Polyscias bonsai picture appreciation, beautiful shapes worth a look
Isn't the Polyscias bonsai beautiful? To learn more about Polyscias, please follow Four Seasons Plants Network.
Isn't the Polyscias bonsai beautiful? To learn more about Polyscias, please follow Four Seasons Plants Network!
Polyscias guifoylei Bailey Polyscias illustrated guide: how to grow Polyscias / how to propagate Polyscias
Polyscias cardPolyscias Polyscias guifoylei Bailey
Polyscias growing methods and precautions Polyscias introduction
Polyscias, also known as round-leaf Ming aralia and round-leaf Polyscias, belongs to the Araliaceae family as an evergreen shrub, native to the Pacific islands. The plant height is 1~3 m, the side branches are slender, and the branch lenticels are prominent. Leaves alternate, odd-pinnate compound leaves, leaflets 3~4 pairs, opposite, elliptical or oblong, serrated margins, leaf green often with white spots, umbellate inflorescence, flowers small. Pale white-green, mainly used for potted plants, courtyard trees and hedges.
Plant toxicity
Contact with the sap of Polyscias may cause a red rash; when it touches the mouth, it sometimes causes swelling and pain that makes swallowing impossible.
Morphological characteristics of Polyscias
Polyscias is an evergreen shrub or small tree, the plant is much branched, the stem is grayish brown and densely covered with lenticels.
The branches of Polyscias are soft, leaves alternate, odd-pinnate compound leaves, leaflets 3~4 pairs, opposite, elliptical or oblong, serrated margins, leaf green often with white spots, umbellate inflorescence, flowers small.
The flowering period of Polyscias is summer, and the fruiting period is autumn.
Ecological habits of Polyscias
Polyscias likes a high-temperature environment and is not very cold-tolerant; it requires bright light, but is also fairly shade-tolerant, and avoids direct sun exposure; it likes moisture and is also fairly drought-tolerant, but avoids waterlogging.
Cultivation techniques for Polyscias
Polyscias likes a high-temperature environment and is not very cold-tolerant; it requires bright light, but is also fairly shade-tolerant, and avoids direct sun exposure; it likes moisture and is also fairly drought-tolerant, but avoids waterlogging.
Temperature
Its optimum growth temperature is 15-30°C, of which 20-30°C can be maintained from April to October, and 13-20°C from October to April of the following year. Beautiful plants are usually a bit delicate, and Polyscias is the same. Its variegated-leaf varieties are somewhat less cold-resistant. Under normal circumstances, even for ordinary pure green-leaf varieties, the room temperature in winter should be maintained at no less than 10°C. When the summer temperature reaches above 32°C, it cannot be left unchecked; for mass production, shade sheds should be set up, and for home display it should be placed in a cool place, with water sprayed around to lower the temperature, creating a cool micro-environment relatively close to its native conditions. In late autumn and early winter, when the temperature drops to 15°C, it should be promptly moved indoors to prevent the plant from suffering cold damage. In winter, if the room temperature can be maintained above 20°C, its stems and leaves will continue to grow; if the temperature is not high, the plant stops growing and enters a semi-dormant state.
Light
Taking round-leaf Polyscias as an example, it needs bright light. Insufficient light easily causes leggy stems and leaves, dull leaf color, and fading of markings, but at the same time it avoids strong direct sunlight, especially after long rain and then clear skies in early summer, when leaves must be protected from sunburn. For home potted plants, it can usually be placed in a well-ventilated place; in summer it can be placed in front of a north- or east-facing window, and in winter it should be placed in a brighter spot indoors. For production cultivation, from mid-spring to mid-autumn, it should all be placed under a shade shed, with 40-60% shading according to light intensity and duration. In short, it grows most vigorously in a half-light environment with bright scattered light.
Water
Potted Polyscias likes a relatively moist soil and air environment. During the growing period there must be a sufficient water supply; water after the soil surface dries, and slightly dry soil is also fine, but do not water too much, to avoid water accumulation and root rot. In midsummer when the temperature is higher, besides watering sufficiently, the leaves also need to be sprayed once a day, which can both keep the leaf surface clean and glossy and increase the air humidity around the plant. In late autumn and early winter, when the temperature drops below 15°C, watering should be controlled. In winter, the amount of water should be reduced, or spraying can replace watering, keeping the potting soil slightly moist and a little dry, but when spraying the leaves, make sure the water temperature is basically the same as the room temperature.
