10 Most Common Fatsia Japonica Problems & How to Fix Them


A fatsia japonica on the article Common Fatsia Japonica Problems

Fatsia japonica is a tropical plant that offers a striking expression in the nursery. This plant also makes a bold impact as a household plant.

It undoubtedly enhances the appearance of your sitting area. Your Fatsia placed indoors may not get blossoms.

However, you can appreciate the colorful foliage. This makes it a legitimate indoor plant.

Other names that are commonly used for Fatsia Japonica are glossy leaf, paper plant, false castor oil plant, and Japanese aralia.

Southern Japan and South Korea are home to this species but it is grown all over the world.

This plant belongs to the Araliaceous family. It has many varieties such as Annelise, Moseri, and spider webs.

The fatsia japonica has colossal, profoundly lobed leaves that develop to about a foot in width on long leaf stems.

It spreads upwards and outwards covering a handsome area and giving an enriched look. The blossoms are little, white, borne in thick terminal compound umbels.

They blossom in late pre-winter or late-fall, trailed by little dark fruits in spring. This plant usually prefers shadow as well as somewhat acidic, compost-rich soil.

It will not flourish in full sun but it is a tough, fast-growing plant that bounces back quickly after being harmed. So, this plant is a perfect option for your yards and studios.

Common Fatsia Japonica Problems

Here are some common fatsia japonica problems while growing this plant:

A fatsia japonica

1) Its leaves may begin to brown and curl if the surrounding saturation is too low or the heat is too intense, especially in direct sunshine.

2) Pale or patchy foliage.

3) Uneven growth.

4) Stem yellowing.

5) Withering of lower leaves.

6) Sometimes mealy bugs attack plant leaves. They are sap suckers just like scale insects. When they are in huge numbers, they can cause shrinking and twisting of new leaves

Mealybugs discharge a lot of honeydew, which advances the development of dingy form and may harm plants further.

7) Root decay is a typical issue among plants placed in dry soil.

8) Environmental shock is a common phenomenon seen when this plant is relocated to a new place with unsuitable conditions which cause hindered development and lower leaf misfortune.

9) Fatsia placed in shady and dark places leads to mold development on the soil’s surface.

10) Fatsia flowers attract an assortment of pollinating insects, which reduce the population of many harmful insects, including parasitic and predaceous wasps.

This may mean locating the plants away from outdoor living areas if someone is allergic to the stinging insects.

You may also like: Can I grow a fatsia japonica in a pot & placement tips

Why is My Fatsia Japonica Dying?

There could be many possible reasons. We go through the fatsia japonica problems below:

1) Improper Pruning

Improper pruning may cause foliage to become dense allowing mealybugs to breed in weeds. As mealy bugs discharge a lot of honeydew, this attracts insects.

They shield the mealybugs from different soil parasites as a trade-off for a feed of honeydew. So timely pruning is important.

Remove any foliage that is highly infested and dispose of it properly.

2) Irregular Watering

Fatsia doesn’t tolerate inconsistent watering. This can cause root decay, foliage decline, and hindered development.

For those that are planted in brilliantly lit spots, just permit 33% of the dirt to dry out in the middle of the watering, with hazier areas permitting over half of it.

Set up a watering routine if you’re a forgetful gardener to remind you to rehydrate your plants regularly.

If you need help watering your plant, try using this automatic drip irrigation kit.

3) Shady places

Shady places with insufficient exposure to sunlight and prolonged soil moisture may cause roots to decay.

Inspect the roots carefully. If they are dark brown to black in color and mushy, you need to act quickly.

If your plant is struggling due to light, trying using this to help regulate the lighting.

4) Unsuitable Environmental Conditions

It is a tropical plant that requires warm conditions to thrive but direct sunlight and high gusts can cause damage to the leaves.

5) Soil

Too low moisture can cause searing tips with yellow marks on adolescent leaves. You might need to expand the nearby dampness to keep the new leaves from embracing these indications.

For more on soil requirements, check out our article on what soil does a fatsia japonica like.

Why is My Fatsia Japonica Drooping?

Your Fatsia Japonica may be drooping because of various reasons. These problems for your fatsia japonica include:

1) You could be overwatering your plant.

2) Your plant could be exposed to cold weather.

3) If the plant is still drooping then it may be due to the weight of the leaves.

How to Prevent and Fix Drooping?

Take the following measures to fix the drooping:

1) Avoid Overwatering

Permit the dirt to dry out before watering your plant again to avoid overwatering. Again try using a automatic drip irrigation kit.

2) Repot Your Plant

A fatsia

If you’re facing trouble achieving the ideal balance of water in the soil, consider repotting your Fatsia into a fresh pot with high-drainage soil. To repot your plant, follow the below-mentioned steps:

1) Fill the new pot up to one-third with well-drained soil and take your Fatsia by the root and remove it from the old container.

