Aucuba, plant care and growing guide
Aucuba, popularly called “spotted laurel”, is an evergreen shrub native to East Asia. It can grow up to 1-2.5 m in height. The plant has opposite, large, lanceolate leaves. It is a dioecious plant, with very small, dark flowers. They grow clustered in inflorescences of 10-30 flowers. The fruits are red berries, 1 cm long.
The shrub was first introduced to Europe in 1783, in England. It is often used as an indoor ornamental plant, and in summer it can be taken outdoors, in pots (gardens, terraces, etc. ).
Species and cultivars
Aucuba japonica is the most common species that is used as an indoor or outdoor decorative plant. Several cultivars are known, such as:
“Crassifolia” – with bright green foliage.
“Crotonifolia” – the leaves are thin, with yellow spots.
“Picturata” – the leaves are yellow with a green edge.
“Maculata” – it has green leaves with yellow dots.
“Serrated” – it has green, thin leaves with a serrated edge.
Environmental conditions
Light. It prefers places with shade or partial shade, which are protected from the sun’s rays, especially during the summer.
Temperature. In summer, it can withstand higher temperatures, if placed in shady places. In winter, it cannot withstand temperatures lower than -5° C, so it is recommended to place it indoors.
Humidity. It has no specific requirements for atmospheric humidity.
Substrate. It needs a fertile substrate with good drainage.
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Watering
Requires regular watering in summer and very rarely in winter. Watering should be done so that the substrate dries on the surface between two waterings.
Fertilization
During the vegetative growth period, it is recommended to apply a specific fertilizer, designed for decorative plants.
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Repotting
It can be repotted every 1-2 years, in spring. During the procedure, you must be careful not to damage the roots too much.
Pruning
Shape-correcting pruning can be carried out annually, in spring. For rich branches, it is recommended to cut the top of the shoots.
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Propagation
This shrub can be propagated through cuttings. The cuttings can be taken in August, from partially lignified shoots.
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Diseases and pests
The pests that can infest Aucuba are scale insects and mealybugs.
In addition:
- being a dioecious plant, it does not fruit in the apartment unless both male and female flowers are present.
- it is a shrub resistant to air pollution.
- a high humidity in the substrate can cause black-brown spots on the leaves.
- the plant’s leaves and fruits are toxic, causing gastric disorders.