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Why is are my indoor fatsia japonica leaves turning yellow?

shaunawalker96shaunawalker96 Posts: 8
in Problem solving
I've had my fatsia for about 2 months and the lower leaves seem to be initially getting yellow veins and then the whole leaf turns entirely yellow. Had some watering issues at first which seem to have been resolved over the last month. The plant initially came in a soil that was covered in wood pellets but I changed the soil to premium miracle grow soil mixed with perlite about 2/3 weeks ago. It's in an east facing window and sometime receives a few hours of morning sunlight. 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's not an indoor plant. It grows best in shade, with lots of moisture, in the ground, so it's probably struggling very badly inside.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    They aren't really indoor plants, they like cool, moist shade and sufficient moisture. Mine was happy for years, in an unheated North facing porch with no sun at all.
     I put it outside last summer and it loved it and grew a lot bigger.
    This year storm Arwen blew over a potted conifer that landed right on top of it and broke the growing tip. It didn't recover, so I'm spitting feathers!
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    East-facing is OK - mine is against an east-facing wall - but I agree that it's an outdoor plant and won't be happy indoors for long. Books etc will say it prefers moisture so that would be ideal, but mine's in probably unimproved sandy soil close to a wall and it's fine. it's been here longer than we have and it was mature when we moved here in 1988.  I think it's quite irresponsible of growers and retailers to promote it as a house plant when it doesn't really do well indoors.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's interesting @JennyJ, re your site for it. 
    It possibly doesn't dry out too readily though either, and it'll be cool enough in your location?
    I agree though - they shouldn't be pushing these as house plants. I doubt it would be easy to keep in any house unless it was in a very cool room, and in a huge container. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • shaunawalker96shaunawalker96 Posts: 8
    Thanks guys. Very annoying that this was sold as a houseplant! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's very annoying @shaunawalker96. Do you have an outside space you can put it in?
    They're very easy plants in the right place, and can be cut back to keep them smaller, but they will grow to very large proportions when happy.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • shaunawalker96shaunawalker96 Posts: 8
    Unfortunately I don't have any outdoor space
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    The soil gets dry as dust in summer and I don't water it, but it is next to the outside tap so it gets a little bit of leakage when the dripper system is running. It can get pretty warm here in summer but not as much as down south.
    It's not something I would have thought of planting here but it was already there and seems happy, so it stays. Plants don't always read the rules :D. Of course it might have been coddled in its early years by whoever planted it.
    And I forgot to say, @shaunawalker96 , welcome to the forum :)  and sorry we don't really have an answer if you want to keep your Fatsia indoors. Maybe try giving it as much ventilation as possible if you don't have an outside space where you could plant it, and make sure it's not near a radiator when the heating's on. And do make sure that you tip out any surplus water from the outer pot after you've watered it. I know we said they like moisture, but not standing in water.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • shaunawalker96shaunawalker96 Posts: 8
    Thanks for the advise @JennyJ. Luckily I've had quite a lot of new growth since buying it so I guess all is not lost! It's not near a radiator and will definitely try and to give it more ventilation. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Fingers crossed it might be happy enough for a while @shaunawalker96.

    It's maybe adapted well enough too @JennyJ - the roots will be well down. As you say - plants don't always read the rule books  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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