The finger aralia is considered quite easy to care for and not difficult to propagate. Unfortunately, it is one of the poisonous green plants and is therefore only partially suitable for households with small children and/or pets. It can cause gastrointestinal problems and irritation of the skin and mucous membranes.
How do you properly care for a finger aralia?
The finger aralia needs a bright, not too sunny location, regular watering without waterlogging, high humidity and room temperatures between 19 °C and 25 °C. During the growth phase it should be fertilized every two weeks and kept cool in winter, but not below 15 °C.
Planting and repotting the finger aralia
The finger aralia does not need any special soil, normal houseplant or pot soil is sufficient for it. Since it does not tolerate waterlogging, you should ensure that the soil is well permeable and create a drainage layer in the plant pot.
The finger aralia doesn't grow too quickly, so it doesn't need to be repotted often. About every two years, give it a slightly larger pot in the spring. Immediately after repotting, you can safely skip the next fertilizer application to the finger aralia. The fresh soil contains enough nutrients.
The ideal location for the finger aralia
As a tropical plant, the finger aralia (bot. Schefflera elegantissima) prefers a warm location with lots of light. It reacts quite sensitively to drafts, as well as to the blazing sun. The finger aralia does best in light shade or partial shade, plus room temperatures between 19 °C and 25 °C.
Water and fertilize the finger aralia properly
Water your Schefflera elegantissima when the top layer of soil slowly dries out. If the root ball becomes too dry, the finger aralia may drop its leaves. Use rainwater or stale tap water as the plant is sensitive to lime. During the growth phase, add some liquid fertilizer (€6.00 on Amazon) to the irrigation water once or twice a month.
The finger aralia in winter
In winter the finger aralia takes a break during which it needs a little less water and no fertilizer. It may be a little cooler during this time than in the summer months, but the temperature should under no circumstances fall below 15 °C.
The most important things in brief:
- not difficult to maintain
- unfortunately poisonous
- Location: bright, without summer midday sun
- water regularly as soon as the soil has dried
- high humidity
- sensitive to drafts
- does not tolerate waterlogging
- fertilize from April to September
- all year round room temperature
- not below 15 °C even in winter
Tip
The easy-care aralia is an attractive green plant, but should be kept out of the reach of children and animals.