As a plants lover who is interested in Schefflera care, you Perhaps see this lovely plant as one of the most special and beautiful houseplants that can be kept at home and grow very well. Look at Schefflera’s interesting and strange appearance as if it came from another planet. Besides the beauty of this plant, it is also one of the poisonous plants that you should be careful not to let children and pets eat its leaves. Schefflera plant is also known by another name, as umbrella plant, which, if you observe the right care conditions, you will see their beautiful flowers.
Note that if you plant it in the garden and feed it properly, you may see white, pink, and tentacle-like flowers. Endless beauty, fast growth, and easy care of the Schefflera plant are the reasons for its popularity. Be sure to read this article from thehplants website to do an excellent job Caring for Schefflera plant and always making it fresh in your home.
Introducing Schefflera plant
The botanical name of this plant is Schefflera, which has two common species; this plant belongs to the large Araliaceous family and is native to Australia; the leaves are bright green and shiny, and leathery with long petioles and claw-shaped leaves at the end. This plant grows 3 to 4 meters (10 to 14 feet) in ideal conditions and in its native areas, but it will not grow more than 2 meters (7 feet) in the apartment, and you must provide a good care for Schefflera it so that the stem of the plant does not break.
Botanical | Schefflera |
Common Name | Umbrella Tree – Octopus Tree – Starleaf -umbrella plant- Dwarf Schefflera |
Size | Varies; typically 3 to 10 feet (1 to 3 meters) in height |
Leaf Color | Typically dark green; some species may have variegated leaves |
Temperature | Moderate to warm temperatures (60°F to 80°F / 15°C to 27°C) |
Soil Type | Well-draining, fertile soil with organic matter |
Soil pH | Slightly acidic (6.0-6.5) |
Pruning | Prune to maintain shape and size, typically in spring or early summer |
Toxicity | mildly toxic to humans and pets if ingested |
Schefflera is also called an umbrella plant; this name is because of its umbrella-shaped leaves, the petioles of the Schefflera plant are long, and at the end of it, there are claw-shaped leaves, which at first have 3 leaflets and then the number of leaflets reaches 8. For this reason, that umbrella plant is also called an umbrella tree. It is interesting to know that you can make bonsai from Schefflera. Buying the Schefflera plant is a unique idea if you want a pristine nature for your home. Following the golden tips to care for the Schefflera plant, it will give you leathery and shiny umbrella-like leaves that are refreshing and invigorating.
Is Schefflera poisonous?
if you want to learn about Schefflera care, its important to know that this plant is one of the poisonous plants, Schefflera flower contains calcium oxalate, which, if eaten, causes burning and inflammation in the areas of the lips, mouth, and tongue, and in some cases, it has been observed that it causes vomiting and diarrhea. So note that it should be kept out of the reach of children and pets.
read this comprehensive guide about Schefflera toxic to cats and dogs
Schefflera care
This plant does not have very special needs, and you can expect very good growth from it by observing very small points. Filtered and relatively high light, rich and slightly acidic soil, moderate irrigation, and normal room temperature are good for this plant, which we will examine each case in the following.
How much light does the Schefflera plant need to grow?
light is a crucial element in Schefflera care, This plant needs relatively high but filtered light to grow well; try to place it behind a south or east window that is filtered with a curtain or frosted glass; otherwise, it should be about 40 to 70 inch(1 to 1.5 meters) away from the window because too much direct light will burn the leaves.
This plant needs 5 to 7 hours of light daily, and if it is not provided with good light, the color of the leaves will fade. An increase in the distance between the leaves is a sign of low light. Note that this plant is resistant to low light and can tolerate the lack of light to some extent, but you should not expect good growth from it.
Schefflera plant watering
In Schefflera care, pay attention to the fact that this plant does not need a lot of watering, and between two waterings, make sure the soil in the pot dries up to a depth of 1 to 1.5 inch (3-4 cm), and then water the pot. Also, the amount of watering decreases in winter. Over-watering causes root rot and black spots on the white part. Yellowing and Schefflera dropping leaves is a sign of over-watering.
Schefflera is a plant that is resistant to low watering. If you forget to water it, it won’t have any problems, but the main killer of this plant is overwatering, which causes the rotting of the roots and stems. Suppose you see that the leaves of the plant are hanging. In that case, it shows that the amount of watering is low, and to solve the problem, it is better to put the pot in the pan of water for 15 minutes so that the roots absorb the required water this method is called bottom watering plants
How much moisture does Schefflera need?
