves by the plant. From April to August, fatsia should be watered on average twice a week. Before watering, check if the top surface of the substrate (approx. 1-2 cm) has dried. During the rest period (September-March), watering is limited to once a week. From April to August, once every 2 weeks when watering , we feed the fat with liquid fertilizer for green plants
Growing Japanese fatsji in the garden
In the warmest regions of Poland, after prior hardening,Japanese fatsia can be grown in the ground in the gardenIt is possible because fatsja tolerates urban garden conditions, low temperatures and tolerates frosts up to - 7 ° C.Before stronger frosts are forecast, however, it needs to be covered with a fleece. Additionally, each autumn the plant needs to be mounded to protect the root system from the cold.Only the basic form of fatsia is suitable for garden cultivationVarieties with discoloration on the leaves are too sensitive to Polish environmental conditions outside the home.
Japanese Fatsja blooming on the balcony
Fig. Sylwia, Gosia; forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Japanese fatsja in the garden should be grown in semi-shaded or shaded places , in places sheltered from the wind. Preferably in the corner of the garden, sheltered on both sides by a dense, evergreen hedge or by a building wall. We plant it in slightly acidic soil, mixed with compost, which keeps it moist. However, places with water standing in the fall and spring should be avoided, because in such conditions fungal diseases develop very quickly.
Fatsja must undergo a period of acclimatization before being planted in the garden . To harden the plant well, we put it outside for 2-3 weeks during the day, and put it back indoors at night.
In cooler regions of our countryfat can be dug into the ground with a large containerin the second half of May, and in the fall (September) it can be moved to a cool (8-10 ° C), bright room for wintering. .
From mid to late summerthe lower leaves of the fatsja may turn yellow and fall off . This should not be a concern, as long as it does not happen en masse, as this is how the plant prepares for winter dormancy.
Japanese fatja in the botanical garden in Tokyo
Fig. Daderot, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Japanese fatja - reproduction
At homeJapanese fatsia can be propagated usingapical cuttings, which are harvested in spring.For cuttings, shoots with at least two pairs of he althy leaves and a growth tip are selected. Cut the apex of the shoot approx. 10 cm. Remove the lower leaves and dip the tip of the seedling into the rooting agent.
"Then, gently place the seedlings in the previously prepared wells in the substrate in the multiplier.For rooting fatsja cuttingswe use a mixture of sand and peat. Water the seedlings placed in the substrate and cover them with a foil tent. "
Throughout the rooting period of cuttings, we provide them with a temperature in the range of 21-23 ° C. Every day, for a few minutes, unwrap the foil from the cuttings to air them. After 21 days, the foil is removed permanently.Japanese fatsja seedlings take 2-3 weeks to root after plantingWhen they develop strong roots, transplant them into separate pots.
Japanese fatja - diseases
Improper cultivation conditions for fatsia(including too high temperature, over-fertilization, incorrect irrigation) lead to physiological disorders, manifested by drying, blackening and falling leaves.In general, changing the growing conditions to those optimal for fat allows you to quickly improve the he alth of the plant.
A dangerous infectious disease that may appear during the cultivation of fatsji isgangrene of fatsji(caused by the fungus Pythium splendens). The lower leaves of the fatsja turn yellow, wilt and gradually die. After removing the plant from the pot, root rot is visible. Too moist soil and high air temperature (25-28 ° C) favors the development of the disease. Diseased plants should be watered with a fungicidal biopreparation, eg Biosept Active, Polyversum WP, Magnicur Energy. The treatment is repeated after 10 days.Apart from diseases, pests of potted plants may also appear on Japanese fatsja. The most common are: hoppy spider mite (mosaic-like discoloration on the upper side of the leaf, pests visible on the underside after using a magnifying glass), thrips (deformation and discoloration of young fatsia leaves most often), aphids (distorted leaves and stained with aphid droppings, visible insect clusters).In a safe way, in fatia grown both in the garden and in the apartment, we can fight these pests with natural preparations, such as: Agrocover Spray, Emulpar Spray and Multi Insekt. The preparations mentioned here are available ready-to-use in a package with a sprayer, which makes their use very easy.
Forpreparations for fighting diseases and pests of Japanese fatsji , please visit our guide's shop. We guarantee high-quality, original products at attractive prices and fast shipping. To view the offer, press the button below.
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MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
