Optimal Soil Choices for Thriving Ming Aralia Plants
The Ming Aralia, a striking and popular houseplant, requires careful attention to thrive. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to maintain this beautiful plant.
Firstly, regular pruning is essential for the Ming Aralia. Dead or damaged leaves and stems should be removed to maintain the plant's shape and size.
When it comes to repotting, the Ming Aralia should be moved to a pot one size larger if it is 14 inches or smaller. Larger pots should be laid on their side, and the plant and soil removed carefully. The new pot should have drainage holes covered with a coffee filter or screen, and fresh potting mix added, pressing down to remove any air pockets.
The Ming Aralia prefers bright, indirect light and temperatures between 65-85°F (18-29°C). It also requires higher-than-average humidity and regular watering, allowing the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings.
After repotting, the Ming Aralia should not be buried deeper than it was in the original pot. It should be watered well and additional potting mix added if needed.
During its active growing period, typically from spring to fall, the Ming Aralia should be fertilized with a balanced fertilizer once a month. The soil mixture for a Ming Aralia should be rich in organic matter such as coco coir, perlite, vermiculite, and composted materials.
The soil mixture should be replaced every 1 to 2 years, ideally in spring when the plant enters its active growing phase. It's also important to note that the new container for the Ming Aralia should have good drainage and be made of clay or terracotta. The plant should not be repotted in old potting soil or a container that has not been sanitized.
Before repotting, the roots of the Ming Aralia should be cleaned. This involves removing the plant from its container, shaking off as much soil as possible, placing the plant on a few layers of newspaper, using fingers to remove remaining soil, filling a dishpan with tepid water, setting the plant's roots into the dishpan and swishing them around to dislodge soil, examining the roots for signs of decay, trimming off decaying roots with pruning shears, and repotting the plant in a new container with fresh potting soil.
Lastly, the Ming Aralia should be repotted in spring when it is most actively growing. To remove the Ming Aralia from the old pot, the plant should be gently removed and the roots cleaned of old soil if the pot is small, or the plant should be removed by placing a tarp on the side of the pot, removing the top layer of dirt, tipping the pot towards the tarp, removing all loose soil, digging around the pot edges to loosen the plant, and gently easing the plant out.
With these tips, you're well on your way to caring for a healthy and thriving Ming Aralia. Happy gardening!
