Forum home Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Fatsia

cassie101cassie101 Posts: 12
will a large fatsia i have overwintered in the greenhouse in a pot grow again after being dicimated by mice
«1

Posts

  • cassie101cassie101 Posts: 12
    decimated
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Unless you're at some serious altitude, or a lot further north than I am, there's no need for them to be undercover over winter @caroleannsmith:)
    Get it out during the day, and in at night for a few nights, just to acclimatise it, then leave it outside. 
    They can be cut back hard, and will re grow. They're not always great in pots long term though, so if you don't have anywhere suitable to grow it in the ground, make sure you have a large container and it'll need more care and attention if that's the case. 
    Have you got a photo? The maturity of the plant will also be a factor in it's care  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • cassie101cassie101 Posts: 12
    Thank you, bought it at the end of last autumn and the leaves looked very soft and as I live in very windy position thought it would be safer inside. Good to know it will regrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I should have clarified that I'm talking about the bog standard green one. Some of the others aren't so tough -the variegated ones etc.
    They cope with wind no problem too they wouldn't last five minutes here if they didn't!] so don't worry about that, but a shady or semi shaded spot, and not in the full thrust of strong winds, is best.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • cassie101cassie101 Posts: 12
    will gently harden whats left of it off and plant out the end of the month.  live in n. devon, on the side of a hill so extremely windy and also catch late frosts. Its a basic green Fatsia Thanks again  :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It'll be fine. Frost won't bother it either. They look tropical, but they're pretty tough. The worst thing is when you get snow on them as it can break stems. A few inches is usually ok, but more than that is a problem. I still brush it off anyway, just to avoid any damage   :)
    Odd that mice have eaten it though. Are you sure that's what's happened? They aren't usually bothered by much in the way of pests.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • cassie101cassie101 Posts: 12
    definately mice, if you are tender hearted read no further, 
    leaves chewed off and left, chew marks along the stems and when I set traps caught three in one night, one more following evening and none since (three days) but will stay vigilant
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They don't bother me at all, and I have plenty here, but I don't get troubled by them where plants are concerned either. They're too busy eating the bird food.  ;)

    I think if you can get the Fatsia outside, that will help though. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Just to reiterate what others have said, the fatsia japonica is bomb proof in the average British garden - hardy down to -15c - but from my experience it'll look better in semi shade. Sunny positions seem to give the leaves a yellow tinge.
    Growing tropical and desert plants outdoors in West Yorkshire
    INSTAGRAM/ YOUTUBE
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    They can look a bit rough by the end of winter. Mine (in an east-facing spot so it gets morning sun on fine days) usually gets a bit of browning leaf edges and dying leaves on the inside. In late spring I take off the worst of the damaged leaves and what's left of the previous year's old flower heads/berries, prune out a few of the oldest branches down as low as I can get, and it's good as new.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Sign In or Register to comment.