Oh, thank you so much for the information! I will keep it trimmed and won't do a repot. I did choose this plant because of how the trunk was shaped because of the bonsai type appearance; so Will, I'm glad you confirmed that's the best way to keep it. But it does seem like whoever named those aralia were food obsessed, haha!
I can't wait to drive home and set it up inside a nice pretty pot. Space is limited in the brightest spots so it's a good thing this one doesn't need the SW corner window. If it did, the hoyas and cactuses would form a protest.....
