Please Identify Mystery House Plant Tree

Hi Jim,

Your plant has a lot of names because biologists can’t quite decide what category to put it into. Most people refer to it as a False Aralia. The scientific name is now Schefflera elegantissima. It used to be Dizygotheca. Here are some tips to help you care for your new plant.

Light: Medium to bright indirect light. No direct sun.

Water: Too much water, resulting in root rot, is the main reason a False Aralia dies. Allow the top 30% of the soil to dry out before watering. Be sure there are drip holes in the bottom of the pot so excess water can drain out.

Fertilizer: An Aralia plant requires very little fertilizer. Feed every other month when it’s actively growing with a plant food high in nitrogen at 1/2 the recommended strength. Do not feed during the winter.

Temperature: Aralia plants prefer temperatures between 60-85 degrees.

Humidity: High humidity helps Aralia plants grow. Dry air, due to low humidity, is one of the reasons Aralia plants drop leaves.

Soil: Aralia Plants need a peat-based, well-aerated, light soil. This type of quick draining potting medium prevents water from accumulating in the soil and causing the roots to disintegrate.

Pot: For such a large plant, Aralia plants do much better when root- bound in smaller pots. Being in smaller pots also helps the soil dry out faster and prevents over- watering.

Please let me know if you need any more information.