Soil
Loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam is best, providing it with a loose, moist, fertile soil environment. For potting soil, mix 4 parts leaf mold, 4 parts garden soil, 2 parts sand, and a small amount of decomposed cake fertilizer powder or bone meal. During the growing season, combined with fertilizing, loosen the soil of the potted plant once a month, so that the potting soil remains well aerated for a long time and root rot caused by soil compaction is avoided. For plants in open ground or under shade sheds, during the plum rain season or continuous rainy weather, inspection should be strengthened; if water accumulation is found in the pot, it should be poured out promptly and the soil changed, so as to avoid leaf drop or root rot. Under normal circumstances, change the soil once every two years in spring.
Fertilizing
Round-leaf Polyscias and others require sufficient fertilizer. From April to June, when growth is vigorous, apply a dilute cake fertilizer solution once a month, or use decomposed low-concentration poultry manure solution, but organic fertilizer must not adhere to the leaf surface. Fertilizing can be scheduled after loosening the soil and pruning and pinching, or before rain; after applying organic fertilizer, it is best to rinse the leaves with water once. For home potted plants, a mixed solution of 0.2% urea and 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be applied, or a small amount of multi-element slow-release compound fertilizer granules can be spread or buried on the potting soil surface. After mid-autumn, stop applying nitrogen fertilizer and apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer 1-2 times to increase the plant's cold resistance and help it overwinter smoothly. After winter begins, the plant has stopped growing, so fertilizing should stop to avoid damaging the roots.
Polyscias growing methods and key cultivation points
There is no strict requirement for soil choice; as long as the soil drains well, it can grow, but fertile sandy loam gives the best growth. Full sun and half sun can both support growth, but half sun gives more vigorous growth.
For fertilizing, organic fertilizer or nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can be used, applied once every 1-2 months; for potted plants, change the soil once every 2-3 years, and prune and shape the plant every spring, so that new branches and leaves sprout more vigorously; if the plant has aged, heavy pruning should be carried out to promote new growth of branches and leaves. Usually the growing soil should be kept suitably moist, which is good for growth.
It likes high temperature and high humidity, but is also extremely drought-tolerant. The optimum growth temperature is about 20~30°C. In winter it should overwinter in a warm, wind-sheltered place. When a cold wave invades and the temperature is below 10°C, watering should be reduced to prevent cold damage; in particular, fern-leaf Polyscias cultivated under full-sun strong light has golden-yellow leaves that are extremely bright and vivid, but it is the least cold-tolerant in winter, and potted plants should be kept warm and wind-sheltered for overwintering, otherwise cold damage will cause the whole plant to lose its leaves.
Home care
At home it can be kept for a long time indoors in a bright place; if it can receive several hours of sunlight indoors every day, it will grow even more vigorously. In summer, avoid direct exposure to strong outdoor sunlight. During the growing period, keep the potting soil moist but not waterlogged, and frequently spray the plant with water close to room temperature to increase air humidity and keep the leaf color fresh. Apply a special fertilizer for foliage plants or a decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks or so. If it is a variegated variety, note that the nitrogen content in the fertilizer solution should not be too high, so as to avoid the patterns on the leaves fading or even disappearing. Stop fertilizing after September, so that the new branches mature and become woody, which helps overwintering.
In winter, place it indoors in a sunny spot, reduce watering appropriately, and maintain the temperature above 12°C, otherwise excessively low temperature will cause a large number of leaves to fall and even the plant to die. Repot once every 2 to 3 years. The potting soil should be loose, fertile, rich in humus, and have good drainage and aeration. Leaf mold or peat soil plus 1/3 river sand can be used, mixed with a small amount of decomposed chicken or cow manure as base fertilizer.
