How to Care for Shield Aralia

Position your shield aralia in bright sunlight near a south-facing or southwest-facing window. Because it is native to the tropics, it needs high light and warm temperatures when grown in northern zones. An indoor temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. In the summer, keep the plant away from air conditioning vents.

Place the pot on a large saucer filled with pebbles and keep the saucer filled with water just below the top of the pebbles. Do not let the pot’s bottom sit in the water. Place it just above the water level. Let the water’s from the saucer provide the needed humidity.

Add water only when the potting medium is dry. A moisture meter is a useful tool ensuring you only water when necessary. Overwatering harms the plant.

Feed the shield aralia once a month with a water-soluble fertilizer designed for houseplants. In the winter months when the plant is not actively growing, reduce the fertilizer dosage by half.

Monitor the plant for pests. Shield aralia is prone to getting spider mites. Treat the plant with appropriate controls if necessary.

Transplant the plant into a larger pot when it outgrows the current pot. You will know when it is time to transplant when water runs out the pot immediately after watering. That is a sign that there are more roots than potting soil and no medium holding the water. Use a pot one size bigger than the existing pot and use potting soil design for houseplants.