The Schefflera plant is native to tropical regions, so it needs about 40-50% humidity, and you can use an island or a humidifier to provide this humidity. Note that dusting is good for this plant if you follow the key points of dusting. So remember to spray twice a week, whether in summer or winter; otherwise, or if the air is too dry, fill the bottom of the pot with pebbles to create stable humidity.
What is the best temperature for the growth of the Schefflera flower?
The maximum temperature for Schefflera in summer is 80 degree Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius), and in winter, the minimum temperature is at least 65 degree Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). If the temperature reaches more than this value, you must move the pot to a place with mild air or increase the amount of humidity and watering so that the plant does not suffer from leaf tip burns and thirst.
Note that this plant should not be placed in front of heating or cooling devices because it will cause its leaves to fall, and if you live in a cold region, do not place it near the window in winter.
Suitable soil for Schefflera plant
This plant likes slightly acidic soil. But note that the suitable soil, in addition to being slightly acidic, should be rich and light to allow water to pass through after irrigation; You can use the combination of leaf soil + a little garden soil + perlite (or sand) to mix the soil. Of course, the combination of perlite + peat moss + cocopeat is also good for this plant. If you don’t have experience mixing the soil, you can also use ready soil. Fertilization
During its growing season, from early spring to late summer, this plant should be fed every two weeks using special fertilizers for ornamental plants such as 12-12-36 or 20-20-20, or 10-10-10 or similar fertilizers to grow well; note that fertilization should be stopped or reduced in the cold seasons of the year because it does not allow the plant to rest in this season.
The best time to repot Schefflera
If the Schefflera plant is young, it needs to repot twice a year, and as the plant ages, this number decreases, first once every year and then once every two years. If repotting is impossible, replace the surface soil with new and enriched soil.
Should we clean the leaves of Schefflera?
For the plant to photosynthesize well, it is necessary to clean the leaves; dusting to provide moisture is enough to keep the leaves clean; if there is a lot of dust, clean them with a damp sponge or cloth.
learn more on how to clean houseplants leaves
Schefflera pruning
Yes, this plant needs to be pruned constantly and in different seasons because if it is not pruned, the overall shape of the plant will be ugly, and its beauty will decrease. Also, if your plant does not receive enough light, the upper leaves do not allow the light to reach the lower leaves, and you must prune them. To prune, just check the plant and remove any part you feel is extra, or have a general shape of the plant in your mind and cut the extra parts using sharp and sterilized scissors.
Types of Schefflera
Schefflera has two species, actinophylla and Arboricola, and I will briefly tell you about the difference between each.
• One of the most famous species of Schefflera is Schefflera actinophylla, which has diamond-shaped leaves. It is interesting to know that the size of its leaves can reach up to 15 cm, it has large and elongated green leaves, and the height of this type of plant is usually Schefflera reaches 5 meters.
• Schefflera arboricola can be considered a small species of Schefflera; the leaves of this species are between 5 and 8 cm and grow in a mass; usually, there are cream-colored spots on the leaves.
How to propagate Schefflera
This plant can be propagated in 3 different ways: stem propagation, seed planting, and stem laying.
Schefflera propagation by sowing seeds
Sow the seeds in a seed tray containing seed compost and cuttings and keep them at a temperature of 20 degrees when the seedlings reach a length of 2.5-4 cm; Take them out and plant each one in a pot with an opening diameter of 6 cm and containing potting compost and place it in adequate light.
Schefflera propagation through stem cuttings
In the cutting method, 8-10 cm long cuttings are separated with gardening scissors, and their ends are dipped in rooting hormone powder, and each one is placed in a pot with a diameter of 6-9 cm; Plant seeds and cuttings containing compost and cover them with a clear plastic bag. Adjust the temperature to 21 to 24 degrees Celsius and keep the cuttings away from direct sunlight. The soil should be moist, but too much moisture will cause root rot. After one month, when rooting is done, remove the plastic bag from the cutting. Then transfer the plant to a pot with a diameter of 13 cm containing potting compost.
Does Schefflera flower?
Schefflera flowering in a house or apartment is very unlikely unless you are very professional in keeping it, so don’t expect too much flowering from this plant, and think about the attractiveness of its leaves. Schefflera fruit is a good food for birds in forests. Schefflera flowers are as follows, which bloom less in the apartment environment.
learn more about Schefflera Bloom
Schefflera plant problems and diseases
In the following, we briefly examine some common houseplant problems as well as houseplant diseases that can effect Schefflera.
