Everything To Know About Ming Aralia And Growing It For Your Home!

Even when the Ming aralia has witness falling popularity due to the growing preferences for a plethora of exotic plants, nothing beats the qualities and looks of this plant. This is one of the simplest yet highly decorative plants that anyone can have in their homes and this is why we are here to help you do that. Read on to know all about the plant and get the best tips to grow this plant successfully along with being creative with it.

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About the Ming aralia plant

Known to be that one plant which carries the truest Asian essence in all its aspects, the Ming plant is a great plant to have both in outdoor and indoor spaces given that it gets the right yet minimal care. The looks of the plant might give you a fussy feeling and lead you to believe that you would have to do a lot for the maintenance of this plant. However, the true case is exactly the opposite as the plant does well with very basic attention and care

The botanical name of this plant is polysciasfruticosa and belongs to the category of perennials of the family named Araliaceae. The name of the genus of this plant is Polyscias which represents the group of plants that display many shades of different colors on their foliage. The uniqueness of the Ming plant lies in its foliage that looks very dense with compactly set leaves, giving the overall look of a very graceful dropping plant.

The plant is a native of the Polynesian region and has been widely cultivated in the Southeast Asian countries too. This plant looks very well when grown in its natural form but makes up to be a great miniature piece when turned into a Ming aralia bonsai. Watch this video.

Physical characteristics of the Ming aralia plant

There may not be anything especially exotic about this plant but it surely possesses some great features. Here are some of the major aspects of this plant's morphology:

The foliage of this plant is the major which includes glossy leaves of dark green color that appear divided in the form of a tripinnate. The leaves can be of various shapes like oval and lanceolate and can grow up to being 10cm long too.
The growth of the plant is slower than others but it can reach a maximum height of around 2 meters.
The stems and branches of this tree grow upwards and form a layered structure that gives a denser look to the plant.

Growing the Ming aralia plant

There are only very few things that need to be taken care of having a beautiful blooming polysciasfruticosa in your house.

Basic requirements of the plant

Here are the essential requirements of the Ming tree that must be taken care of for optimal growth:

The plant can do well with varying levels of light and only in some shade, however, indirectly falling bright light is best for good growth.
Constant moisture, even in the colder seasons, is the primary and mandatory need of this plant. Make sure to avoid sogginess in the soil to prevent root rotting but the soil should never be dry.
The plant prefers high humidity, thus, it should be kept in the right environment accordingly.
The ideal temperature range suitable for this plant is between 55-70 degrees F. This means that it can do well outside when it’s warm and bright but for the regions with a chillier climate, it can only do well indoors.
Any loose potting mix with a rich amount of organic matter is good for polysciasfruticosa.

Method of propagation for the plant

The plant can be easily started with the help of stem cuttings taken from a young or mature plant. Get a piece of any green stem cut and then dip it in any rooting hormone solution for faster emergence of roots. Now, insert the stem into the prepared pot with soil and then leave it for couples of weeks or till the roots start to emerge out.

For accelerating this process, you can keep the whole pot covered with a plastic bag as that would create greenhouse-like warm conditions for it which are loved by the plant. Make sure to maintain the moisture level of the soil constantly.

Note: There are chances that the roots might not occur as we have already mentioned that the growth is slow and the growth failure rate of this plant is a bit higher in comparison to other plants.

Caring for the Ming aralia plant

Here are the best tips to follow if you want successful growth of the plant:

Watering is the primary need of Ming tree plant. Keep checking the soil dampness and water as per the requirement. You can minimize the watering to once a week during winters but without fail.
A mild liquid fertilizer or pellets can be fed to the plant in the initial growth period to ensure the right nutrition.
Repotting can be done according to your preference for the height and spread of the plant. Do it annually in case needed and in the spring season. Start with this process when the stems outgrow the pot.
Make sure that the container of the plant has a drainage hole as overwatering can easily kill the plant.
The plant grows upwards rather than spreading and you may need to prune for controlling the height according to space. Pruning is advisable in the cooler season when the growth of the plant is slower and that decreases the risk of plant damage.
Leaf drop is a common thing associated with this plant and it can be treated with humidity adjustments simply.
Some minor pests and diseases are the only problems with this plant but usually, it is immune to the major ones. You can get rid of these issues with neem oil or soap solutions easily.

Uses of the Ming tree plant

This aralia plant species shares a family with the Ginseng herb and that explains the existence of certain beneficial properties in this plant. It has been used by Asian countries for various purposes over a long time and this is why it was widely cultivated for commercial purposes. Here are some of the beneficiary traits:

The leaves of this plant possess antibacterial, antitoxin, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties that make them useful for making tonics and other medicinal treatments for digestion and other issues.
The root is another useful part that is used in treatments for rheumatic and neuralgia pains. It also acts as an anti-dysentery, febrifuge, and diuretic.
The extract from the roots has also been used in an experiment for making life span boosting treatments.
Many Asian spices have been made with this plant for different Asian cuisines.
The parts of this plant are also consumed both in the raw and cooked form with dips and curries.
The plant makes an amazing ornamental piece for indoor spaces.

Conclusion

You must have by now understood the multiple ways in which you can have the Ming aralia plant for the spaces you have in mind. It is not a difficult task to grow this plant but the only issue is the slightly lesser success rate of the growth of this plant which again can be dealt with by following the right methods.

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