Aralia Gold

Light

Aralia Golden need light to mimic the tropical climate of their native Polynesia. Though they will survive under low light as they long as they have moist soil, they do best in medium or full sun when grown indoors, but should be planted in shady areas if placed outside. Aralia Golden prefer temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep them inside or move them indoors during the winter.

Water

The thin, fine roots of Aralia Golden is subject to rot, so allow the upper half of the soil to thoroughly dry out between waterings. If grown under low light, they may need water just once or twice a month, so monitor the soil carefully. In the winter, the growth of Aralia Golden slows considerably and they require even less water. If conditions outside are wet, provide them with shelter or move them inside to prevent root rot.  

Soil

Aralia Golden prefers a rich but well-drained soil mixture to help balance its need for moisture with its fragile, rot-prone roots. While the specific blend of soil can vary (from sandy to peat moss to loamy), drainage should be the priority. Choose a pot made of clay or terracotta to help wick extra moisture from the soil and act as an added defense against root rot.

Temperature and Humidity

Both temperature and humidity are very important to Aralia Golden plant’s overall growth and success. In order for your plant to thrive, you will want to ensure temperatures in your home maintain a balmy baseline. Aralia Golden can happily handle warmer temperatures (it does beside between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit), but anything below 60 degrees will cause your plant to fail and shed its foliage. The biggest challenge with a Aralia Golden is keeping it fully clothed in leaves throughout the cold, dry winter months. If the plant is subject to cold air, it will begin to drop leaf stems and quickly be completely denuded. Prevent this by supplying it with steady warmth, aided by a bottom heater if necessary.

Unless you like your home to mimic the tropics, you’ll likely have to up the humidity in your space for the Aralia Golden plant, too. When planting indoors, place your container or pot on a tray filled with wet pebbles to increase humidity levels. You can also mist the foliage of the plant periodically to mimic the humid, wet conditions of the tropics.

Fertilizer

Feed your Aralia Golden with a liquid fertilizer monthly throughout its growing period (spring through fall). If you notice falling leaves or those that are yellowish-green in appearance, that’s a good indication that your plant isn’t getting enough nutrients and could benefit from a bit of fertilizer.

Propagation

Aralia Golden can be propagated fairly easily through its cuttings.

• Start cuttings at any time of year, but as with most plants, early spring (May) is the best time.

• When you prune your plant, keep a few shoots – either softwood or hardwood – to use as cuttings..

• Softwood cutting should have between two and four leaves. If using a hardwood cutting, you should remove all leaves.

• Apply a good hormone rooting powder to the cuttings as Aralia plants are notoriously slow to root otherwise.

• Place each cutting in its own small pot with a good, loamy, rich, well-draining potting mix.

NOTE: Use a well-draining propagating mix of equal parts peat moss and perlite.

• Be sure to place the cutting in a pot large enough to accommodate the plant as it grows into a young plant. Avoid moving plants around until plants root and become established.

• Set the pots in a warm (70°-78° degrees Fahrenheit) humid area with bright, indirect sunlight.

• Keep ambient humidity levels high, but don’t mist the cuttings as this will cause rot.

• Be sure to protect the cuttings from drafts. Covering them with plastic is a good idea to keep the humidity level high and to prevent draft damage.