How to grow the umbrella tree? Understanding its habits makes it easier to cultivate

Many people grow plants at home, first to purify indoor air, and second to beautify the home. Among these, the umbrella tree is one of the top choices for home plants, so I'd like to share some of the umbrella tree's habits to help everyone grow it better.

The umbrella tree is also called Queensland umbrella tree, Australian ivy palm, Schefflera actinophylla, and octopus tree, and is an ideal indoor foliage plant. Native to Australia and some islands in the Pacific, it is an evergreen tree that can reach 30-40 m tall. The stem is upright, with few branches; young twigs are green, later turning brown and smooth. The leaves are palmately compound, and the number of leaflets varies with the age of the tree: 3-5 when young, 5-7 when grown, and up to 16 when tree-sized. The leaflets are elliptical, with a blunt apex and a short abrupt point, wavy leaf margins, leathery, 20-30 cm long and 10 cm wide; the upper surface is deep green and glossy, and the underside is pale green. The petiole is reddish-brown, 5-10 cm long.

The umbrella tree likes warmth, humidity, ventilation, and bright light, and is suited to well-drained, organic-rich sandy loam. The safe overwintering temperature is 8°C, so attention should be paid to keeping it warm during winter. In summer, avoid direct sunlight; 30-40% shading is suitable. Under scorching sun, the leaves lose their gloss and become scorched and yellow; too much shade causes leaf drop. Because it grows a lot, apply fertilizer once a month and supply water fully to keep the potting soil moist; both too dry and too wet can cause leaf drop. During the growing period, spray the leaves frequently; dry air makes the leaves fade to greenish-yellow.

The above is an introduction to the habits of the umbrella tree. After understanding it, doesn't it help you grow the umbrella tree even more? In fact, the umbrella tree is not difficult to grow; just provide sufficient water, avoid direct sunlight, keep it ventilated, and maintain a warm, humid environment.