Fatsia

steven.g.garner · December 2021

Hi all. I have 3 fatsia plants in the garden that are all doing different things! One a year older than the others us wonderfully healthy. The other 2 have a couple of issues. 1 has suffered blackness around new growth at the top, and the other looks very wilted and yellow towards the bottom. Any ideas? These were only planted last year and seemed happy enough through summer, but not much growth

Posy · December 2021

Have they been frosted? The two issues I have found is a lack of water in summer - they like lots - and sudden chill. I can't tell from the pictures whether yours get different amounts of shelter or warmth but that would be my first thought.

steven.g.garner · December 2021

Thanks @Posy they get LOTS of water in the summer - I’m an obsessive waterer! The temp certainly dropped and we have had a couple of days of frost of the past month. Also - the ground on that side gets pretty boggy this time of year, they’re in raised 6 inch beds because of this - I wonder if that may affect?

Fairygirl · December 2021

They often look manky at this time of year. A couple of frosts will do no harm - they're very tough. A bit of blackened stem or foliage is no problem, and can be pruned off in spring. The same with any yellowed foliage. You can prune them back hard too, and they'll come away again.
It's only when they get a spell of fairly heavy frosts that they droop a lot [ie from around minus 2 and below] Snow doesn't affect them either, except when it's heavier [more than a couple of inches] because it can snap stems. If you get that, just brush it off regularly.

The worst position for them is a sunny site with lighter soil. They prefer a damper shadier site. Other than that, they're fairly easy.

Dovefromabove · December 2021

I’d move them further away from the fence … they’re very close and when they really start growing they’ll either look squashed, or push the fence over … probably both.

I’ll give @fairygirl a nudge … she grows them.

Fairygirl · December 2021

I was way ahead of you @Dovefromabove

I grow one against my shed - it isn't necessarily a problem because you can use them almost like a climber if you don't have a lot of room, but want an evergreen, or a jungle look in a small garden etc.
They make big plants, so it's best if they have a decent amount of room if you want them to be a specimen rather than background.

Plantminded · December 2021

I had a fatsia for about four years in what I then realised was an unsuitable position (too much sun!) It sulked and looked very unhappy, with drooping, yellowing leaves like a couple of yours @steven.g.garner. I moved it a couple of years ago to a better position and it has rocketed to produce several flower spikes this year.

I've been building up a collection of different varieties of fatsia as they are probably one of the most interesting plants for a shady border. They really don't like full sun which seems odd as they look like tropical plants!

As suggested above, I'd try to give your plants more space, make sure they're not in full sun and remove all the yellowing, drooping leaves right back to the stem to improve their appearance. They will reward you for your efforts!

thevictorian · December 2021

Whilst I agree with everything said already I have seen worst winter damage seems to happen when they are young and they really toughen up as they grow.

Fatsia

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