Umbrella Tree (Schefflera arboricola) Cutting Propagation Method Illustrated Tutorial

  The Schefflera arboricola, also known as the umbrella tree, is China's money tree. In many public places, even in courtyards and entrance halls, a pot of Schefflera arboricola is placed, looking very impressive. Schefflera arboricola not only plays a good role in beautifying and greening the home environment, but also has feng shui effects; Schefflera arboricola has a certain effect of warding off evil. There is a saying that goes like this: potted plants with relatively wide leaves and relatively large leaf area have a good effect of warding off evil, and Schefflera arboricola placed in places with evil energy is quite good. If you already have a pot of Schefflera arboricola at home, why not try how to propagate more pots through cuttings!

  In late June, select the middle and lower sections of semi-lignified branches of the current year's growth of Schefflera arboricola, cut them into cuttings about 10 cm long, keep 2 leaves at the upper end, cut off 1/2 of the leaflets, and roots can form 40-60 days after planting. Then select strong seedlings with well-developed and complete root systems and plant them into pots in late autumn or before spring sprouting. Before planting, first place a tile over the drainage hole at the bottom of the container, and fill part of the container with nutrient soil, then after planting fill in more soil so that the roots are in close contact with the soil, with the soil surface level with the rim of the pot. After watering thoroughly and letting it settle, keep the soil surface about 5 cm below the pot rim as a watering space. Newly potted plants should first be placed in a semi-shaded place for one week, then gradually transitioned to a place with sufficient sunlight for normal care.

  Home propagation of Schefflera arboricola by substrate propagation and rapid propagation. The cutting time should preferably be in late spring and early summer. Generally, room temperature: 15°C at night and around 25°C during the day; this is the most suitable growth temperature after cutting Schefflera arboricola.

  From a mother plant that has grown for several years, cut off 6~8 cm of one-year-old branches, or in combination with repotting and heavy pruning in spring, use the cut branches as cutting material. Remove the leaves from the part to be inserted, and insert the cuttings into a plastic flower pot with a diameter of 15~20 cm using perlite that has been soaked in water beforehand as the substrate. Add a tray at the bottom of the pot to catch the seepage. Insert 3 plants per pot or a single plant. About 1.5 months after cutting, roots can form. After cutting, water frequently to keep it moist. After cutting, place it in a low-light place indoors and strengthen fertilizer and water management. After rooting, pour nutrient solution; replenish the solution once a week in the pot, 100 ml each time.

  The specific operation method/steps are as follows:

  1. Cutting time

  The cutting time for Schefflera arboricola must avoid high summer temperatures and low winter temperatures. Early spring and early autumn are best, when the temperature is not high and it is exactly the growing season for Schefflera arboricola, so root rot is less likely to occur, which is very beneficial for cutting rooting.

  2. Branch selection

  For Schefflera arboricola cuttings, it is not advisable to choose branches of the current year. It is best to choose old branches of more than 2 years, select healthy 15-20 cm branches and cut them off, but do not affect the ornamental value of the original plant. Remove the lower leaves and keep about 3 leaves at the top.

  3. Branch treatment

  After selecting the branches, the cut surface of the branches needs to be disinfected. Apply the prepared alcohol to the cut surface, then air-dry it, and soak the branches in a water solution with rooting powder for 4-6 hours, ready for cutting.

  4. Soil culture cutting

  Materials to prepare for soil culture cutting of Schefflera arboricola: flower pot, soil, water

  1) Cut healthy and plump branches, take branches with terminal buds, 3-5 nodes, and 9-15 cm in length as cuttings. The first 1-2 pairs of leaves below can be removed, and part of the leaves can be cut off to facilitate cutting.

  2) After taking terminal bud cuttings, from the lower branches or matured branches, branches with 3-5 nodes or 10-15 cm in length can be taken as cuttings. Try to retain a few leaves, which helps improve the survival rate of cuttings.

  3) Rooting takes 2-3 weeks. After rooting, transplant into a large pot or the ground.

  4) Place a stone or other hard object at the drainage hole at the bottom of the flower pot, spread a thin layer of sand underneath, then pour in the prepared soil; the soil does not need to be too full. Slowly insert the cut branches into the soil, compact the soil, and then water thoroughly.

  5) After watering thoroughly, place it in a place with suitable temperature, and water promptly when the soil becomes a little dry. Keep watering timely and the temperature suitable. Generally, new leaves will emerge in about one month, which proves the cutting was successful. After new buds emerge, continue to grow it in this pot, and repot next year.

  5. Water culture cutting

  1) Insert the branches soaked in rooting powder into a glass container filled with water, with the water amount reaching three-quarters of the container. In the first two weeks, change the water every day and add water culture nutrient solution. Place it in a bright place indoors. In the early stage of water culture of Schefflera arboricola, the temperature needs to be kept above 15°C. Usually after about 10 days, white callus tissue begins to form at the cut of the Schefflera arboricola branch immersed in water, and soon adventitious roots differentiate and form from these places.

  2) After about 45 days, the water-cultured Schefflera arboricola branches grow roots of more than 6 cm and produce white root hairs. At this time, normal management can be carried out. After roots grow, water can be changed once every 3-5 days. Afterward, you can choose to continue water culture or transplant into a flower pot for soil culture.

  Precautions:

  1. If Schefflera arboricola is obtained by cutting, do not rush to repot before it takes shape; wait until the growth is obvious before repotting. Usually repot after 2~3 years of growth, and then repot once a year thereafter.

  2. Create a comfortable care environment. Ensure suitable temperature, suitable drought and flood conditions, timely watering, spray water on the leaf surface in time in summer, and ensure sufficient light time.