How to care for the umbrella tree? An easy-to-understand guide to growing it
The umbrella tree (Schefflera) originates from Australia and is also known as the Queensland umbrella tree. It is one of the most popular potted indoor plants. The umbrella tree helps purify the air, and many people grow it at home, but how do you care for an umbrella tree? Below, the editor introduces it for everyone. Let's take a look together.
How do you care for the umbrella tree?
The umbrella tree has upright stems with few branches; young shoots are green, later turning brown and smooth. Green. Glossy, with the underside of the leaves pale green. The leaf stalks are reddish-brown, 5-10 cm long. The growing method for the umbrella tree is very simple. The umbrella tree can be propagated by seed and by cuttings. When sowing, it is best to sow the seeds immediately after collection, as this gives a high germination rate. Cuttings can be taken in spring, summer and autumn; generally, cutting is combined with shaping: cut the branches off a plant with an irregular shape 10-15 cm above the soil surface in the pot, so that the mother stem sprouts several branches and develops a good tree form. Insert the cut semi-lignified branches into a cutting bed grown in river sand or perlite, maintain a certain substrate humidity and air humidity, and pay attention to shading.
For potted umbrella trees, a mixture of garden soil and leaf mold can be used as the substrate. In summer, avoid direct sunlight and pay attention to proper shading, so that the leaves do not lose their gloss or get scorched and turn yellow from the burning sun. Indoor displays should be placed in a spot with some diffused light, and attention should be paid to ventilation. In late autumn and winter, reduce the amount of watering and control the amount of fertilizer; under conditions of high temperature and high humidity in greenhouses and indoors, with poor ventilation, anthracnose or damage from scale insects and red spider mites can occur, so observe carefully and control them promptly.
The umbrella tree can help purify the air, and if you often use a computer at home, you can also place a pot of umbrella tree next to the computer; it not only protects your eyesight, but also has the effect of absorbing computer radiation.