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Indoor Fatsia japonica houseplant not doing very well

#1 · 13th May 2023, 9:52 am

Hello ! not sure if this is the right place for this but I've got a large indoor fatsia japonica plant that's really starting to struggle! a lot of the leaves are going brown at the edges and it's drooping a lot more than it was when I bought it. I've been trying to find a solution but I'm not sure if I'm overwatering or underwatering and I don't know how to tell what the issue is!

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#2 · 13th May 2023, 10:05 am

it's also not growing any new leaves and the couple buds it did have a few months ago have shriveled up and gone brown if this is any further help. I feel really bad for slowly killing it so any advice would be very much appreciated!

#3 · 13th May 2023, 12:36 pm

Hi @caitlinlovessnails

Thanks for your enquiry, and yes, you've come to the right place! The Garden Ninja forum is here to answer any plant, garden design or gardening query!

What's interesting is the plant you're asking about is not a house plant at all,but a large hardy perennial shrub!

Fatsia japonica other wise known as the castor oil plant will grow to about 2 meters tall. It survives pretty much most British climates even some frost. It has these huge tropical-looking leaves that gives the impression its tender but Fatsia is a bullet proof plant.

The reason your Fatsia is crisping up, turning brown and looking lacklustre is that it will have undoubtedly used up all the nutrients in that tiny pot. Fatsias need space and room to grow. Whilst not the fastest growing shrub they won't survive in small congtainers for long without looking sorry for themselves.

Once in the ground Fatsia will even flower with these alien looking beautiful flowers in Autumn when everything else is starting to fade which then turn into these strange dark purple berries.

My advice would be to get it outside somewhere at the back of a flower bed. If you've not got a garden or space then a really large pot going to be required inside. I'd personally give it to a friend with a garden and instead, pick a similar house plant like Monstera that's better suited indoors.

Happy gardening!

Lee