The dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola) is a foliage plant that can be grown both in soil and in water.

Growing the dwarf umbrella tree is relatively easy, but if you are careless and overlook some essential points to note, it can cause the leaves to turn yellow or drop, so you should be as careful as possible.

Soil culture method for the dwarf umbrella tree.

Soil: The dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola) can be grown in the ground or in a pot, but note that for pot culture you can use a potting mix made by blending equal amounts of leaf mold and garden soil, and when potting, apply a suitable amount of decomposed cake fertilizer powder as a base fertilizer.

Watering: It grows well in an environment with high air humidity and sufficient soil moisture. Take care that the potting soil does not lack water, otherwise it will cause a large number of leaves to drop. During the growing period, keep the potting soil moist and frequently spray water on the leaf surface to raise the air humidity. Under low-temperature conditions in winter, watering should be appropriately controlled. If a plastic container is used, pay attention to drainage. Keep the soil moist and water promptly before it dries out completely; when the weather is dry, you should also spray the plant to increase humidity; during the plum rain period, prevent water from accumulating in the pot.

Fertilizing: Applying dilute cake fertilizer water 1-2 times a day can make its branches lush and leaves green.

Sunlight: The dwarf umbrella tree is shade-tolerant and can be kept year-round indoors or on a balcony or in a place with bright scattered light. In summer it needs shading, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow and withered.

Temperature: The dwarf umbrella tree is not cold-tolerant, and the indoor temperature in winter needs to be kept above 10°C; if the indoor temperature stays below 8°C for a long time, the leaves will gradually turn yellow and withered; if the temperature drops below 0°C, the leaves will drop and the stems and branches will dry up and die. Therefore, maintaining a suitable temperature in winter care is very important.

Repotting: In the process of growing the dwarf umbrella tree, generally repot once every 2 years in early spring. The pot should be enlarged year by year, adding new potting soil. During repotting, do appropriate pruning and shaping. The pruned branches can be used as cuttings; each cutting should have 2-3 nodes, inserted into a sand bed, kept moist, and in about 1 month or so they can take root.

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 the leaves of the dwarf umbrella tree, and can be killed by spraying with a 3000-fold dilution of 10% permethrin emulsifiable concentrate.

Points to note for water culture of the dwarf umbrella tree.

1. Carefully take the soil-grown dwarf umbrella tree out of the soil, and wash clean the soil on the roots of the dwarf umbrella tree, then plant it in a transparent glass bottle containing clean water (tap water needs to be left to stand for 2-3 days). In the early stage of water culture of the dwarf umbrella tree, change the water every 2 or 3 days, and keep the temperature above 15°C. Give the water-cultured dwarf umbrella tree appropriate light, and the dwarf umbrella tree will grow full of green.

2. In the early stage of water culture of the dwarf umbrella tree, the temperature needs to be kept above 15°C. Usually after about 10 days, white callus tissue begins to form at the cut end of the dwarf umbrella tree branch immersed in water, and before long adventitious roots differentiate and form from these places. After about 45 days, the water-inserted dwarf umbrella tree branch grows 6 cm dwarf umbrella tree roots and grows white root hairs; at this point normal management can begin.

3. For water culture of the dwarf umbrella tree, change the water once a week, and add some hydroponic plant nutrient solution each time you change the water, which can make the water-cultured dwarf umbrella tree grow better. The water level for water culture of the dwarf umbrella tree must not be too high, so that the dwarf umbrella tree soaks up to the trunk part of the dwarf umbrella tree. Dwarf umbrella tree

Relatively speaking, the water-cultured dwarf umbrella tree is more ornamental and cleaner, but because the environment and conditions in each person's home differ slightly, everyone can choose a suitable growing method according to their own room style and environment.