Why does the number of leaves of a young plant decrease?
This is completely normal because the number of leaves will reach 7 when the plant reaches puberty.
Why are Schefflera varieties green?
This problem shows that the light received by the plant is very low, and the first sign of low light is the greening of the plant parts, so move the plant to a place with a lot of light; note that the plant species need more light.
What is the cause of the deviation and lengthening of the stems and the increase in the distance between the leaves?
The air where the plant is kept is very hot, move the pot to a cooler place full of oxygen, and do not spray during this time.
What is the cause of Schefflera wilting?
This problem shows that the plant is very thirsty, so put the pot in the pan of water for 15 minutes until it is completely watered.
Brown spots on the stems, petioles, and the lower surface of the leaves.
Spray the lower surface with insecticide, and after 48 hours, remove the spots with a special brush.
Yellowing of leaves and the presence of spider webs under the leaves
This problem shows that your plant has a spider mite infestation, the cause of which is a red mite. Spray the plant once every 14 days with an acaricide to eliminate the symptoms. Dusting is effective in reducing the pest.
The reason for the presence of white cotton sores on the petioles
An insect causes it. Spray with insecticide once every 2 weeks until the symptoms disappear.
What is the cause of the yellowing and falling of Schefflera leaves?
This shows that you have watered too much; let the soil surface of the pot dry in the interval between two irrigations and then irrigate; Check the pot’s drainage because not having good drainage also causes this problem. After watering, excess water must be removed from under the pot.
What is the cause of the paleness and yellowing of leaves?
The lack of elements in the pot’s soil is evident; compensate for the deficiency with artificial nutrition once every 2 weeks. The leaves are deformed, and there are green insects on the leaves Spray the pests with penetrating or absorbing poison every week until the symptoms disappear.
Other Schefflera diseases
Shield insects, thrips, and mealybugs are among the pests of Schefflera. The red mite is the main pest of Schefflera in dry weather. Check the underside of the leaves for spider webs and remove them with a mite killer. Brown spots on stems, petioles, and the underside of leaves, misshapen and sticky leaves, and green insects on them are all signs of pests on the plant, which must be sprayed with a suitable poison such as diazinon to eliminate the desired pest.
Pythium fungus: One of the diseases of this plant is the drying of its cuttings and young seedlings, which is the result of the presence of Pythium fungus in the rooting medium. In the case of this disease, prevention plays the main role. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare cuttings from mother plants, which are healthy and free from any diseases, and use a disinfected planting bed.
Bacterial leaf burn: Another disease of the Schefflera plant is that black spots are formed on the leaves first, and as a result, many of the plant’s leaves fall, and the plant becomes extremely weak. In this disease, prevention is better than cure.
Wet conditions of leaves help spread this disease, so try to have well-drained soil, so leaves do not get wet during irrigation. Remove the infected leaves as soon as you see them, and be sure to destroy them. In principle, the presence of infected leaves on the soil and leaving them for a while can be one of the causes of the pathogen’s spread.
Fungal leaf spot disease: causes the appearance of brown spots on plant leaves and stems. Phytophthora leaf spot mostly causes spots on the leaves in the lower part of the plant and near the soil surface, and Cercospora leaf spot causes juicy spots on the lower surface of the leaf, which causes the leaves to turn yellow and wither.
The wounds later turn red-brown, and their borders are yellow: Moistening leaves during irrigation, excessive leaf density, and prevention of proper air ventilation are suitable conditions for spreading fungal diseases. If the infection is limited to a few leaves, remove those leaves from the plant, but if the disease is spreading and spreading, you can use fungicides to eliminate these diseases.
Oedema: occurs when the shefflera plant absorbs more water than it loses through its leaves, so watery wounds form on the leaves, and the leaves turn yellow and fall. This problem may occur when the weather is cold, but you continue watering. Therefore, do the irrigation according to the ambient temperature conditions.
Powdery mildew: It is a fungal disease that affects this plant, which creates a white powder on the leaves. This disease occurs especially in humid weather, resulting in the weakening of the plant. Fungicide should be used to fight this disease.
Conclusion of Schefflera care
In this article, we tried to explain everything you need to know about the Schefflera care . If something needs to be said or you have a question that you need expert advice on your plant, you can ask your questions through comments.