Japanese Fatsia (Fatsia japonica) is popular with lovers of indoor plants, as it fits almost any interior. It multiplies easily, and with proper care, a beautiful bush with a chic crown grows. Features of this home flower, the most interesting varieties, rules of care in an apartment are described in detail below.
What does Fatsiya Japanese look like, to which family
Fatsiya Japanese belongs to the genus Fatsiy. The family is the Araliaceae, which includes shrub and lianike plants. It features large green leaves and a significant bush length.
Fatsia japonica
Externally, the plant is very similar to chestnut. Sometimes it is called at home in Japan: "home chestnut", "Japanese chestnut". For such a name, the plant owes its beautiful leaves. They very much resemble chestnuts, only much smaller in size.
Petioles are quite long. Large leaves are located on them, reaching almost 30 cm in diameter. The record itself is not entirely solid. It consists of 5 or 8, and sometimes 9 blades. It is no coincidence that Fatsia from Japanese means "eight", because it is precisely so many blades that a leaf of a plant most often has. In general, the leaf blade resembles an ellipse or a heart.
For reference! Fatsia is a genus of plants within which only one species has been isolated that can be cultivated at home.
Color specifications are very different. There are both monochrome forms and variegated variants. There may be notches and notches along the edges of the most bizarre and varied shapes.
Tall shrub with exquisite leaf shape
In size it is more of a shrub. But the stem is quite thin, although it reaches 1 meter (the maximum registered is 2 meters). In a Fatsia plant, the flower does not have the same attractiveness as the leaves. Inflorescences in the form of umbrellas from inconspicuous whitish or several greenish flowers are usually cut by screeders before blooming.
If you leave the inflorescences, after a certain time in their place you can find bluish-blue, even purple berries. Seeds do not always ripen in them, so there is no need and sense to leave them for the purpose of reproduction.
Umbrella inflorescences in the form of umbrellas
Common varieties
Japanese Fatsia is quite diverse. There are about a dozen varieties that are grown for decorative purposes in indoor conditions.
- First of all, the Fitsheder Lice variety is distinguished. The plant is noteworthy in that it is an interesting hybrid of ordinary ivy and shrubs. As a result, the owner can get a five-meter vine. Its advantageous difference is that it is evergreen, the color of the leaves can be the most bizarre and interesting. The flowers are small and nondescript.
- Fatsia cultivar Moseri (Mazeri) is growing very slowly. The bush itself is stunted, but the crown of leaves is very thick and attractive. The plant is rather capricious, as it requires compliance with a constant temperature regime, humidity. It is often difficult for many to maintain optimal microclimate parameters for Fatsia Mazeri.
- The Samurai variety, by contrast, is a very tall plant. It reaches 1.5 meters in height. The leaves look very attractive due to the special star-shaped shape and characteristic shine.
- Fatsia Spider Web variety with proper care in a comfortable home environment looks very unusual. The foliage has a mysterious whitish bloom that resembles a web. The crown itself is spherical, rather large. Reaches in some cases half a meter in diameter.
- The variety of Fatsia Variegata is interesting in leaves that are arranged spirally with respect to the stem. Their color also attracts attention - it is saturated green with delicate matte cream spots, stains. White spots on the edges.
Fatsia varieties Moseri
Japanese Fatsia - Home Care
It would not be true to write that for a plant such as fatsia home care is simple. It is necessary to observe not only the temperature regime, but also the optimal humidity. Otherwise, various diseases await Fatsia.
- Temperature
The best for Fatsia Japanese is considered a warm atmosphere. According to the rules of care, the average temperature that should be adhered to at home should be at around 19 degrees.
The temperature definitely should not exceed +21 and be below the mark of +17 degrees, otherwise Fatsia grows worse, quickly turns yellow.
- Lighting
In indoor conditions, the flower should be in a slightly shaded place. This is due to the fact that Fatsia does not tolerate direct sunlight.
The best way out is to orient the flower to the north side. On the southern windows there will be an additional need to shade Fatsia.
- Watering
To properly observe the water regime, it is necessary to evaluate the topsoil. As soon as it begins to dry, it is necessary to water the plant.
Excessive moisture in the indoor flower does not tolerate well. Fatal to drying up and fatal. Therefore, drainage holes are needed, but deep pallets are not.
- Spraying
To maintain proper care for such a moody indoor plant like Fatsia, it is recommended that you wipe the sheets with a moistened sponge.
Attention! On hot days, at high temperatures, the plant is sprayed with warm water.
- Humidity
Given that the homeland of all aralia plants is the tropics and subtropics, humidity should be maintained at a high level. Therefore, it is very important to spray the plant, as well as periodically wipe the leaves with warm water. It is also necessary for the prevention of various diseases.
