Reasons for Blackened Leaves on Schefflera and How to Prune Branches and Leaves

Many people like to grow some flowers and plants at home. Although beautiful, gorgeous flowers are certainly pretty and alluring, they do eventually fade, whereas foliage plants stay evergreen, verdant and delicate, making them better suited for growing at home. Schefflera is a relatively common foliage plant, often kept as a houseplant, so do you know how to prune a schefflera?

How to prune the branches and leaves of a schefflera

1. Thinning and light pruning for young schefflera plants

A young schefflera has not yet taken shape, so this is the most suitable time for styling. The method is very simple: just promptly cut off overly dense branches and leaves, or branches that grow unevenly and too long.

2. Heavy pruning for old schefflera plants

Old plants that have grown for 4-5 years have thick trunks and a large plant shape, and need heavy pruning.

A schefflera that has already grown for 7 years has become leggy, and its appearance is so messy that it seriously affects its beauty. At this point, you can prune it during the Spring Festival along with repotting. When repotting, trim the old roots, cut the overly tall branches shorter, and encourage new branches to sprout. In addition, you can also tie the outward-spreading branches with string so that they grow upward.

3. Ring-cutting on cuttings-grown schefflera branches

Many schefflera plants kept in homes come from cuttings. The base of the trunk has fewer leaves, and as time goes on it grows longer and longer, affecting its appearance.

4. Ring-cutting on cuttings-grown schefflera branches

Use a blade to make a few cuts on the branch (vertical cuts or a ring cut, either is fine, as long as you do not harm the plant's life, meaning just slightly injure the surface), then pile soil around the part below it so that it is completely surrounded by soil. After some time, once new roots grow from the wound, cut off the original roots at the very bottom and replant it. This lowers its height without affecting the shape of the upper part.

Reasons for blackened leaves on schefflera

1. Lack of sunlight

Schefflera is a shrub that likes semi-sunny environments. If it usually gets insufficient sunlight, its leaves are prone to turning black. This is the most common reason for its leaves turning black.

In addition, the leaf color of schefflera is also somewhat related to the intensity of light it receives. If the light intensity is too strong, the leaf color of schefflera will be somewhat lighter; conversely, if it is in a semi-shaded environment, the leaf color of schefflera will be darker.

2. Poor ventilation

Schefflera cannot grow for a long time in a closed, stuffy environment, otherwise its normal physiological activities will be affected, causing the leaves to turn black.

3. Improper watering

Schefflera likes moisture and should usually be watered more, but in moderation, not excessively. This is because too much watering causes waterlogging, which leads to root rot, thereby affecting its normal physiological metabolism and causing the leaves to turn black.

Does schefflera bloom

Yes, it does bloom. Schefflera is native to Guangzhou, Fujian and other places in China, where the climate is warm and humid. Most varieties bloom in November, with a flowering period of about two months. In the landscaping of Guangzhou, Fujian and other places, variegated schefflera is often planted together with other flowers that bloom in spring and summer, which exactly fills the gap of few flowers blooming in winter. In gardens, patches of schefflera bloom with small white flowers, and that scene is quite beautiful.

How to sow schefflera

Generally, after January, the spherical fruits of schefflera can be harvested. Remove the peel and flesh and rub them with fine sand, then wash them clean with water to obtain clean, plump seeds. They can be sown freely, or stored in sand to promote germination; for pot sowing or ground sowing, you need to wait until the seeds crack open and show white.

Use humus soil or sandy soil for pot sowing. First prepare a substrate mixed with 2 parts leaf mold and 1 part soil, fill the pot to 2/3 and press it level, with a covering depth of about 1-2 times the diameter of the seeds. Then sow the seeds evenly into the pot and cover them with fine soil until the seeds can no longer be seen. Then prepare a container filled with water, place the sowing pot in it, and let the water slowly seep into the pot from the bottom hole until the soil surface is slightly moist. After that, also do a good job of keeping the potting soil moist. The growing temperature should be controlled at around 20-25°C. In this way, you need to wait about 15-20 days, after which seedlings will gradually emerge. Transplant once the seedlings are 5-10 cm tall.

As described above, if you want your schefflera to be beautiful and elegant, you must prune it regularly, otherwise its overall appearance will be seriously affected! Schefflera is not only beautiful, but also highly effective at purifying the air and absorbing harmful gases. If you have time, you might as well keep a pot of schefflera at home; it can protect your health!