Fatsia Japonica

I've got one of these in a pot on the patio. The pot is fairly large (40cm diameter) and is situated in a shady area, although it gets sun in summer after 3pm.

I fed the fatsia regularly and remove dead leaves, but is there anything else I need to do with it? I've seen them in town and they are all pruned back quite severely. Do I need to do this-I'd rather avoid doing it now as it provides some winter greenery right outside the back door.

Can anyone advise?

 

I certainly never prune mine Aaron,I like it to grow as large as possible,with as many of those lovely shaped leaves showing.
I would cut out any dead or dieing bits and cut off tips in spring to improve the shape...........If neccesary.
One of my good dooers.

 

Bob, mine looks exactly the same as yours-even the same colour and type of pot!

Thanks. Roders, I agree, its a great plant for winter and apparently virtually indestructible. With these frosty nights, the leaves go all droppy but perk up as soon as the temperature rises.

 

Mine is in the ground and growing magnificently. They seem to like water. No problems with the winter frosts either

 

Yep.. I agree with everything said.. they are tough, and don't mind sun or shade, they can get big. If you feel it needs a prune, then do it in spring just before it comes into growth.

And as it's in a pot, and they do like bit of moisture, remember to keep it well watered (but not swamped ) even in winter!

 

How embarrassing ... I cannot grow this plant for love nor money.

I have had one in the outdoor living room for a couple of years and all I end up doing on a continuous basis is removing leaves, usually blackened, and will soon sling it. :cry:

I have a friend who used to live in Wimbledon and she had a wonderful huge one in her garden there.

I am jealous of all of you .....

 

Although you say that this plant is hardy some of the new leaf buds on mine have blackened and curled up due to frost..

 

Mine does this too, but it got a new flush of leaves in Spring.

I'd love to plant it out, but have no room for it and then I'd be without all the greenery it provides on the patio.

 

I have had my plant for a couple of years now, and last year I moved it next to my cold house at the bottom of my garden, it has flourished ever since
The flowers are still on it now,in late December could be that it is in a sheltered spot ?

 

I've got a fairly old plant in my front garden, its been cut hard back several times, when it starts to get bigger than I want it.
As was said earlier, spring is the best time to cut back, as it quickly grows new shoots and in a month or so you cant see where it was cut.
I've only ever had spring new growth killed by late frost, never at this time of the year.

Its full of flower now and was hard frosted yesterday morning, but it just gets on with it.
A definite must in any garden thats big enough to take it.

 

My poor boy has to compete with this Montana but he seems to cope.

 

Having has a read of all this, I have added that plant to the list of plantds I want to get.

thanks for the interesting info.

 

I had a lovely large one in my last garden and could not bring it with me as the buyers of the house loved it and wanted me to leave it in situ. I managed to obtain one when someone was clearing out his back garden and advertised his shrubs and trees free to uplift. I manage to get about a couple of grands worth of plants for free, but felt so pleased to have them that I offered to cut down his remaining trees that he didn't want.
This gave me free firewood from a large apple tree and a blue spruce nearly 30 feet tall.
Back to the fatsia, it was nearly 7 feet tall and straggly due to neglect. Hard pruning has tamed it and of course the prunings were planted up as cuttings and 5 new plants have survived. Some friends will be getting 1 each for wee pressies in the spring. Please any one who cuts one back, plant up the cuttings and if you are lucky, you will gwet a good supply of new plants. :gnthb: