Polyscias Fructicosa (Ming?)

[Linn01]

Hello guys,

I saw this thing a few weeks ago in the supermarket for little money. The plant passport says 'Polyscias' so I presume this is a Aralia (Ming?).

I know this is considered as a common house plant, but I nevertheless would like suggestions on how to proceed with it. Cut off secondary branches and proceed with one main branch? Wiring is impossible, so the styling would depend on pruning I guess.


And what do I do with these stumps? Cut them off and if yes, when?

 

[Michael P]

You are correct about the species. It is very attractive and commonly sold as a house plant, but rarely kept alive as a house plant. It is notoriously picky about growing conditions and very intolerant of any change. Your plant has the scars to prove it. My nickname for it is Ming the Merciless. You can cut off anything that is dead, but other than that I suggest just try to keep it alive to see if it is worth additional effort.

Of course this is personal opinion, but I've never known one to survive for long that wasn't in a greenhouse.

 

[Linn01]

You are correct about the species. It is very attractive and commonly sold as a house plant, but rarely kept alive as a house plant. It is notoriously picky about growing conditions and very intolerant of any change. Your plant has the scars to prove it. My nickname for it is Ming the Merciless. You can cut off anything that is dead, but other than that I suggest just try to keep it alive to see if it is worth additional effort.

Of course this is personal opinion, but I've never known one to survive for long that wasn't in a greenhouse.

Tnx 4 the reply. Sounds very challenging. Taking into account that I have been able to kill several Chinese elms in the past this plant is probably doomed. So I can cut the stumps at the bottom away?

 

[Michael P]

Sure, you can cut off anything that is dead.