Question
Hi Will,

If I remember correctly I have a california ming, approx. 18 inches tall. I purchased in about June this summer and found that it did well in our bathroom directly in front of a north facing window. It gets no direct sun light (as in rays of sunshine) and I watered only about every other week. It was finicky at first but fine once I figured out a watering schedule. At that time we had friends staying with us, therefore there were more hot showers being taken and contributing to the humidity level in the bathroom. Once they left the ming lost many leaves and has had trouble since but still seemed to bounce back every time there was an issue. Now that the "winter" months are here in Wisconsin (it is unusually warm here, 30-40 degrees)and it is getting less hours of light. I do have a plastic covering on the window to prevent cold drafts and it is also located near the heat vent. It is loosing leaves like crazy and those that are still left are droopy. The leaves that are detaching are not dry, but not mushy-I guess I would call them limp feeling. I noticed the change and watered it-about 1/2 cup of water, it didn't appear to help so I watered again a week later. Still nothing. The soil is bone dry as far as I can stick my finger into the dirt. I can't tell if it has been over watered or under watered. I'm planning to re-pot it in a draining pot instead of the decorative pot I currently have with rocks in the bottom. I should mention that there is new growth on the plant. It is confusing since the leaves are droopy and feel limp, yet the soil is so dry. Do you have any suggestions for me? This plant seems to be hard to judge regarding too much/not enough water.

Thank you!

Answer
Hi Erin,

Ming Aralias (Polyscias) are among my favorite plants so I am familiar with their sometimes fussy tendencies. There are several issues here, but humidity is not one of them.

An uncovered north window is fine, but the plastic covering on your north window is definitely keeping your Aralia from getting adequate light. Aralias do not like cold drafts either, so you will have to find another brighter location for your Aralia.

When properly potted, Aralias should be watered thoroughly as soon as the top half-inch of soil feels dry. It seems that yours is getting much drier than that and that explains why the lower leaves are drooping. Plants under stress sacrifice their older leaves so they can produce healthy new growth.

Plants should NEVER be planter directly into pots without drainage holes. Putting so-called "drainage material" in the bottom is an out-dated and discredited horticultural practice. Your plant should have been left in its original plastic nursery pot and that pot inserted inside of a more decorative planter. Double-potting is the only way to use decorative planters without drainage holes.

I suggest that you take your Aralia out of its pot and remove the stones at the bottom. Try to disturb the other roots and soil as little as possible. Then, move the plant into a plastic pot with drain holes that is just barely large enough to fit the rootball (minus the stones) into it snugly. You don't need a larger pot, just one with drain holes.

Aralias respond well to pruning back of lanky stems. Prune any stem back to a point where you would like to see new growth emerge. Pruning will not affect your plant's health, but it will alter its appearance by making it fuller and more compact.

Keep temps above 60 degrees F. at all times and don't worry about humidity.

I have written articles on Ming Aralias, pruning and repotting that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com