Ming Aralia Bonsai Care Guide

Polyscias

Ming Aralia Bonsai

Native to Asia and the Americas. Mostly found in mountain woodlands, Polyscias are deciduous and evergreen species. Their clustered pinnate leaves can make a charming bushy aesthetic and bear purple fruits from white-green flowers.   

Ming Aralia Bonsai Care Tips

As a tropical species, Ming Aralia cannot withstand frost and appreciate a warm environment. Curiously, these species do not need much sunlight but ensure that the temperature stays above 17 degrees C. A spot on a windowsill is fine but provide protection from hot midday sun. 

Keep your Polycias moist and ensure that the roots do not grow out completely. As soon as the soil’s top layer feels dry you can water. Measure well as the plant will suffer from excessive wetness and waterlogging. 

Do not feed during the cool and dark winter. User a liquid feed every two weeks across the growing season exclusively. 

Pruning your bonsai is important not only to create or maintain an aesthetic style but to also ensure optimal health. Heavy pruning is ideal during the summer. Large leaves can be removed. Shoot tips can be shortened across the growing season. 

This is a brittle species with soft bark that does not take well to wiring if you must take the utmost care. We recommend using wires with a thickness that matches the thickness of the branch: if the wire you choose is too thick you will damage the bark. If it is too thin, it won’t be effective.

Repotting your tree is an important way to provide a fresh and suitable soil mix and ensure appropriate root health. Repot your Ming Aralia every 2-3 years with standard pruning. The start of spring or across Spetember to October is the ideal window. 

Trees that are ready for repotting will require root pruning, a suitable new pot and appropriate soil mix.

When repotting, do not cut back the root mass by a large amount, and choose a well-draining soil mix that has a neutral or slightly higher PH value of 5-6 but not over 7. We tend to use a mixture of different speciality bonsai soils on our trees. Every species is different so please contact us for free soil-mix advice or to take advantage of our repotting service.

Bonsai make for a one-of-a-kind indoor plant offering elegance, nature and art all in one minute form. Across an array of exquisite and erudite species, they all demand their own specific care and cultivation needs in order for their beauty to flourish. We have an extensive library of care guides for indoor bonsai trees so you can make an informed and considered choice. It’s not about selecting the perfect bonsai, it’s about selecting the perfect bonsai for you. 

Ming Aralia Bonsai - Typical Queries

Ming Aralia is usually propagated through either cuttings or air layering. In order to take root, cuttings require substantial temperatures between 20 – 30 degrees C.  

Ming Aralia can fall prey to a handful of intruders. Spider mites, thrips, aphids and scale can bother this tree. In the event of these, consider altering the growing environment and placement of your tree and use appropriate insecticides. 

In a tropical or subtropical climate, you can absolutely keep a Ming Aralia outdoors. For the UK and other such temperate climates, this is not advised. The plant simply can’t withstand the lack of temperature.