Caring for Fatsia Japonica (Paper Plants)

Fatsia are easygoing cool loving plants that have a small dramatic flair as they droop when underwatered. Although they rarely flower or produce fruit when grown indoors, with the right care you can keep the leaves green all year round. 

Pro Tip: Prune older stems in mid to late spring to shape as needed. They can be gently removed directly where they meet the main stem with a firm twist to give a cleaner look compared to stem cutting or pruning with shears. 

Water every 5 to 7 days and allow the top 1-2 inches of potting mix to dry out between waterings in summer and hotter climates, as Fatsia do not like soggy potting mix and are drought-tolerant due to their roots. In winter, water less frequently, at least once every 2 weeks. The temperatures are cooler, and there is less light, so your Fatsia will grow slower and it will need less water. 

If you’re unsure of when to water, here’s a “rule of thumb” to follow. If the top few inches feel dry when you stick your finger into the pot, give your plant a good soak and add water until it drains from the pot's drainage holes. This means the potting mix is thoroughly moistened and can also flush excess salts in the potting mix. Overwatering can cause root rot, so it is better to wait a few days until the top 1-2 inches feel dry rather than sticking to a strict watering schedule. 

Pro-tip: Avoid watering with tap water; Fatsia are sensitive to high levels of calcium found in hard tap water, and prolonged exposure can cause tip burn. Use distilled, filtered, rain, or bottled water instead. 

2-6 hours of bright indirect light are ideal for Paper Plants. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day during the afternoon. Place by a window that receives no direct sun throughout the day, or by a window with light filtered by a gauze curtain or shade cloth. Paper Plants enjoy a low amount of constant light and can thrive in the shade or artificial lighting making them perfect for offices, hotel lobbies, internal conference rooms, and commercial spaces. 

Pro-tip: How quickly your Fatsia grows is linked to its light exposure, with shaded plants showing slowed growth. 

The proper amount of bright light will lead the leaves to grow closer together and help maintain the variegation color patterns. If your plant is looking leggy or dropping leaves, it may need more light. 

Fatsia Japonica prefers a humidity range of 50-80%. To monitor and maintain humidity levels, try a humidifier with a built-in humidistat in the room. Plant groupings, a pebble tray with water under the pot, or naturally humid rooms like the kitchen or bathroom can also increase humidity.

Keep indoor temperatures cool, between 60-75°F (15-24°C), for your shrub. Fatsia can tolerate brief cold spells below 50°F (10 °C) but prolonged exposure can cause cold damage or plant death. 

Pro-tip: Make sure your Paper plant is not placed near any vents or fans to help maintain a constant temperature. If grown outside place them where they will be protected from wind. 

Although Fatsia are durable, meaning they can tolerate drought, low light, and low temperatures, they can still have health issues. Here are some common ones to look for and what to do if your Paper Plant is affected. 

Fun fact: Although its fruits are inedible to humans, this plant is part of the ginseng family Araliaceae.

Discoloration for Prayer Plants could be yellowing, browning, and non-natural colors appearing on the foliage. This is a sign your plant is struggling and you’ll need to troubleshoot.

Pro-tip: Curled leaves are not always a problem. New leaves will also be curled inward into a tube, but will be green. 

Brown tips are a sign of tip burn and are often caused by salts or chemicals like fluoride and chlorine in the water you use, which build in the potting mix and are then absorbed by your Paper Plant and accumulate in the leaves. Switch to distilled, filtered or bottled water and trim the brown tips as they appear with sterilized shears. 

Pro-tip: If tap water is your only option, let it sit out overnight to allow some of the chemicals (like chlorine) to evaporate before watering. 

Low humidity can also cause tip burn as the lack of moisture in the air will cause the plant to transpire faster than normal leading to localized deficiencies on the edges of the leaves. Use a humidistat to monitor humidity, and add plant groupings or a pebble tray to increase it. Check that your Fatsia Shrub is not next to a vent, heater or air conditioner. You can also move your Paper Plant to a more humid room, like the bathroom or kitchen. 

