How to Grow Schefflera (Umbrella Tree): Care Methods, Precautions, and Dealing with Yellowing and Falling Leaves
Schefflera, also known as umbrella tree, octopus tree, and Schefflera arboricola, tolerates low light and prefers partial shade, making it very suitable as an indoor plant. So how do you grow Schefflera? Below we introduce the care methods and precautions for Schefflera. Let's take a look.
Schefflera is a species in the phylum Angiospermae, family Araliaceae. It is a common plant in evergreen broad-leaved forests of tropical and subtropical regions. It is native to the subtropical rainforests of Oceania, China's Guangdong and Fujian, and South America, and is also distributed in Japan, Vietnam, and India. It is now widely cultivated around the world. Schefflera is an evergreen shrub. It has many branches that grow closely together. Its leaves are palmate compound leaves with 5 to 8 leaflets, long ovate, leathery, dark green, and glossy. It has panicle-shaped inflorescences with small pale red flowers and deep red berries.
Growth Habits
Schefflera prefers a warm, humid, and partially shaded environment. Its optimum growth temperature is 16 to 27°C. From March to September it is 21 to 27°C, and from September to March of the following year it is 16 to 21°C. It can still grow normally under high temperatures above 30°C. In winter the temperature should not be lower than 5°C. If the temperature is below 0°C, the plant will suffer cold damage and drop its leaves, but if the stem is intact, it will sprout new leaves again in the following spring. Schefflera likes moisture and fears dryness. When air humidity is high and soil moisture is sufficient, the stems and leaves grow luxuriantly. However, too much water causing waterlogging will lead to root rot. If the potting soil lacks water or is alternately wet and dry for a long time, leaf drop will occur. Schefflera has a certain ability to adapt to temporary drought and dry air. Schefflera has a wide range of adaptability to light and can grow under full sun, partial sun, or partial shade.
How to Grow Schefflera
1. Soil: Schefflera requires deep, loose, and fertile soil. For potted plants, a mix of leaf mold or peat soil and garden soil with about 1/4 river sand or perlite can generally be used, and a small amount of cake fertilizer powder can be added as a base fertilizer to make it more fertile.
2. Water and fertilizer: In spring, summer, and autumn, water once every 3 to 4 days. Do not use too much water, otherwise the roots will become waterlogged and rot. During the summer growing season, fertilizer can be applied once a week using a mixed fertilizer of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Every spring, before the new buds of Schefflera sprout, the pot should be changed, removing the old soil and replacing it with new soil. If the plant is a perennial old specimen, it needs to be pruned or repotted at the appropriate time during cultivation.
3. Sunlight: Schefflera prefers partial shade and is best kept under bright indirect light. When the light is suitable, the leaves are glossy green and vivid and can be enjoyed for a relatively long time. In winter it can be moved near a south-facing window so that it receives more sunlight and the leaves become glossy. It is best to move the pot outdoors for a period each spring and autumn under good ventilation and appropriate light conditions, but during outdoor care direct sun exposure must be avoided, otherwise the leaves easily turn dry and yellow, reducing their ornamental value.
4. Temperature: Schefflera is not cold-tolerant, and the indoor temperature in winter should be kept above 10°C; if the indoor temperature stays below 8°C for a long time, the leaves will gradually turn dry and yellow; if the temperature drops below 0°C, the leaves will fall off and the stems and branches will dry up and die. Therefore, maintaining a suitable temperature in winter is very important.
5. Pests and diseases: The main diseases are leaf spot and anthracnose, which can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of 10% antibacterial agent 401 acetic acid solution. The main pest is scale insects, which can be killed by spraying with a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate. In addition, red spider mites, thrips, and leaf miners harm Schefflera leaves and can be killed by spraying with a 3000-fold dilution of 10% permethrin emulsifiable concentrate.
6. Pruning: Schefflera easily produces leggy shoots, so mature plants need frequent shaping and pruning to maintain a neat and attractive form. For perennial old branches, when the plant becomes too large, heavy pruning can be carried out before new buds sprout each year along with repotting, cutting off the upper branches and leaves and part of the old roots.
7. Propagation: ① Cutting propagation: carried out from April to September. Cut 1-year-old terminal branches 8 to 10 cm long, remove the lower leaves, insert them into a sand bed, keep moist, keep the room temperature at about 25°C, and they can root 30 to 40 days after insertion. ② Seed propagation: use indoor pot sowing in April to May. The optimum germination temperature is 20 to 25°C. Keep the potting soil moist, and they will germinate 15 to 20 days after sowing. When the seedlings are 5 to 8 cm tall, move them into 4 cm pots.
Precautions for Growing Schefflera
1. The growing environment should have a suitable temperature and appropriate drought and waterlogging conditions, and watering should be timely.
2. The duration of light exposure must be ensured.
3. Small plants that have successfully rooted from cuttings should not be repotted in a hurry; wait until growth is clearly vigorous before repotting.
4. In summer, spray water on the leaf surface.
Reasons for Schefflera Leaf Drop and Yellowing
Improper watering
To keep Schefflera growing normally, getting the moisture right is very important. If watering is too little, the potting soil becomes too dry, causing Schefflera leaves to droop and fall off. If watering is too much, the potting soil becomes too wet, root respiration is blocked, root rot easily occurs, and leaves turn yellow and fall off.
Solution: When watering, be careful not to give too much water; just keep the potting soil moist. In spring, summer, and autumn, water about once every 3-4 days, and reduce watering in winter. When the air is dry, frequently sprinkle a little water on the leaves to increase humidity.
Too little light
Schefflera prefers partial shade and is generally kept under bright indirect light. If the indoor location is relatively dark, it will affect the growth of Schefflera and cause leaf drop.
Solution: Place the Schefflera outdoors or by a window for care. Do not let strong light shine directly on it, but provide enough indirect light.
Too much light
Excessive light is also one of the reasons for Schefflera leaf drop. Under direct sun exposure, Schefflera leaves easily turn dry, yellow, and fall off. This is especially serious when it is suddenly moved from a place without sunlight to a place with strong sunlight for cultivation, and leaf drop becomes even more severe.
Solution: Schefflera is not suitable for growing under strong light. If it needs to be moved from its original place, the change of location should also be made gradually so that the Schefflera has time to adapt.
Insufficient fertilizer
Schefflera has certain fertilizer requirements, especially during the growing season, when sufficient fertilizer is needed. If fertilizer is insufficient, Schefflera leaves will also turn yellow and fall off.
Solution: During the summer growing period, fertilize once a week. A granular fertilizer with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can be applied after loosening the soil.