How to Grow Schefflera and Precautions for Growing Schefflera
Schefflera is a fairly typical foliage plant. Its leaf shape is unique, resembling a goose's foot, and its leaves are fresh, tender and bright green. When well grown, they take on a glossy, shiny look, giving it very high ornamental value. To grow Schefflera, you should start by understanding its habits.
I. Growth Habits of Schefflera
Schefflera prefers a warm, humid and semi-shady environment. The suitable growing temperature for Schefflera is 16-27°C. From March to September it is 21-27°C, and from September to the following March it is 16-21°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 prefers cool, humid growing conditions and is not cold-tolerant, so in northern regions it must be kept indoors in winter.
II. How to Grow Schefflera
1. Soil selection: In many places, apart from large-scale cultivation, Schefflera is generally grown only as a household ornamental plant. For pot cultivation, a soil made by mixing leaf mold and garden soil can be used, and when potting, apply decomposed cake fertilizer soil as the growing medium.
2. Light: Schefflera is shade-tolerant and can grow well when kept indoors or on a balcony all year round, but attention should be paid to ventilation, and it must not be exposed to direct sunlight, so as to avoid the leaves turning dry and yellow.
3. Watering: Because Schefflera likes moisture, it can be watered appropriately. In the hot summer season, water can be sprayed on the leaves to keep them clean and also to lower the temperature. In spring and autumn, Schefflera needs relatively less water; just keep the soil slightly moist.
4. Fertilizing: Fertilizing Schefflera should follow the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently. For different varieties of Schefflera, treatment should vary from plant to plant. Variegated-leaf Schefflera should be given less nitrogen fertilizer, because applying too much nitrogen fertilizer will cause the plant to grow excessively and the leaves to turn green, affecting its ornamental value.
5. Pruning: Schefflera generally does not need pruning. If the leaves drop and the lower branches become rather bare, the upper part can be cut off to encourage new branches to sprout. The cut-off parts can also be re-planted as cuttings.
6. Pest and disease control: The main problems are leaf spot and anthracnose, which can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of 10% antiseptic 401 acetic acid solution. The main insect pest is scale insect, 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.
III. Precautions for Growing Schefflera
1. If the lower leaves of Schefflera have all dropped off and it has become a bare stem, cut it back at the upper half to encourage new branches to sprout. The cut-off branches can also be planted as cuttings and will become new plants after rooting.
2. If you do not want Schefflera to grow too tall, once it reaches 30 cm you can pinch it once, that is, remove the top, pinching off the top buds, and after some time side branches will grow.
3. When growing Schefflera, pay attention to providing shade in time in summer and do not let the scorching sun shine directly on it. In addition, if Schefflera is kept indoors for viewing for a long time and there is poor ventilation or the light is too dim, it will drop its leaves, so let Schefflera get some sun regularly.
4. In early November, after Schefflera is brought indoors, the indoor temperature should not be lower than 5°C, otherwise it will cause Schefflera to drop its leaves.
5. During the growing season, Schefflera needs liquid fertilizer applied once every 1-2 weeks. From May to September, apply 20% cake fertilizer water twice a month.
That is all for how to grow Schefflera and the precautions during growing it. When Schefflera plants grow up healthily and vigorously, their leaves shaped like goose feet can bring people a different kind of visual enjoyment.