Balfour Aralia Plant – A Complete Guide to Growing

The Balfour Aralia plant (Polyscias balfouriana) also known as Balfour Aralia, is a beautiful and elegant houseplant. With its dark, deeply lobed foliage, compact growth habit and striking appearance, it’s little wonder that this member of the Aralia family has become increasingly popular among plant enthusiasts for its easy maintenance. Whether you are a seasoned plant-parent looking for a beautiful and low-maintenance plant, or a complete beginner who is still getting the hang of keeping plants alive, the Balfour Aralia is a great addition to any plant-collection. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about the Balfour Aralia plant, from origin and characteristics, to detailed care instructions and the common pest and disease issues that may arise.

 

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Understanding the Balfour Aralia Plant

The Balfour Aralia is a species of Aralia, a genus of flowering plants within the Araliaceae family. It’s relatives include popular houseplants such as Schefflera and Fatsia. The Balfour Aralia is native to the tropical and subtropical parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, where it grows in warm, moist climates and the bright shade created by taller trees and underbrush. Sometimes, the plant may grow into a small tree, up to 15 feet tall, but in a typical houseplant situation, it’s generally much smaller, growing up to 3 to 6 feet in height.

Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of the Balfour Aralia is its leaves, which are dark green, heavily lobed, and often reminiscent of a rounded, leathery maple leaf. The leaves average 1 to 2 inches across, and vary slightly in size and character by variety. The Balfour Aralia is also known for its sturdy, woody stems that provide an excellent contrast to its thick, lustrous foliage.

Popular Varieties

Different varieties of Balfour Aralia vary in leaf size, shape and colour. So, while one type might suit you, another most certainly won’t! Some of the more common Balfour Aralia varieties are listed below:

Polyscias balfouriana ‘Marginata’ Crème-mauve, thank goodness, is still very much in vogue. But what about the leaves that go with. My vote is for the Polyscias balfouriana ‘Marginata’ — it has leaves with creamy-white margins that add a bright edge to an otherwise dark administration.

Polyscias balfouriana ‘Pennockii’: (‘Pennock’s new Holly’) Leaves are much more deeply divided than normal Balfour Aralia. Very fine textured.

Polyscias balfouriana ‘Variegata’: As is clear from the long name, this plant has lightly variegated leaves, patched with white or cream.

Caring for Your Balfour Aralia Plant

Light Requirements

A Balfour Aralia thrives with bright, indirect light, making it a great choice for large rooms that receive filtered sunlight. It can survive in low light, though growth will be slower, and the gorgeous leaf colour may fade if it doesn’t receive enough light. Be on the lookout for a leggy plant or lacklustre green leaves as signs your plant is not getting enough light; too much direct sunlight, on the other hand, will burn the leaves, turning them brown and crispy around the edges.

Keep your Balfour Aralia happy in an east- or north-facing window, where it can receive filtered light all day long. This adaptable plant will even tolerate artificial light sources such as fluorescent bulbs, so it’s an ideal choice forOfficesLow light There’s one more rule you should follow when caring for your leafy friend.

Watering and Humidity

Watering is one of the most important aspects of Balfour Aralia care. They should be kept in consistently moist soil, but overwatering can lead to root rot damage. The trick to watering correctly is letting the top inch of soil dry out between waterings. This can mean watering once a week or every 10 days, depending on the temperature and humidity of your home.

Watering your Balfour Aralia more often in warmer months and less in cooler months is very important; when the weather cools down, be sure to let the top of the soil dry out between waterings so that it doesn’t spend time water-logged. Use only room-temperature water for your plant, and whether the pot of your Balfour Aralia is in a Bonsai clay pot or terracotta pot, first pot it in a nursery container with a drainage hole cut in the bottom and let the water drain away before rocking your plant back and forth to remove any water stuck in the plate beneath it.