Propagation methods of Polyscias: cuttings
This can be done in both spring and autumn, but spring cuttings give better results. From March to April, cut 10-15 cm leaf sections, keep only 2-3 leaves at the tip, preferably make the lower cut 0.2 cm below a node, soak in 500 ppm indolebutyric acid or No. 1 ABT rooting solution for 10 seconds, then insert them into a sand bed or vermiculite. For small-scale cuttings, a wide-mouthed flowerpot filled with vermiculite can serve as the cutting bed; after watering thoroughly, cover with plastic film to retain moisture, maintain the optimum rooting temperature of 25-30°C, and provide 40-50% shading; roots can form in 20-30 days. After the cuttings sprout new buds, transplant them into pots.
Air layering
For Polyscias from May to June, choose a robust stem, perform ring barking 20-25 cm from its top, with the bark removal width about 2-3 times the stem diameter, wrap the ring-barked area with peat soil or mud, knead it into a soil ball, bind it tightly on the outside with plastic film, and leave a water inlet at the upper end. If the stem is relatively thin and cannot support the soil ball, insert a bamboo pole as support and tie the soil ball against the bamboo pole.
Disease control of Polyscias: anthracnose
This disease mostly occurs at leaf tips or leaf margins. It starts as small water-soaked yellow spots, with a grayish-white or grayish-brown center, indistinct cloud-like markings, and dark brown edges; later, many small black dots form on the lesions, arranged in concentric rings, and finally the lesions dry up and wither. The disease is severe under conditions of insufficient light, poor ventilation, and excessive nitrogen fertilizer. Strengthen light and ventilation, and pay attention to balanced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium when fertilizing. If disease occurs, promptly remove and destroy diseased leaves. In the early stage of disease, spray the plant with 80% carbendazim-anthracnose wettable powder at 800 times dilution, or 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 600 times dilution, or 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 600 times dilution, or an equal-volume mixture of 75% chlorothalonil at 1000 times dilution and 70% thiophanate-methyl at 1000 times dilution; the latter has the best effect. Spray once every 10 days, 3-4 times in succession.
Scale insects
Under conditions of poor ventilation, poor light, and high temperature and high humidity, the plant is prone to damage by various scale insects. In the peak hatching period of nymphs, spray the plant with 25% buprofezin wettable powder at 1500 times dilution, or 40% methidathion at 2000 times dilution, or 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution.
Variety classification of Polyscias: main categories
Polyscias has three types according to leaf shape, namely round-leaf Polyscias, fine-leaf Polyscias, and feather-leaf Polyscias.
Round-leaf Polyscias is relatively common, also known as round-leaf Ming aralia and round-leaf Polyscias. Its leaves are relatively small, about 5-8 cm in diameter, and the leaf margins are edged with irregular milky white markings, deeply loved by flower enthusiasts. Round-leaf Polyscias has an upright stem and bright, changeable leaves. It is a relatively popular foliage plant and can be used to decorate living rooms, bedrooms, studies, balconies, and other places with plants of different sizes, being both fashionable and elegant, as well as natural and fresh. There are also variegated and silver-edged varieties.
Distribution area of Polyscias
Polyscias is native to the Pacific islands.
Uses of Polyscias: potted plant uses
Polyscias is suitable for courtyard beautification or potting.
Ornamental value
Round-leaf Polyscias has an upright stem and bright, changeable leaves. It is a relatively popular foliage plant in recent years and can be used to decorate living rooms, bedrooms, studies, balconies, and other places with plants of different sizes, being both fashionable and elegant, as well as natural and fresh.
Landscape uses of Polyscias
Pale white-green Polyscias is mainly used for potted plants, courtyard trees, and hedges.
Cultural background of Polyscias: appreciation of a beautiful essay - Green turns to Polyscias
Every time I walk into the office, I always take a few extra looks at the potted plant a colleague asked me to care for. This is because the potted plant is composed of three Polyscias plants together, with branches and leaves winding and alternating in clear layers, and the ecological shape is quite beautiful.
Facing the morning sun, after the early sunlight poured into the room, I unexpectedly found that the small Polyscias that had originally been deliberately transplanted had tender leaves drooping overnight, while yesterday it had still been a plant with an upright body and vigorous vitality. So I immediately hurriedly took remedial measures, quickly dug it up and planted it in another pot, to see whether I could save its already fragile life in time.
