How to Care for a Fatsia Plant

Plant the fatsia in a medium with equal parts of peat moss, compost and garden soil in a container. Use a container that is 12 inches in diameter with drainage holes.

Keep the plant in a location where it will have shade for most of the day with only about two or three hours of morning sun. When plants are grown in full sun, the growth will slow, but when placed in a shady location, the plant growth is fast.

Apply a slow-release 12-6-6 shrub and tree fertilizer once in spring after the last chance of frost has passed. Always water the soil before and after fertilizing the plant so the roots will not burn.

Water the fatsia so the soil is evenly moist. Use your finger to test the soil 1 inch deep for dryness. If the soil feels dry or almost dry, water the plant thoroughly. During the winter, the plant growth will slow down, so the plant won’t use as much water.

Prune the fatsia plant in late winter just before the plant starts growing again. Cut the stems back 3 to 4 feet. This will give you a full plant with dense foliage. If you don’t want a dense plant, cut the tallest and oldest stems back to the base of the plant, which will also keep the height of the plant manageable.