The plant of the day (7) - Fatsia japonica

This is a wide-spreading, evergreen shrub from Japan (hence the common name, Japanese fatsia ) and it can be grown either indoors or out. it has large, leathery, many-fingered leaves that leave prominent scars on the woody stem as they fall. Making an impressive specimen plant, it grows quickly and needs plenty of room. The foliage tends to be a lighter color when grown indoors; the white flowers are only produced on a mature plant that is kept in cool conditions. ;)

Size : Height 5ft  (1.5m) high in 2-3 years.
Light : Cool light
Temperature : Preferably cool, below 60°F ( 15°C) in summer and below 45°F (7°C) in winter
Moisture : Keep thoroughly moist from spring to fall and just moist during winter.
Feeding : Apply standard liquid fertilizer every two weeks from spring through to fall
Propagation: Take stem cuttings, 2in ( 5cm) long, in spring or summer. Remove the lower leaves and dip the end in rooting hormone. Enclose in a plastic bag or propagator at a temperature of around 60°F ( 15°C) in a well-lit position.
Special needs: Large plants can be pruned hard in spring to remove up to half the growth



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