This potted plant originally had three Polyscias plants winding and growing together, but for some unknown reason, one of them actually rotted from the roots and withered. In order to maintain its overall shape and structure, another Polyscias of similar height was transplanted separately. But what was puzzling was that this newly planted Polyscias also originally had thriving branches and leaves, the same as the original potted plant. However, after about two weeks, it likewise repeated the scene of root rot and drooping leaves. So I quickly pulled out the whole plant, cut off the damaged branch parts, divided it into two plants, put them in separate pots, and soaked them in water, hoping they could once again take root and sprout, because based on past experience, Polyscias can be propagated by cuttings.
From the previously discovered mutual-growth relationship between yam and butterfly, to the potential structure of the overall development of Polyscias, it is necessary for us to think and act differently about natural phenomena. Why did this bonsai cause the withering of three Polyscias plants in succession within the same area? Obviously, this absolutely cannot be understood or explained by the word coincidence. Viewed from the visible appearance, the water and soil environment of this area does indeed conceal certain unfavorable factors for plant development, but exactly what factors they are remains unsolved to this day. Since visible observation and detection provide no answer, then it seems we can only change perspectives and ponder from the invisible spiritual level.
In fact, this Polyscias bonsai has already strongly hinted at the potential direction of natural development - forced external transplantation will destroy the originally existing stable foundation and is not necessarily beneficial to the overall development of the plant. Therefore, seeking the best development opportunity within the existing structure by guiding according to circumstances, so as to gradually construct and expand its due scale, may be the best method and approach at present.
Now, besides replacing the soil in that area with new soil, it has been decided not to replant, but only to spray water frequently on the original branches, hoping that with the moisture, its side branches can multiply as much as possible, so that on the existing foundation it can gradually build its own scale and shape. The formation of this line of thinking comes from a previous discovery that a tree originally split in two by a typhoon unexpectedly developed again after two or three years into a perfectly shaped tree form. Nature's ability to heal itself is not only astonishing, but also truly worthy of our humble learning.
In fact, this kind of instance of guiding according to circumstances also happened when I was previously serving as principal of the affiliated primary school. At that time, during the handover between old and new positions, my teacher sent a pot of Polyscias two meters tall with an upright body. Not long after, school colleagues moved back another pot of Polyscias that had originally been placed in the principal's office. This Polyscias was about more than one meter tall, with an obviously curved body, and among its main trunks a red ribbon was intertwined, appearing somewhat abrupt visually.
When I first saw this old bonsai, I was indeed somewhat surprised. What surprised me was not the curved and somewhat unruly shape, but the branches bound by the red ribbon. After trying to untie the ribbon, I was shocked to discover that one Polyscias branch had grown especially strangely, never growing upright in the normal way, but persistently deviating from the center and developing to the side, and affecting its nearby branches, producing a phenomenon of them leaning askew together. Therefore, the original purpose of using the ribbon to pull it was to effectively guide its suitable growth and return it to the overall shape.
But this good intention clearly did not achieve the expected effect. Because based on more than two years of observation, it was found that as long as the ribbon was untied, that skewed appearance would immediately gradually appear, with seemingly not the slightest sign of change. What is more, because the Polyscias branches had been pulled toward the center for years, the central area that should originally have developed vigorously was severely squeezed, causing the new buds it produced to have no room for development at all, and to appear wrinkled and withered.
By contrast, although the other pot of Polyscias sent by my teacher had an upright body and no mutual squeezing at the time, only the upper branches and leaves were dense, while the middle and lower parts were almost bare, with very few side buds emerging. However, after deliberately spraying water to moisten its branches, its side branches gradually flourished, forming a scene like overlapping mountain ridges. And this Chinese-painting-style growth pattern not only won many voices of praise, but also attracted many admiring glances.
On an accidental early morning, I suddenly had an insight, thinking, "Why can't that old Polyscias be given more room to grow freely, and why must it be bound like this?" So I untied the ribbon and chose an appropriate place, carefully using the utility knife in my hand to cut off the originally skewed upper part. From then on, this Polyscias never again showed any skewed phenomenon. Now, not only has the originally cut part sprouted new ring-shaped buds again, but even the central part that had originally been deliberately squeezed has gradually sprouted new buds and new leaves one after another, showing a vigorous new atmosphere, simply incomparable to the desolate scene at the beginning!
