Polyscias (Aralia)

Beautiful Polyscias plants

The Polyscias is a true jungle plant native to Africa and Asia. Another name for the Polyscias is Aralia, these two names are used interchangeably but refer to the same plant. A fun fact, in Greek ‘Polyscias’ means a lot of shade. This refers to the fact that Polyscias offers a lot of shade, because in nature this plant can grow into a huge tree.
In terms of care, this houseplant requires a little more energy than other houseplants, but when you bring the Polyscias into your home, you bring a piece of the rainforest into your living room! Apart from the fact that this tropical houseplant looks great, the Polyscias converts carbon dioxide into oxygen, making it an air-purifying houseplant!

Water requirements of the Polyscias

The water requirements of the Polyscias are important for its growth and health, watering this houseplant comes quite accurately. In the summer months, the soil should always be moist, the soil should absolutely not dry out between waterings. We recommend that you give small amounts of water several times that is better than one large amount all at once. This will allow the Polyscias to absorb the water better and prevent a layer of water forming in the pot. A layer of water in the pot can cause root rot and this will really not benefit the Polyscias aralia! During the winter months, the soil may dry out a little between waterings before you add new water. We advise you to water once a week. If you notice that the soil is dry after two days, it's best to water a bit more next time. If the soil is still wet after five days, it's best to water less next time.
Using your fingers, you can easily determine whether your Polyscias is ready for its next watering. Go into the soil up to two knuckles deep and feel whether the soil is still moist.
The amount and frequency of watering depends on several factors, such as: the size of the plant, the size of the pot, the location and the ambient temperature. So always check what is the best frequency and quantity for your Polyscias.

Watering the Polyscias

Besides watering, we also recommend watering this houseplant regularly, as the Polyscias is a houseplant that likes high humidity. High humidity will benefit the health of Polyscias! If this houseplant is placed in an environment with low humidity, its leaves may turn yellow and eventually fall out. Spraying also helps prevent aphids and spider mites, as well as removing dust from the leaves. A dust-free leaf will receive more light, improving its colour and stimulating growth.

The best location for Polyscias

This houseplant prefers a sunny position and is absolutely not sensitive to direct sunlight. Polyscias does not like changing its location and needs to get used to a new spot. When it is purchased, there is a risk of leaf loss as it is moved to a completely new environment, so the Polyscias goes into shock. In the winter months, when the days are shorter and there are fewer hours of sunshine, it is important that the Polyscias still gets enough light. So move it if necessary if it shows leaf loss in October. This houseplant is a true warm-blooded plant, as the minimum temperature during the day is 18 degrees and 12 degrees at night. So it really is a tropical houseplant!

The leaves of my Polyscias change colour

When the leaves of the Polyscias discolour, it is often a sign of improper care of your polyscias aralia fabian. A whitish lime deposit can sometimes form on the leaves of this houseplant, which is a shame because it creates a dull effect. This is because the water used to water the Polyscias contains a high concentration of lime. Should your Polyscias aralia suffer from this, you can solve it by watering it with rainwater or decalcified water.
Yellow leaves are a sign of too much water or too little light. If there is too much water, the Polyscias will drop leaves. So be really careful not to overwater while caring for your Polyscias fabian, this will not benefit its health! So if your Polyscias loses leaves, check if the plant is in a good spot, and keep in mind to water the plant regularly.

Is the Polyscias (Aralia) a poisonous houseplant?

This houseplant is not poisonous at all, so you don't need to pay attention to where you put this houseplant. The Polyscias is really a child- and animal-friendly houseplant. So do you have a cat in your house, for example? Then you need not worry. The Polyscias is non-toxic to cats.

Diseases common to Polyscias

This houseplant is naturally susceptible to diseases and pests because the plant requires high humidity, which it often does not get in the living room. This makes the Polyscias an ideal target for spider mites, leaf and scale insects. Fortunately, spider mites can be easily removed by spraying the Polyscias with a powerful water jet, be careful not to damage the leaves. Aphids can be removed with a biological or chemical pesticide. You can also do this preventively once a quarter.
When the Polyscias is infested you can often see it but you can also smell it, as the plant will produce a strong smell as a natural reaction against pests.

Pruning the Polyscias houseplant

If your Polyscias grows too tall or if you want more shoots, you can easily cut off the leaves and branches. It is best to do this in spring or summer. We also recommend trimming your Polyscias every year just before autumn. This allows more light to reach the core during the winter months and will result in more branching in spring. This in turn ensures that the Polyscias maintains a full appearance.

Taking cuttings from Polyscias (Aralia)

You can propagate this houseplant by taking cuttings. The shoots on top of the plant are best suited for this, cut off a piece of about 10 centimetres. You put this piece in water at a temperature of 23 degrees. If you want to propagate your polyscias, we recommend putting a plastic bag over the cutting to increase the temperature and humidity. When the cutting has produced roots, you can place it in the soil. Mind you, patience is a virtue!

The Polyscias in bloom

The Polyscias can produce amazingly beautiful flowers, unfortunately this only happens in nature or you have to be a really lucky person. Before flowering, the Polyscias must have reached a certain age and size. The habitat also plays a big role in the Polyscias' flowering. Given that conditions in a living room are often not optimal for the Polyscias, the chances are therefore very slim.

Different types of Polyscias (Aralia) at Green-Bubble

At Green-Bubble we sell several specimens of Polyscias, read on soon and find out more about these special houseplants.

• Polyscias Fabian
  

The Polyscias Fabian has a sturdy stem from which several branches grow. These branches each go their own way, giving each Polyscias Fabian a truly different appearance. The Polyscias Fabian has leathery dark green leaves that can also have a purple glow.

• Polyscias Ming
  

The Polyscias Ming variety differs from its relatives by its distinct leaves, as the Polyscias Ming has frayed leaves. Also, this houseplant often has more leaves so that the stem(s) are not clearly visible. So it really is a green houseplant!

• Polyscias Balfiana
  

The Polyscias Balfiana is very similar in appearance to the Polyscias Fabian, only the leaves of these two plants differ. This is because the leaves of the Polyscias Balfiana are also dark green but the tips have a white edge. This gives the houseplant a slightly fresher appearance.

Buy a Polyscias at Green Bubble

Are you looking for a beautiful and full Polyscias Aralia as a houseplant? Then you've come to the right place at Green Bubble! When you buy one of our Polyscias, of course you want a beautiful and fresh plant. At Green Bubble we work directly with growers so we can guarantee the freshness of our houseplants. We strive to deliver healthy and high-quality plants to our customers every day. This ensures you get your houseplant delivered as fresh and good as possible!
Want to buy a Polyscias aralia plant but don't feel like going to your local garden shop? We understand that, which is why we ship your Polyscias directly to you, free of charge! Buying Polyscias is easy in our webshop, where you can buy different types of Polyscias of the highest quality!
Easy ordering and great houseplants, that's what Green Bubble stands for. Want to buy a great Polyscias? Join the Green Bubble!