Ming Aralia
( Polyscias fruticosa )
Country of Origin : India
Bonsai Styles : Informal upright, clump, group, over the rock, forest
Zone : 11 – 12
There is a widespread distribution of Ming aralia from India to the South Pacific. This plant grows as a shrub in its native habitat, and is a tropical, evergreen plant.
It is mostly grown as an exotic house plant. However it can also be trained as a beautiful indoor bonsai tree.
The feathery & ferny leaves of aralia bonsai are long-stalked, pinnate and herbaceous in nature. The leaflets are irregular and deeply cut.
Aralia plants have a slightly rough bark which is light brown/beige in color.
I would recommend letting it grow in its natural growth habit, i.e. as a miniature shrub.
Even though the aralia plant grows slowly, its neat growing habits allow the plant to branch well and almost take on the appearance of a bonsai.
The branches have a tendency of growing straight up. The narrow leaves droop from these branches giving the aralia ming bonsai tree a unique look.
Read more about other bonsai trees species in : Bonsai tree care
There is a mild level of toxicity in this plant for humans and animals. There is a possibility that it may cause digestive upsets and rashes on the skin because it contains saponic glycosides.
You should therefore keep your curious pets from ingesting the leaves.
Best location to keep Ming Aralia Bonsai
Ming aralia bonsai can adapt to various lighting conditions. Hence it is one of the easiest indoor bonsai trees to grow.
In fact it can be kept indoors for the whole year. The light settings can be partial shade or bright sunlight.
However, make sure you make gradual changes in the light intensity to let the tree adapt to changing light levels.
Keep the container in some shade when the sun is too hot. You can even keep the aralia bonsai outdoors in indirect sunlight.
In winters, a good temperature range is 64°F – 75°F (18°C – 24°C). Do not expose the bonsai to temperatures below 59 °F (15°C).
Make sure you are keeping the tree in an area which is warm and not drafty. (not under or near a cooler or air conditioner). For more buds production, keep it in a humid condition.
Furthermore, the Aralia ming bonsai tree is one of the very few indoor bonsai’s which can be kept in any window or windowsill, irrespective of the direction.
IMP: Refer sunlight requirements for indoor plants for more indoor gardening ideas. Also, refer to do bonsai trees need sunlight for more indoor and outdoor bonsai location ideas.
Propagation of Ming Aralia
Ming aralia can be propagated using stem cuttings in spring or summer.
Take 6-8 inches of softwood stem cutting (green in color). Apply some rooting hormone to the base of the cutting.
Plant it in a growing medium and apply some bottom heat to the soil. A good temperature for rooting 72°F – 75°F (22°C – 24°C).
Keep in mind that these trees can be challenging to propagate sometimes. (it takes quite some time to root).
Seeds can also be sown in fall, however, the germination rate is not that high.
Using root cuttings to propagate the plant is recommended.
Watering Ming Aralia Bonsai
Aralia bonsa trees need moist soil at all times. However, do not keep the soil soggy.
Depending on your indoor settings, your frequency of watering the tree might vary in summer and in winter.
Poke your finger a little in the soil. If the soil still feels moist then do not water. (usually an inch of moist soil is enough. However, there is no need to poke your finger that deep. Your tree will give you the appropriate signals when its being over watered or under watered).
These trees also need high humidity. Hence, spraying some mist on the tree is a good idea.
Thumb rule : Cooler the temperature, lesser the watering.
Use rain water if you can. or distilled or tap water. Do not use softened water.
Read watering bonsai tree for more details.
Wiring Ming Aralia Bonsai
Wiring aralia ming bonsai is optional. Mainly for 2 reasons : (i) most of the training and shaping can be done via pruning (ii) Wiring is not that effective on this tree.
However, if you have a different shape in your mind ( other than its natural growth habit), you can do it at any time of the growing season.
The young branches of tree tend to droop because of the weight of the leaves. Yon can use wiring as a tool to further bend the branches or try to straighten those branches (to maintain their natural upward growth).
Pruning Ming Aralia Bonsai
When to prune Ming Aralia bonsai?
How to prune Ming Aralia bonsai?
This plant is a slow grower, hence there is relatively less requirement of regular pruning.
However, major part of training to achieve the desired bonsai style is done with pruning.
Use ‘clip and grow‘ method. Pruning of the branches can be done at any time of the year.
To give the tree a more tree-like appearance, remove the inner branches.
Remove the lower branches to expose the trunk a little more. Also, remove the old stubs from previous pruning (use concave pruner). There is no need to apply cut paste.
When the new shoots grow, either let them continue to grow and then prune them back hard the following spring, or keep trimming them back to 1st pair of leaves as soon as four to five leaf pairs appear. Leave some stub to die back.
This tree can also be leaf pruned. In fact partial defoliation will promote reduction in leaf size.
Remove the suckers so that the trunk can achieve a fuller size.
Repotting Ming Aralia Bonsai
When to repot Ming Aralia bonsai?
Aralia Ming bonsai tree can be repotted every 2-3 years in spring.
This tree also takes root pruning well. For root pruning (not absolutely necessary though), lowering the temperature of the plant for about 3 weeks is a good practice. ( Temperature around 50°F (10°C) ).
After repotting, bring the temperature back up to at least 59°F (15°C).
Washing the roots before pruning is advisable.
If you are repotting the tree for the first time and the tree was propagated using cutting, prune the bottom of the cutting.
Prune the higher roots from the trunk. This process is aimed at getting all the roots on the trunk at the same level.
To make the roots pretty consistent in length, prune the really long ones as well.
Re-pot the tree, after making sure that the roots are straightened out and are placed laterally (in case using a shallow bonsai pot).
You can use a basic free-draining bonsai soil mix as a potting soil. You can also use kanuma.
OR
Use a mix of sand, peat moss and loam in the ratio of 1:2:1.
OR
You can use a mix of garden soil, vermicompost, fine sand and charcoal in the ratio of 5:2:2:1.
Must Read: Bonsai Soil Recipes
Must read : Choosing the right bonsai container
Feeding Ming Aralia Bonsai
These trees are not heavy feeders.
A liquid bonsai fertilizer or houseplant feed should be applied every fortnight from spring to autumn.
Winter applications should be applied every four to six weeks.
Read more about bonsai fertilizer and its application.
Diseases and pest of Ming Aralia Bonsai
Generally disease resistant. However, sometimes these trees can be attacked by red spider mites, aphids, scales and mealybugs.
Use a systemic insecticide or remove them manually or by a gentle water jet. You can also use some insecticidal soap, soap solution or Neem oil solution.
Ming Aralia bonsai care
If you wish to keep the size of the tree in check, do not plant the bonsai in a big pot.
Maintain good humidity level around these trees. Or else the leaves will dry out and fall.
Root rot can occur due to too much water, characterized by yellowing and dropping leaves.
The plant may also drop leaves if it does not receive sufficient nutrition. Make sure to maintain a proper feeding routine. However, do not use too much fertilizer because it will lead to mineral buildup in the soil.
Furthermore, yellowing of leaves is also a sign of under watering.
The tree will also drop leaves if exposed to cold conditions such as a vent of an air conditioner or an open window with cold air.