A plant that likes to be humidified; Balfour Aralias’s natural habitat is tropical and, besides watering, it benefits from high levels of humidity. If the air in your home is dry, especially if you’re running your heating system in the cool or cold winter months then consider humidifying the air around your plant. You can achieve this by misting the leaves regularly, with a humidifier, or by placing the pot on an tray of pebbles and water.

Soil and Fertilization

It grows best in a well-draining soil that retains a certain level of moisture without becoming waterlogged. A high-quality potting mix designed for houseplants – often a mix of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite – is suitable. You can also make your own by mixing equal parts of potting soil, peat moss and perlite or sand.

Feeding your Balfour Aralia will encourage new growth and lush foliage. Feed during the growing season (from spring through early autumn) with a diluted, balanced, water-soluble fertiliser every 4 to 6 weeks. Be careful not to over-fertilise; adding too much fertiliser can scorch the roots and cause leaf burn. Fertilise sparingly, or not at all, during the plant’s dormant period in winter when its growth rate naturally slows.

Pruning and Repotting

Trimming and pruning is necessary to keep the Balfour Aralia looking neat and bushy, and to keep it from outgrowing its pot. Snip off any dead or yellowing leaves, and cut back any stems that are leggy or have grown too long. You can prune your Balfour Aralia at any time of year but will give it an extra boost of spiky new growth if you do so in the growing season.

For a healthy Balfour Aralia, it’s important that you repot it every 2 to 3 years. Repotting it will help prevent it from becoming root-bound, and keep the roots growing well. It’s also best to use a pot that’s 1 to 2 inches larger in diameter than its previous pot, and make sure you replace the soil with new, well-draining potting mix. If repotting, take the opportunity to inspect the roots of your plant and trim diseased or rotted parts off.

Common Problems and Solutions

As with any other house plant, a few common problems can arise with the Balfour Aralia but most of these can be solved fairly easily.

Leaf Drop: A common symptom on Balfour Aralia is loss of leaves, and there are several factors that can cause this issue, including overwatering, underwatering, low humidity or drops in temperature or light. To help prevent leaf loss, try to do your best to keep your plant in a stable environment and to maintain consistent care routines.

Pests: Balfour Aralia is moderately pest-resistant, however it may occasionally encounter insect problems such as spider mites, aphids or mealybugs. If you are noticing small insects or webs on your Balfour Aralia’s leaves, simply treat the plant with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Keeping your plant clean on a regular basis and inspecting your plant will help prevent insect infestations.

Yellow Leaves: Yellowing leaves could be caused by a number of things, including overwatering, nutrient deficiency, or lack of light. Look at what you are feeding your plants, how you are feeding them, and how much light they are getting. If you are watering too much, for example, cut back to correct the problem.

Root Rot: This is a serious problem, caused by keeping the plant wet too long, or in poorly drained media. Too much moisture sitting around in the media can lead to fungal growth along the roots, rotting them, and even killing the plant. If you think you have root rot, pull the plant out of its pot and trim away any mushy, dark roots. Repot with new, well-draining media.

Propagating Balfour Aralia

I don’t recommend this exercise unless you are looking for something to fill your time – propagation is very easy with Balfour Aralia. You can propagate via stem cuttings. Here’s how:

Choose a Healthy Stem: Choose a healthy, well-developed stem with at least two or three sets of leaves. Using a sterilised knife or scissors, make your cut just below a set of leaves (stem node).

Step 1: Prepare the Cutting: Remove the bottom several leaves from the stem. Ideally you’ll be left with the top two or three leaves. You can dip the bottom, cut end of your plant into some rooting hormone at this point if you want to encourage root development, but it’s not a necessity.

Photo courtesy David LeeperPlace the cutting in a small pot of potting mix that will drain well. Lightly water the soil and then cover the pot with a plastic bag or an overhead container with a lid – something that will keep it humid.

Caring Instructions: Place in warm, bright indirect sunlight, keeping soil moist but not wet. In a few weeks, new growth will appear, indicating successful rooting.

Transplanting: Once it seems to have taken root and has sprouted new growth, you can transplant it to a larger pot and treat it as you would a mature Balfour Aralia plant.