2) To keep it firm in its new soil, place it in the new container with extra soil.

3) Pour some water to saturate the dirt and allow it to settle.

4) The new pot should have seepage openings to keep the root framework solid and stay away from root decay.

3) Prune Your Plant

If the weight of the leaves is the reason behind drooping, then you might need to prune your Fatsia.

If you choose to do so, it’s recommended to do the pruning at the end of spring to minimize any harm to your plant.

Needless to say, do not prune it during winter or while there is a frost, as Fatsias will enter a dormancy period so they won’t be able to recover their leaf growth effectively.

While pruning, the following points may help you:

  • Use a sharp knife or gardening shears to cut yellow or brown leaves.
  • Before making any cuts, be sure to clean your instruments. You want to be safe and reduce the danger of infection.
  • After you’ve finished trimming, add fertilizer to speed up the recovery process.

4) Propagation

Two methods are used for propagation. Stem tip cutting propagation and seed propagation. Propagate a new plant before your plant completely dies.

Why are The Leaves on My Fatsia Japonica Turning Brown?

Possible reasons why your Fatsia leaves are turning brown include:

1) Dehydration and Over Exposure to the Light

Fatsia prefers medium to full shade. Eliminate the affected leaves and improve the developing conditions to balance this issue.

Ensure it doesn’t get over 2 hours of direct daylight. Excessive exposure to daylight can consume its leaves and make them become earthy colored and ruin its acclaimed polished appearance.

For more on light, we have an article on the light requirements of a fatsia japonica.

2) Spider Mites

Spider Mites could be partly guilty for the browning, with these little, critters gradually removing the chlorophyll out of the leaves.

Have a check under the remainder of the foliage, most prominently along the midrib, for little networks and yellow spots.

3) Salt Burn

Excessive salt in water and fertilizer accumulates in leaf edges which in turn kills the tissue and causes browning.

So, it’s critical to water thoroughly, gently, and deeply enough to drive salt well below the roots.

4) Fungal Infections

Many fungal infections can also cause brown discolorations.

5) Natural Browning

Older leaves turn brown naturally due to extensive photosynthesis during their whole lifespan.

Why are The Leaves on My Fatsia Japonica Turning Yellow?

The reasons why your Fatsia leaves are turning yellow include:

  • Too much sunlight. Exposing it to the early morning sun can cause chronic yellowing of leaves
  • Salt burn or fertilizer burn
  • There should be a proper watering routine. This will help to avoid overwatering
  • Under-watering
  • Lack of nitrogen
  • Low humidity. Fog or flush the foliage occasionally and make a mugginess plate while the warmers are dynamic to establish a steady climate

For more on this, we have an article on why are your fatsia japonica leaves turning yellow.

Why is My Fatsia Japonica Dropping Leaves?

Fatsia Japonica usually needs low maintenance. The plant is very self-sufficient as long as it isn’t in direct sunlight.

If there is a dry summer season, a little irrigation would be beneficial. Fertilizer in the spring and fall would be beneficial as well.

Keep an eye out for unusually cold winters. If the weather becomes too cold, leaves may begin to tumble off or sometimes, become dark.

In case they turn black, avoid pruning them since they’ll become green again as the temperature rises again.

Final Thoughts

A fatsia japonica on the article Common Fatsia Japonica ProblemsFatsia Japonica is a beautiful Japanese leaf plant. It has polished evergreen leaves and round, ivy-like blossoms.

It’s a favorite for indoor plant collections because of its rich, dark green foliage and simplicity of maintenance.

In late fall, usually between October and November, Fatsia japonica produces unique white blooms.

Improper pruning, overwatering, and shady places cause the plant to die.

Browning of leaves and drooping are also some of the major concerns in its maintenance. Seasonal change in its care and proper management keeps the plant healthy.

Appropriate sunlight, scheduled watering, and fertilizers are necessary measures to be taken. One can always adorn ones indoors with this beautiful plant with proper care and heedfulness.

Hopefully we helped solve your fatsia japonica problems.

Before you go, here are some more related articles I encourage you to read below to help solve more of your gardening issues:

Why is my philodendron brazil dying.

What are the common problems with a pilea

Common Problems with Hydrangeas in Pots & How to Fix Them

How to Fix Your Arrowhead Plant Problems

How to Fix Your Philodendron Selloum Problems

About the Author:

Saad Ansar

Saad is an avid gardener himself and is a great lover of plants, animals, photography, & people. Currently, he is focused on photographing indoor plants & captioning beautiful outdoor sceneries. He writes and rewrites in-depth articles on nature and science.

Bean Growing

We provide a wide range of information from indoor to outdoor plants to product recommendations to make your gardening experience the best it can possibly be. We are not experts in gardening but through extensive research and experience we will give you the best information to provide the best care for your plants.

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