If the leaves do not recover after adjusting the water and humidity, trim just the brown tips or the entire leaf with sterilized shears to encourage new growth. 

If the leaves are shriveling, wilting, or turning brown, check if the potting mix is too dry as you may be underwatering. Add water to the potting mix until it feels damp but not wet, and until water begins draining from the bottom of the pot. Make sure your potting mix is well draining but does retain some moisture. 

If the leaves are turning yellow and the stems appear black, this is a sign of overwatering so try reducing watering frequency. Your Fatsia may also start dropping leaves if it's overwatered. Check the top few inches of your potting mix to make sure it isn’t waterlogged. Remove the discolored leaves to promote foliage growth and prevent a leggy appearance. 

As your Paper plant matures, older leaves also naturally start to turn yellow. Once there are no more green parts of the leaf, it can be pruned to promote new growth. If it's a single leaf yellowing at a time, it’s more likely to be aging compared to the plant as a whole turning yellow. If this happens, reduce the watering frequency and check for bacterial or fungal growth. 

Yellow leaf edges can also be a sign of shock due to watering with cold water. Use room temperature water instead. 

If cultivars with variegated leaves start to appear more green and lose their marbling, the issue is dim lighting and your Paper Plant needs to be moved closer to a window with brighter lighting or spend more time in the light. Fatsia with variegation, like the Spiders Web, will become greener and lose their webbing as they produce more chlorophyll, increasing their efficiency at absorbing light to compensate for decreased availability. 

For overall pale leaves, the issue could be too much direct light, which causes the leaf color to fade by reducing chlorophyll production as a protective mechanism. Excessive light will cause the leaf to go from pale to brown. Move your Paper Plant out of direct sunlight and into the shade where it should regain its original coloring. You can also switch to artificial grow lights scheduled to provide light for 4-6 hours a day, until the plant recovers.

Pale or greyish leaves might also be due to underwatering. Increase your watering frequency, especially in the hotter summer months, and water as soon as the top 2 inches (up to your second knuckle) of potting mix feel dry. 

Loss of color or brown spots along the edges that progressively worsen, and drooping leaves are signs of leaf burn. Fatsia with white variegation are more susceptible to leaf burn compared to darker cultivars because they have less chlorophyll. 

If you notice these signs, try:

• Moving the pot to another position with only indirect light exposure or into the shade.

• Pruning any leaves that appear mostly brown/badly damaged to help the plant focus on new growth.

• Ensuring the potting mix remains adequately watered.

Fatsia have fibrous roots that like to absorb water, but are also prone to root rot if left in potting mix where water fills the air pockets. When moisture is trapped it promotes fungal and bacterial growth leading to black spots on the roots, leaves, or stem, and a foul smell. These are the telltale signs of root rot. 

If you suspect root rot, remove your plant from the pot and follow the steps below:

1. Trim any rotting or dead roots with sharp, sanitized shears. If it is discolored, smells or feels squishy, trim it away. 

2. Treat the roots with a hydrogen peroxide solution (3 parts water to 1 part peroxide) or plant-safe fungicide to make sure all bacteria and other potential threats are washed away. 

3.  Re-pot in a new well-draining potting mix, ensuring the pot has holes in the bottom for proper drainage.

Pro-tip: After watering, remember to wipe off excess moisture from the leaves as this can also promote fungal and bacterial growth. Aim water at the potting mix, and remember to drain the saucer after watering to prevent stagnant water. 

Fatsia prefers a well-draining potting mix that is slightly acidic, with lots of organic matter and chunky media like perlite, pine bark, and coco coir, to prevent soggy potting mix and allow the roots to aerate. Our signature blend of potting mix Dirt Bag is designed specifically for plants that are susceptible to root rot and provides ample nutrients for growth. 

Fatsia also enjoys regular fertilization. Dilute liquid fertilizers to half-strength and apply every 2-3 weeks during Spring and Summer. Avoid fertilizing in the fall and winter when growing slows and when your Fatsia is flowering. 

Now that you know how to care for your Fastia Japonica Paper Plant, here’s a few of our staff favorites so you can add to your collection.