Polyscias turns green, new buds and tender leaves compete to sprout; the old Polyscias gains a new base, with endless overlapping mountain ridges. To build a vision, one must recognize the surrounding reality, take its advantages and proceed step by step, and absolutely avoid blindly imitating and forcing things; otherwise, the story of the Polyscias bonsai will continue to repeat itself around you and me. I always feel that things have two sides and everything has a beginning and an end. If one can take its advantages and give play to its strengths, then why fuss over appearance and shape, only to trap oneself in the ridicule of a confused role!
Sudden insight opens infinite spiritual possibilities, gathering all phenomena to reveal vitality. Heaven and earth are one book, and the earth holds endless treasures. Observe sincerely, experience with care, and after breaking free from originally fixed thinking, another kind of elegance can gradually unfold. Circumstances arise with the mind, and the mind turns according to circumstances. The same earthly scene, with a different mood portrayed, will also produce different results. And the difference among them seems to lie only in whether my mind can be still, quiet, and clear, as pure as transparent crystal.
The flower language of Polyscias
The flower language of Polyscias: double happiness of fortune and prosperity.
Polyscias pictures
Polyscias balfouriana Bailey Polyscias balfouriana illustrated guide: how to grow Polyscias balfouriana / how to propagate Polyscias balfouriana
Polyscias balfouriana cardPolyscias balfouriana Polyscias balfouriana Bailey
Growing methods and precautions for Polyscias balfouriana Polyscias balfouriana introduction
Polyscias balfouriana is named because its leaves resemble round bellybands, and is also called "lots of money"; because the leaves are round and pocket-shaped, it is called money pocket, implying good fortune and wealth. In Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, China it is a very popular indoor plant. Indoor care of Polyscias balfouriana should note placing it in a place with scattered light; some direct sunlight during the day is also acceptable. It likes high temperature and high humidity, and is drought-tolerant and shade-tolerant. Its posture is graceful and antique, suitable for arranging in living rooms, courtyards, and flower beds, and it can also be appreciated as a bonsai. It is mainly used for potted plants, courtyard trees, and hedges. Contact with its sap may cause a red rash; when it touches the mouth, it sometimes causes swelling and pain that makes swallowing impossible.
Morphological characteristics of Polyscias balfouriana
Round-leaf Polyscias, also known as round-leaf Ming aralia and round-leaf Polyscias, is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the Araliaceae family and Polyscias genus. The plant is much branched, and the stem is grayish brown and densely covered with lenticels. The branches are soft, leaves alternate, 3-leaflet pinnate compound leaves or simple leaves, leaflets broadly ovate or nearly round, base heart-shaped, margins finely serrated, leaf surface green. 1-2 times pinnate compound leaves, leaves alternate, odd-pinnate compound leaves, leaflets round, base heart-shaped, margins without silver-white markings. Usually few-branched, the stem surface densely covered with obvious lenticels. Umbels in panicles.
Plant height 1-3 m, side branches slender, branch lenticels prominent. The stem grows upright; older plants often lose lower leaves and have bare stems, forming a high-footed shape. The leaf shape and stem are distinctive. Leaves alternate, odd-pinnate compound leaves, leaflets 3-4 pairs, opposite, elliptical or oblong, serrated margins, leaf green often with white spots, umbellate inflorescence, flowers small, pale white-green.
The roots and stems of Polyscias balfouriana have quite an antique style, and the pocket-shaped green leaves resemble dots of dark green, embellishing it vividly.
Ecological habits of Polyscias balfouriana
Round-leaf Polyscias is native to the Pacific islands and likes a warm, humid environment with ample sunlight. It is tolerant of half shade, not cold-tolerant, and afraid of drought. Polyscias balfouriana likes light and also has fairly strong shade tolerance, so it should be given an environment with relatively good sunlight but also a certain degree of shade. It avoids strong direct light, and in particular should avoid the scorching sun after long rain and then clearing in late spring and early summer, as well as the unobstructed strong light baking for 5-6 hours around noon in summer, otherwise the newly emerged tender leaves are very easily sunburned.
