How to Care for Japanese Fatsia

Choose an area to plant your Japanese fatsia plants that offers partial shade to full shade, which is the best growing condition for these plants, particularly in warmer climates. Offer the plants partial sun to full sun if you are growing the plants in a colder climate. In addition, ensure the plants are not exposed to damaging harsh winds.

Select a growing area that features loam, sand or clay soil. Collect a sample of your Japanese fatsia growing soil and take it to your county extension office for testing to find out the soil’s level of acidity or basicity -- its pH level. Note that these types of plants ideally require a pH level that is either acidic or slightly alkaline, so you might have to add organic matter to get it to a suitable level. In addition, when planting Japanese fatsia, make sure the plants are spaced about 3 feet to 5 feet apart.

Apply a fertilizer to your Japanese fatsia plants during the spring season after your region’s final frost date. Purchase a 12-6-6 fertilizer that releases the chemical slowly over time, and follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Water the plants whenever the soil no longer appears moist, as Japanese fatsia plants are only moderately tolerant of drought. Do not water these plants too heavily, as these plants work best in well-drained soil. In addition, apply a pesticide to these plants to prevent infestations from insects such as spider mites, aphids and scales. Put a copper-based fungicide on the plants as well if you see signs of bacterial and fungal diseases.

Prune your Japanese fatsia plants by trimming several feet from all stems in late winter so that subsequent foliage is thick. Optionally, remove one-third of all of the plant’s original stems to the plant base between late winter and late summer so as to promote strong future plant growth.