GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Fatsia

Tom · 28-01-2008, 08:01 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening

wrote:
On 27 Jan, 13:54, Tom wrote:
Hi, I've just been given a fatsia japonica. It's about 2 feet high and
bushy, but in a very small shallow pot.
I'll re-pot it in spring, but is it best kept indoors until then please?
Indoor environment - cool, warm in the evenings when I've got the
heating on. Choice of south or east facing windows or shade. I guess the
air is pretty dry.
Outside environment - choice or direct sunlight or shade, but very very
windy (it's a riverside terrace so the air is never still). It'll be
blown over in minutes if I don't surround it with bricks.
Any help much appreciated, thanks.

I've never kept fatsia indoors - I have two, one growing in a pot
(about 5 years now) in a wheelbarrow with other plants in it, against
a fence north facing (I'm in the north west and it blows hard here but
it has the fence for protection). The other one is two metres high, in
the ground, outside, against a fence in full sun. They like protection
on one side (which helps being tipped over if the wind take on the
leaves) and frost and snow damage them a bit but soon enough you get
new leaves and just take out the yellow one. The plant will grow its
leaves as it grows up and you will end up with spare stems. Then plant
something else underneath, I have ground ivy. They are pretty hardy.
Can you put it straight in the ground against a fence? Where are you?

I'm in London but I'm right on the river so the wind is pretty fierce. I
should have said, my outside space is concrete so it will have to stay
in a pot.

Cheers,

Tom