Light
The gold dust plant makes a great choice for anyone dealing with low-light conditions, such as the north side of a house. It prefers to grow in partial shade and needs to be protected from the bright afternoon sunlight. During the winter months, sunlight can scorch and blacken the leaves.
Soil
Gold dust plants grow best in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils. However, they can tolerate average to nutritionally poor soils, even clay soil.
Water
The native habitat of Aucuba japonica is in moist woodland areas, thickets, valleys, and along stream beds. In your garden, it will grow best in moist but well-drained soils with established plants having good drought tolerance. Mature shrubs will only need to be watered once every few weeks but more often in drought-like conditions. Newly planted gold dust plants should be watered weekly (or even twice a week) through their first growing season. For a specimen grown indoors as a houseplant, water soil when the top layer dries to a depth of approximately two inches. In containers that have been placed outdoors for the summer, keep the soil consistently moist.
Temperature and Humidity
Gold dust plants prefer cooler climates and can even survive in frigid temperatures that have plummeted to as low as -5 degrees Fahrenheit. Indoor plants should never be placed near a hot window or any other source of heat and should ideally be kept in a room that is always cool.
Fertilizer
Gold dust plants respond well to feeding, but don’t overfertilize them because that can cause soft growth and increase the chance of winter injury. Feed gold dust plants using either a slow-release or water-soluble fertilizer in the early spring when the plant begins to bloom. Fertilize your container-grown gold dust plant once per month in the growing season, using a 3:1:2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for best results. For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions.
Pruning
Though this is a slow-growing plant, it can get leggy, so it’s best to consistently prune in the spring to help control its growth. If you’ve planted gold dust as a houseplant, you should also be sure to prune it to its desired height.
Propagating Gold Dust
The gold dust shrub is dioecious, which means that each plant is a male or female gender. Take cuttings from both male and female plants (label them appropriately) to ensure the female plants will be pollinated by a nearby male to produce fruiting red berries in the fall. Here’s how to propagate the gold dust plant:
How to Grow Gold Dust From Seed
This plant grows so easily from cuttings that the slow method of growing from seed is not recommended. If you do choose to grow the plant from seed, start them in a cold frame in the autumn.
Potting and Repotting
When potting a gold dust plant, choose a container with adequate drainage holes. Container material isn’t important when the plant is small but avoid very heavy materials if you plan to move a mature potted plant around your home or patio. To avoid repotting more than every two to three years, start with a container that is six inches larger than the plant’s root ball and repot the plant when it begins to become root-bound. At that point, go up in size to a pot that is only a few inches wider than the original. When repotting, use high-quality potting soil that offers good drainage.
Overwintering
When planted in the proper zones, your gold dust plant will survive the winter without additional protection. If the plant is in a container, bring it inside when the temperatures begin to drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut back on watering in the winter months; allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Gold dust shrubs are susceptible to a few different fungal diseases, including both root and crown rot. Make sure the plant is never left sitting in standing water (and don’t water from above), as fungi can also infect the leaves. They can also attract insects such as nematodes and mealybugs.
Common Problems With Gold Dust
If you see your gold dust plant turning black, it usually means the roots are stressed. This is most likely due to excess moisture in the soil, overwatering, or that it has been exposed to more sunlight than it can handle. If the plant is in a container, try repotting it in a different container with better drainage. If it is outside, try watering it less often or moving it to a shadier location.
