Sad Fatsia Japonica

rosy_everitt

I was hoping someone could offer me some advice on my indoor Fatsia Japonica. I've had it for over 2 years and it's always done quite well. Every now and again I have removed some of the older larger leaves as they seemed to dry out and I wanted to give light to the newer growth. However recently some the leaves look very sad. I thought it was perhaps over watering so I held off for a week or so and now I'm only watering small amounts. For a long while it was sat on a West facing sill, then a sunny south east window and more recently lower down on the ground but still a light spot. Any advice?? Thank you in advance 

Fairygirl

It's inside and on a sunny windowsill. I'm afraid that's the problem 
They're outdoor plants which do best with some shade and lots of moisture.

rosy_everitt

Ah!!! Thank you. I have seen them outdoors but it was bought for us as moving in present in an indoor pot so I just kept it indoors! 

JennyJ

Confusingly, Fatsia is in my houseplant book although as @Fairygirl says they're really outdoor plants.

The houseplant book says it prefers a cool, well-ventilated and bright situation but not full summer sun, and in particular keep cool and well-lit in winter, mist frequently, water and feed regularly from spring to autumn and water sparingly in winter, repot annually.

If you want to keep it indoors it would be better in a bright unheated room that doesn't get direct sun, maybe near a North-facing window.

Edit: make sure the pot has drainage holes so that the excess water can drain freely - I can't tell whether there's an inner pot inside the green one.

rosy_everitt

Thanks so much for looking into it. I think I've over watered it. It's in a bucket because I thought it looked fun and although a put pebbles in the bottom I think it may be water logged as the description of where it would prefer to be does tend to match where's I've had it more recently. 
It did really well in the full sum windowsill I had it on for a while so that's a bit surprising having read both your comments. 

Thanks again... I think I'll re pot it and see if that gives it a new lease of life. 

Fairygirl

Do you mean there's no way for excess water to drain away?
It won't like that at all. The only plants that cope with sitting in water permanently are pond plants, and Fatsia isn't one of them. 

JennyJ

I recommend taking it out of the bucket and putting it in a pot with drainage holes - you can stand that inside the bucket on top of the pebbles if you like, then you can check for excess water in the bottom. Use fresh compost if what it's in is soggy wet. If you find any of the roots are rotten (brown and mushy) cut them off because they won't recover. If there aren't any healthy roots left, then it doesn't look good .

rosy_everitt

I had thought the layers of pebbles would be enough. 
I'll re pot it ASAP. Thanks for the tips