Polyscias balfouriana likes bright light, likes warmth, is not cold-tolerant, and likes moisture. The optimum growth temperature is 22-28°C. In spring, autumn, and winter, water after the potting soil surface becomes dry; in summer, water in the morning and evening.
Habits
It likes a high-temperature environment and is not very cold-tolerant; it requires bright light, but is also fairly shade-tolerant, and avoids direct sun exposure; it likes moisture and is also fairly drought-tolerant, but avoids waterlogging.
Growing environment
Round-leaf Polyscias is native to the Pacific islands and likes a warm, humid environment with ample sunlight. It is tolerant of half shade, not cold-tolerant, and afraid of drought. At home it can be kept for a long time indoors in a bright place; if it can receive several hours of sunlight indoors every day, it will grow even more vigorously. In summer, avoid direct exposure to strong outdoor sunlight.
Water
During the growing period, keep the potting soil moist but not waterlogged, and frequently spray the plant with water close to room temperature to increase air humidity and keep the leaf color fresh. Apply a special fertilizer for foliage plants or a decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks or so. If it is a variegated variety, note that the nitrogen content in the fertilizer solution should not be too high, so as to avoid the patterns on the leaves fading or even disappearing.
Distribution area of Polyscias balfouriana
Native to New Caledonia, now widely planted in tropical regions.
Variety classification of Polyscias balfouriana
In the gardens of major cities in our country, there are also introduced and cultivated plants of the genus Polyscias J. R. & G. Forst., which differs from the genus Heteropanax in having the ovary 512-locular and the fruit not laterally flattened. Introduced in our country are Polyscias filicifolia (Ridley) Bailey, Polyscias balfouriana Bailey, Polyscias fruticosa (Linn.) Harms, and Polyscias guilfoylei (Cogn. & March.) Bailey var. lacin
Uses of Polyscias balfouriana
Round-leaf Polyscias has an upright stem and bright, changeable leaves. It is a foliage plant and can be used to decorate living rooms, bedrooms, studies, balconies, and other places with plants of different sizes, being both fashionable and elegant, as well as natural and fresh.
Polyscias balfouriana is suitable for placement in living rooms and corner positions. It not only softens the stiffness of interior decoration, but can also enhance financial luck and make business prosper day by day. The effects of Polyscias are mainly reflected in indoor purification: it can absorb harmful gases such as formaldehyde, purify turbid air, and also increase room humidity, which is beneficial for skin absorption.
Propagation methods of Polyscias balfouriana
Round-leaf Polyscias can be propagated by cutting 1- to 2-year-old branches for cuttings. The cuttings are about 10 cm long; remove most of the leaves to reduce evaporation. Under conditions of 20°C to 25°C and maintaining relatively high air humidity, roots can form in 4 to 6 weeks. You can also buy lignified stems specially for cuttings from flower markets and use them for cuttings, which also root easily.
Cultivation techniques for Polyscias balfouriana
Indoor care of Polyscias balfouriana should note placing it in a place with scattered light; some direct sunlight during the day is also acceptable. Do not water too much; generally keeping the potting soil slightly moist is enough. Pay attention to ventilation. The soil should preferably be a loose, fertile, well-drained growing medium. For specific growing methods, refer to the cultivation of Polyscias.
Temperature
Its optimum growth temperature is 15-30°C, of which 20-30°C can be maintained from April to October, and 13-20°C from October to April of the following year. Beautiful plants are usually a bit delicate, and Polyscias is the same. Its variegated-leaf varieties are somewhat less cold-resistant. Under normal circumstances, even for ordinary pure green-leaf varieties, the room temperature in winter should be maintained at no less than 10°C. When the summer temperature reaches above 32°C, it cannot be left unchecked; for mass production, shade sheds should be set up, and for home display it should be placed in a cool place, with water sprayed around to lower the temperature, creating a cool micro-environment relatively close to its native conditions. In late autumn and early winter, when the temperature drops to 15°C, it should be promptly moved indoors to prevent the plant from suffering cold damage. In winter, if the room temperature can be maintained above 20°C, its stems and leaves will continue to grow; if the temperature is not high, the plant stops growing and enters a semi-dormant state.
