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With more than 600 dissimilar specie of Schefflera ( shef - LER - uh ) out there , it ’s prosperous to notice one that best become you .
However , Schefflera houseplant ( umbrella tree diagram ) tend to slip the show and are both pop indoor flora and outdoors .
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With its sib , the dwarf umbrella works ( Schefflera arboricola ) , these perennial member of the Araliaceae menage create a wonderful canopy of variegated glory .
To keep your Schefflera looking its best , it ’s important to prune it or do episodic trimmings .
This is especially true when these rapid growers get a trivial too big , too long-shanked , too fast , or if they ’re ill of late .
Tips on How to Prune Schefflera Plants
Pruning aSchefflera plantis quite easy and can be the difference of opinion between a sickly , scraggly industrial plant and a showstopper with a bushy shape .
Here are some unsubdivided hint to get the most out of each pruning session .
When to Prune
While it ’s possible to prune dwarf Schefflera at almost any time of class , late winter or other spring before the issue of new growth is broadly speaking best .
This encourages plenty of new growth in spring and allows you to gather germ or cuttings for Schefflera extension .
Count the Stalks
Schefflera can have a single trunk but are more likely to have multiple stems .
These young shoots embark on off tightly packed but will spread out as the flora gets taller .
The stem reckoning will affect how your plant grows , with one stem being grandiloquent and thin like a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and multiple stems being denser and shrub - same .
You ’ll always want to play with these shapes in brain so the flora keep to develop in good order .
Related : Is Schefflera Plant Poisonous ?
Play Some Chess
Planning several prunings ahead can save a lot of headache later on .
Think about what kind of habit you ’d choose and contrive your cuts to boost that growth .
Scheffleras have legion folio nodes along their base from which unexampled leaves will sprout .
pass a moment look at which nod you ’ll be pruning at and how that will affect the routine of farewell and direction of growth .
This is a very of import stone’s throw , as getting carried away and trim too many leaves at once can be easy .
Perform a Physical
Pruning can be very beneficial but can also take a caboodle out of your tropical plant besides foliage .
Check the full plant for signs of pest infestation or disease , especially mealy bug , aphids , wanderer mite , thrip , and scale insects .
Though these are generally handle first , that might not be possible for some problems .
take care for damaged leave of absence and staunch that must be removed , and adjust your pruning program to account for these necessary undercut .
If you see discolored or yellow leave-taking with brownish office , you must address these problems , too , as it can signal root putrefaction . It could be due to a lack of nutrients or overwatering .
You will also want to check the container if you have an indoor plant .
It ’s also important to mark if your Schefflera has a exclusive stem or several stems , as they influence how you cut back your plant .
Ensure it is n’t root - trammel and the soil is still in good condition .
If you necessitate to repot into a bigger throne or perform a grime change , do so before pruning and assure the industrial plant has had a crapulence before you get pop .
This may also be a salutary meter to check root wellness if you ’re uprooting the plant .
Any discredited or diseased roots can be pruned away with a abrupt , uninventive knife before replanting .
Prep Your Tools
Gather up the tools you plan to use , such as bypass pruning shears or a sharp tongue , and verify they ’re all shrill and clean .
You will also want to have some isopropyl alcoholic drink or rub inebriant on hired man to sterilize your tools before , between , and after deletion .
You will also want to have a container or bag on hand to dispose ofany Schefflera cuttingsyou do n’t contrive to employ .
Any diseased limbs should be carefully come in into an airtight traveling bag for good disposal and to preclude cross - taint .
Do n’t forget to wear out mitt , as Schefflera plants contain harmful calcium oxalate crystals in their sap .
Making the Cuts
Once everything ’s quick , it ’s clip to take up swerve .
turn out an upright stem just above a growth knob where leaves have sprouted using penetrating pruning shear or scissor hold .
This can help reduce the overall peak and encourage the flora to fill out .
Pruning horizontal branches similarly can help control the plant ’s width .
Dealing with an Extremely Straggly Plant
midget umbrella trees can deal some seriously aggressive pruning , which might be necessary if you ’ve allowed the industrial plant to get wild or had insufficient food or sunlight for too long .
In such suit , the chief stem of smaller plant can be rationalize back to 6 ” in above the potting soil , at which point in time they will grow back fuller .
Be trusted if the cause was malnutrition that you give the plant fresh soil , nutrient , and/or better lighting conditions , or you ’ll just end up with a straggly plant again .
Ensure your expanse receive bright , indirect light .
Final Notes
Pruning your Schefflera p.a. can help control its sizing and shape , encourage healthier growth , and even give you some leaf or stem cutting for multiplication .
Due to its hearty nature , a Schefflera will generally bounce back after a few pruning accidents , but you still want to try out to plan .
In some cases , pruning away diseased limbs can write your flora ’s life , but never prove to propagate even tidy - look stanch if the works has an incurable disease that spreads quickly to the whole works , as they may be carriers .