- Priming
The ideal mixture for Fatsii contains land, peat and sand. They must be present in equal amounts. The land is chosen sod or leaf.
Pay attention to the acidity indicator - it should not be lower than 5.0 and not higher than 7.0 pH.
- Top dressing
The plant responds gratefully to fertilizers. The main thing is not to overdo it. For example, in winter, top dressing is not needed at all. But in the summer, once a week, you can add organic fertilizers.
- Features of winter care, rest period
In winter, take care of the plant more carefully. Additional lighting is required using fluorescent or fluorescent lamps.
Attention! The temperature regime changes somewhat - it is better to withstand values not exceeding +16 degrees.
- Pruning
Pinching the top of the shoots helps the plant branch. This preserves the necessary beautiful shape of the crown of the shrub.
The plant tolerates pinching. Therefore, pruning can be done several times a year.
How the indoor flower Fatsiya Japanese propagates
There are three ways. Each of them is convenient in its own way and has advantages and disadvantages.
Seed germination
The main condition for the implementation of this method of reproduction is the integrity and preservation of seeds. They must have good germination.
First you need to choose the right substrate. To do this, take part of the soil, part of the sand and part of the turf. This will be the nutrient substrate for Fatsia. It must be placed in containers and well moistened.
Fatsia easily breeds
Seeds take large, whole. They are sown rarely, and then covered with a thin layer of leafy soil. The containers are left in a warm place, covering with a film (glass can be used).
When the plants sprout and 2-3 leaves appear on them, they begin the process of diving. The next stage is planting the plant separately in a pot.
Rooting cuttings
Of the vegetative methods of propagation, the most common using cuttings. The upper part of the plant is cut in spring. The cuttings should still have swollen buds, preferably in an amount of 3. For speed, you can treat them with a special growth accelerator.
A mixture of peat and soil is placed in a container. You can also add some sand there. The finished stalk is strengthened in this soil, preferably 2 cm deep. The optimum temperature is +26 degrees.
Attention! To create a greenhouse effect, the container with the handle is covered with a jar.
When the shoot takes root, you can plant a new plant in a separate pot.
Air lay
Cultivation using the following methodology takes longer and more difficult. But at the same time, it is profitable and effective.
First you need to find two neighboring nodes closer to the top. A shallow vertically oriented incision is made on the stem.
Wrap it with wet moss. It is better if it is moistened with phytohormones or other growth stimulants. You can fix the moss to the trunk with foil. An alternative is cling film.
The main condition is to prevent the moss from drying out. Somewhere after 30-60 days, roots appear at the incision site. After 30 days, it is already possible to prune the plant below the root level and transplant. Thus, the Fatsia plant is rejuvenated.
Transfer
The ideal time for transplanting Fatsia is the end of spring or the very beginning of summer. It is believed that the ideal multiplicity is 1 time in 2-3 years.
With more frequent transplants, the risk of damage to the root system exceeds the need and benefit.
The need for transplantation is determined by the drainage holes. If the roots penetrated into them, then it's time to transplant the Japanese chestnut.
The new container should be 5 cm larger than the previous one. A plant is placed there, which is carefully shaken off the old soil, cut off sick or rotten roots.
Diseases and Pests
For such a moody plant, like Fatsia, home care requires constant and thorough. Failure to comply can cause various diseases and problems.
Scalp quickly fall on a vulnerable plant. It is very difficult to remove parasites. Outwardly, these are brownish tubercles on the leaves, closer to the "veins". They attach to the leaf, feed on juices and infect bacteria. As a result, the sheet becomes at first less elastic, then turns yellow and dries. The plant itself ceases to bloom, begins to hurt. If you do nothing, then Fatsia will die.
Spider mite is another pest that can be found on the leaves and stalks of Fatsia with insufficiently moistened air in the house. The leaves are shrouded in white sticky cobwebs - a sure sign of the presence of the parasite. After a while, the leaves turn yellow, dry and fall off, becoming covered with dark brown spots.
For reference! To combat insects, systemic insecticides are used, which can be found in garden stores.
Signs and superstitions
In Old Japanese, the name of the plant means "eight." This is a reference to the number of blades on a leaf. This name of the flower has no other meaning.
At home, the Japanese are convinced that the flower protects the home from evil spirits. Today, Fatsia is used in rooms where there is obviously a lot of negative energy. It helps to get rid of unpleasant, negative thoughts. If you believe the observations and beliefs, the leaves of the Japanese chestnut absorb all the negativity and all the gloomy vibes.
If there are conflicts in the family, frequent quarrels, scandals, Japanese Fatsia pacifies the household. She brings calm, understanding to the house.
Japanese chestnut is a moody flower. But with proper care, it looks very profitable and complements any interior solution. It is important to prevent disease so that the plant does not suddenly die.