Light
Money tree likes light and also has fairly strong shade tolerance, so it should be given an environment with relatively good sunlight but also a certain degree of shade. It avoids strong direct light, and in particular should avoid the scorching sun after long rain and then clearing in late spring and early summer, as well as the unobstructed strong light baking for 5-6 hours around noon in summer, otherwise the newly emerged tender leaves are very easily sunburned. In production cultivation, from late spring to mid-autumn, it should all be placed under a shade shed with 50-70% shading, but it must not be too dark, otherwise the newly emerged tender leaves will become slender, the leaf color will turn yellow and listless, and the leaflets will be sparse, thereby affecting the compact and beautiful form of the plant. For potted plants moved into sheds in winter, supplemental light should be given. Keep the potting soil on the drier side, and the plant can remain disease-free for years. In addition, the newly emerged pinnate compound leaves do not show obvious phototropism, and the plant shape remains good.
Taking round-leaf Polyscias as an example, it needs bright light. Insufficient light easily causes leggy stems and leaves, dull leaf color, and fading of markings, but at the same time it avoids strong direct sunlight, especially after long rain and then clear skies in early summer, when leaves must be protected from sunburn. For home potted plants, it can usually be placed in a well-ventilated place; in summer it can be placed in front of a north- or east-facing window, and in winter it should be placed in a brighter spot indoors. For production cultivation, from mid-spring to mid-autumn, it should all be placed under a shade shed, with 40-60% shading according to light intensity and duration. In short, it grows most vigorously in a half-light environment with bright scattered light.
Water
To care well for potted money trees, efforts should be made to create an environment that is both moist and on the drier side. In production cultivation, for plants placed in a greenhouse, when the room temperature reaches above 33°C, the plant should be sprayed with water once a day. Because this plant has fairly strong drought tolerance, it is better to keep the potting soil slightly moist and on the drier side, but occasionally applying excessive water and fertilizer will not cause root rot. In winter, pay attention to spraying water on the leaf surface and the surrounding environment, so that the relative air humidity reaches above 50%. After mid-autumn, reduce watering, or use spraying instead of watering, so that the newly emerged tender leaves can safely pass the winter. In addition, in winter special attention should be paid to the potting soil not being overly moist; being on the drier side is better, otherwise under low-temperature conditions, overly wet potting soil is more likely to cause root rot and even the death of the whole plant.
Potted Polyscias likes a relatively moist soil and air environment. During the growing period there must be a sufficient water supply; water after the soil surface dries, and slightly dry soil is also fine, but do not water too much, to avoid water accumulation and root rot. In midsummer when the temperature is higher, besides watering sufficiently, the leaves also need to be sprayed once a day, which can both keep the leaf surface clean and glossy and increase the air humidity around the plant. In late autumn and early winter, when the temperature drops below 15°C, watering should be controlled. In winter, the amount of water should be reduced, or spraying can replace watering, keeping the potting soil slightly moist and a little dry, but when spraying the leaves, make sure the water temperature is basically the same as the room temperature.
Soil
Because of the special climatic conditions of the money tree's place of origin, it has developed strong drought resistance, so the basic requirement for the growing medium is good permeability.
At home it can be kept for a long time indoors in a bright place; if it can receive several hours of sunlight indoors every day, it will grow even more vigorously. In summer, avoid direct exposure to strong outdoor sunlight. During the growing period, keep the potting soil moist but not waterlogged, and frequently spray the plant with water close to room temperature to increase air humidity and keep the leaf color fresh. Apply a special fertilizer for foliage plants or a decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks or so. If it is a variegated variety, note that the nitrogen content in the fertilizer solution should not be too high, so as to avoid the patterns on the leaves fading or even disappearing.
Stop fertilizing after September, so that the new branches mature and become woody, which helps overwintering. In winter, place it indoors in a sunny spot, reduce watering appropriately, and maintain the temperature above 12°C, otherwise excessively low temperature will cause a large number of leaves to fall and even the plant to die. Repot once every 2 to 3 years. The potting soil should be loose, fertile, rich in humus, and have good drainage and aeration. Leaf mold or peat soil plus 1/3 river sand can be used, mixed with a small amount of decomposed chicken or cow manure as base fertilizer.
