I would recommend planting them in pots and burying the pots in your garden bed since it's in a sheltered spot. You should be able to just cover them with straw just like the other plants. I wouldn't cut the foliage back unless it looks like it could possibly have diseases.

Hmmm...it is interesting to hear how some plants are doing well in one area and not another. Mine grows on the north side of my house in almost full shade. I never water it. It drops seed wherever and they come up wherever. At some point in the season, it starts to look stressed. The little ones I leave look healthier than the parent. Yet, this plant has been going for at least four years and is sending up shoots now. ericwi mentioned that they have soils with high clay content. We do too in SW Ohio. The soils are very alkaline. This milkweed is commonly found in our fens. I wonder if it doesn't prefer a more alkaline soil. Anybody out there growing it in very acidic soils? Or even an more neutral, high organic soil? -Elisabeth

Hi - I had one in my zone 8 Texas and had to keep inside for winter. If you prune it - the cuttings will root in a cup of water. Mine even bloomed inside for me , even though it was only an 8 - inch rooted cutting! Goodluck - tina_2

Hi All, I'm looking for advice on how to cut this ming aralia. I've lost most branches off the main large tall stem and I'm not an expert but pretty sure I need to chop the main stem down to save it. The only foliage left on the main stem is the piece you see at the top. I would also like to grow the plant outward more.Where would I chop this thing? I've been told at the base however also have been advised to cut it higher and that might spur new growth out of the main stem. What's the process? Is it possible to replant the stem after chopping it (perhaps beside the existing plant to grow together)? It kind of seems like this large stem is taking all the energy from the rest of the plant, as the other areas seem to be struggling again recently. A bit of background on this plant: I've had it for around 12 years or so, from 5in high to now. Throughout most of it's life, the plant seemed healthy, growing tall, full and bountiful with many branches. However around a year and a half ago it started shedding significantly (http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/3679859/help-with-beloved-ming-aralia?n=12). Now the plant is around 10% of what it was in terms of branches. However it is very tall. It seems to die off, then grow a bit, then die off again... recently mostly dying. I repotted it a month or two back, afterwhich it sprouted 5 or so new branches, however has since been on the decline. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Cheers...