aka. Umbrella Tree
Did you know?
In its native habitat, Schefflera arboricola can grow to 4m but it’s unlikely to be so vigorous as a houseplant. It does grow fast and when in the right conditions can produce 30 cm of new growth a year. The cultivar ‘Nora’ is more compact and 1.5m is its full height.
LIGHT | Schefflera arboricola needs plenty of bright indirect light.
HUMIDITY | Does not have any specific humidity needs and is happy in a normal household environment.
WATER | Wait until the soil is just dry before you water.
SOIL | Well-draining houseplant soil.
TEMPERATURE | This plant likes warm conditions: 10-27℃. It will suffer under 10℃.
REPOTTING | Repot every 2 or 3 years. The pot should be big enough to be stable as the plant grows and some staking or other support may be required.
HOW TO PROPAGATE | Schefflera arboricola can be propagated by taking cuttings. To do this, select a 10cm long shoot from near the main stem. Place in a pot with 50% compost/50% grit, making sure you keep half the stem above the level of the compost.
Water and place in a propagator until the cutting has rooted. Cuttings can also be water rooted successfully.
COMMON PROBLEMS | The most common problem with Schefflera arboricola is leaf drop. This is a symptom of overwatering.
Toxic to pets.
Photo by Katrien Van crombrugghe on Unsplash