This can be done in both spring and autumn, but spring cuttings give better results. From March to April, cut 10-15 cm leaf sections, keep only 2-3 leaves at the tip, preferably make the lower cut 0.2 cm below a node, soak in 500 ppm indolebutyric acid or No. 1 ABT rooting solution for 10 seconds, then insert them into a sand bed or vermiculite. For small-scale cuttings, a wide-mouthed flowerpot filled with vermiculite can serve as the cutting bed; after watering thoroughly, cover with plastic film to retain moisture, maintain the optimum rooting temperature of 25-30°C, and provide 40-50% shading; roots can form in 20-30 days. After the cuttings sprout new buds, transplant them into pots.
Growing methods for Polyscias balfouriana
1. Propagation
The simplest method of propagating Polyscias balfouriana is branch cuttings. Take robust branches longer than 10 cm, remove most of the leaves to reduce nutrient consumption, insert them into moist soil, and maintain air humidity; roots will form in one month to one and a half months.
2. Humidity
Polyscias balfouriana is drought-tolerant, so during planting and care, keep the soil slightly moist and on the drier side. Polyscias balfouriana is a foliage plant, and in the hot summer season the leaves can often be sprayed with water, which can make the leaves crystal clear and dark green.
3. Watering
Polyscias balfouriana should not be watered too much; excessive watering easily causes root rot, but occasionally applying excessive water and fertilizer is not a problem. After entering autumn, Polyscias balfouriana grows more slowly, so watering should be reduced; in winter, even more attention should be paid to watering, otherwise under low-temperature conditions, overly wet soil easily causes root rot.
4. Light
The Polyscias fruticosa likes light and grows better in an environment with strong indirect light and good ventilation; it can also take some direct sunlight during the day.
In productive cultivation, from late spring to mid-autumn, it should be placed under a shade frame with 50-70% shading, but it must not be too dark, otherwise the newly sprouted tender leaves will become slender, the leaf color will turn yellow and lose its luster, and the spacing between the leaflets will be sparse, thus affecting the plant's compact and beautiful form. For potted plants moved into a greenhouse in winter, supplemental light should be provided. Keep the potting soil on the dry side, and the plant can remain disease-free year after year. In addition, the newly sprouted pinnate compound leaves do not show obvious phototropism, and the plant form remains good.
Precautions
When planting Polyscias fruticosa, choose a loose, fertile, well-drained potting soil; for large-scale productive planting, shading can be used, but the light must not be too dim, otherwise the plant will grow excessively; loosen the soil regularly; if leaves turn yellow and drop, it may be due to overwatering, and it will recover after a few dry days; too strong sunlight in summer may scorch the tender leaves, so pay attention to shading.
The flower language of Polyscias fruticosa
Polyscias fruticosa: as the name suggests, it carries the meaning of fortune arriving and prosperity granted, and of promotion and increase in rank and salary, so Polyscias fruticosa is a feng shui tree that brings wealth and honor. In feng shui, it is said: with Polyscias fruticosa at home, wealth luck flows more smoothly. Polyscias fruticosa var. plumata (the pinnate-leaved form) especially carries the meaning of symbolizing harmony and happiness. It signifies wealth, honor and good fortune. As the saying goes, "With Polyscias fruticosa at home, wealth luck flows more smoothly."
Feng shui meaning
In recent years, Polyscias fruticosa can be considered a fashionable member of the foliage plant family. Unlike Dracaena fragrans (corn plant) or red (green) gem, which win people over with broad, neat leaves, Polyscias fruticosa is tall with dark green leaves and an elegant, graceful form, presenting itself to people with a flowing, free-spirited image. This simplicity and naturalness happens to suit the tastes of today's fashionable men and women, thus making it a very popular group of foliage plants at present. Because its name contains the word "fulu" (fortune and prosperity), it carries the beautiful meaning of wealth and good fortune, and has therefore become the first choice as a congratulatory gift for housewarmings and store openings, widely loved by people.
Polyscias fruticosa pictures