How to grow Schefflera arboricola in pots? Learn the care methods in one article

1. Schefflera arboricola is suitable for pot cultivation; the growing medium is best prepared by mixing equal parts peat soil and garden soil.

2. During the growing period, keep the potting soil moist and frequently sprinkle water on the leaves to raise air humidity; also apply a thin, fully rotted fertilizer solution once a month to ensure normal plant growth.

3. Schefflera arboricola is shade-tolerant and not suited to direct strong light; in the hot summer season it needs shading, but too weak light will also cause poor growth or loss of the lower leaves, so a shade net of medium shading degree is best; in other seasons, light can be increased.

4. In winter, the room temperature must be kept above 10°C for the plant to overwinter safely.

5. Schefflera arboricola grows fairly quickly, so it should be repotted once every spring, adding fresh growing medium at the same time, and old branches should be pruned; the cut branches can be used as cuttings.

6. Schefflera arboricola is a climbing plant and cannot grow upright, so a support should be set up for it to climb on, in order to maintain its beautiful and unusual form.

How to grow Schefflera arboricola; the difference between Schefflera arboricola and Schefflera octophylla

Schefflera arboricola has terminal panicles, white flowers, and a flowering period in July; Schefflera arboricola has the effects of promoting qi circulation and relieving pain, and invigorating blood and reducing swelling. So how do you grow Schefflera arboricola? What is the difference between Schefflera arboricola and Schefflera octophylla?

I. How to grow Schefflera arboricola

1. Soil: When growing Schefflera arboricola, choose loose soil with good drainage and air permeability; it is best if it also has some water-holding capacity.

2. Temperature: Schefflera arboricola likes a warm, humid environment; when growing it, be careful not to place it somewhere too hot or too cold.

3. Watering: When growing Schefflera arboricola, pay attention to watering; do not water too much, as this can cause root rot, while watering too little will turn the leaves of Schefflera arboricola yellow. It is best to follow the principle of "water when dry, stop when wet".

4. Fertilizing: To make Schefflera arboricola grow more robustly, you can apply fertilizer once every half month during the vigorous growth period in spring and summer.

5. Light: Schefflera arboricola likes sunlight; when growing it, be careful to place it in a sunny spot, but avoid direct sunlight, otherwise the leaves will be scorched.

6. Pest and disease control: Common pests when growing Schefflera arboricola include red spiders, aphids and others; these pests damage the plant's tender buds and affect its growth, so attention should be paid to their control.

7. Pruning: To keep Schefflera arboricola looking attractive, you can prune its leggy branches and weak branches.

II. The difference between Schefflera arboricola and Schefflera octophylla

Schefflera arboricola, also known as Hantao leaf and Goujiaoti. It is a vine-like shrub of the genus Schefflera in the family Araliaceae, with irregular longitudinal wrinkles on the branchlets and no hairs. This genus has more than 150 species, growing in dense forests in valleys or in damper places by streams, often epiphytic on trees, at an altitude of 400-900 m on Hainan Island. It is native to the tropics and subtropics, and also grows wild from southwestern to eastern China. It can be grown in pots. Schefflera arboricola is a commonly used folk herbal medicine, generally for external use, with a good pain-relieving effect.

Schefflera arboricola picture

Schefflera octophylla, also known as duck-foot wood, is a species under the phylum Angiosperms in the family Araliaceae. It is a common plant in evergreen broad-leaved forests in tropical and subtropical regions. It is native to the subtropical rainforests of Oceania, Guangdong and Fujian in China, and South America, and is also distributed in Japan, Vietnam and India. It is now widely cultivated around the world. Schefflera octophylla is an evergreen shrub. It has many branches and the branches are closely set. The leaves are palmately compound, with 5-8 leaflets, long ovate, leathery, dark green and glossy. The inflorescence is paniculate, the small flowers are pale red, and the berries are dark red.

Schefflera octophylla picture

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How to grow Schefflera arboricola

Schefflera arboricola likes light and a high-temperature, high-humidity environment, and is also strongly shade-tolerant. It is slightly cold-tolerant and can overwinter at low temperatures above 0°C. It is not demanding about soil and can tolerate drought.

Schefflera octophylla adapts to a wide range of light and can grow in full sun, half sun or semi-shade. However, the intensity of light has a certain relationship with leaf color: in strong light the leaf color tends to be lighter, while in semi-shade the leaf color is deep green. Under bright light, the colors of variegated varieties are more vivid. For example, about 4 hours of direct light indoors per day is enough for it to grow well. For varieties with yellow or white markings, if the light is too weak or too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, the markings will become blurred, thus losing their original characteristics.

Soil that is fertile, loose and well drained is suitable. For potting soil, use a mixed soil of peat soil and leaf mold. From a mother plant that has grown for several years, cut off one-year-old branches 6-8 cm long, or cut them again in spring together with repotting; the cut branches are used as material. Remove the leaves from the part to be inserted, and insert the cuttings into a medium that has been soaked in water beforehand.

If available, you can dip it in a little; if not, that is fine too. Insert 3 of the cuttings into sand or perlite; the water level in the container should always be kept higher than 2 of the cutting pot, then cover the cutting pot with a large transparent plastic cover and place it in a bright place with scattered light, keeping the temperature at 25°C. After 40 days, roots form on the cuttings; at this point the Schefflera octophylla seedlings can be transplanted into 6-inch to 8-inch pots. The potting soil should be filled with sieved, fully mixed, fertile nutrient soil. After planting, water thoroughly, place in semi-shade for 7 days, and then move to a bright place for management.