How to Grow Schefflera Plant: Care Tips, Propagation Method, Common Pests and Diseases

Schefflera, also known as umbrella plant or umbrella tree, is a popular tropical houseplant, well known for its long, shiny, and oval green leaves. This low-maintenance plant comes in various varieties, sizes, and leaf colors. It is a perennial plant that lives for many years rather than completing its life cycle in one season. 

The plant can be grown both indoors and outdoors depending on the variety and plant size. Many people use it as a part of home decor, while others choose to plant it outdoors during summer.

Read the article to learn more about how to grow Schefflera plant, or umbrella tree. 

Taxonomy and Ideal Growing Conditions For the Schefflera Plant

Schefflera is a genus of flowering plants with 13 native species to New Zealand and some to the Pacific Islands. The genus is named in honor of Johann Peter Ernst von Scheffler, who was a physician and botanist of Gdansk and Warsaw. For more general information, here is the taxonomic overview and ideal growing conditions of the plant that will help you to learn how to grow Schefflera plant: 

Botanical Name	Schefflera spp.
Common Names	Umbrella plant, dwarf umbrella tree, schefflera, or mini umbrella tree
Kingdom	Plantae
Order	Apiales
Family	Araliaceae (Ginseng family)
Genus	Schefflera J.R. Frost & G. Frost.
Species	The commonly found species of Schefflera are Schefflera actinophylla (Umbrella tree or Queensland umbrella tree), Schefflera arboricola or Dwarf umbrella tree (sometimes reclassified as Heptapleurum arboricolum), Schefflera elegantissima, or False Aralia, and Schefflera arbicola, or Golden Capella.
Native area	Pacific Islands, Australia, Africa, and Asia
Bloom period	Summer (outdoors)
Hardiness Zone	10 to 12 USDA Zones
Light Requirements	Indirect or partial sunlight
Maintenance	Low
Type	Tree
Characteristics	Showy plant
Soil	Moist, well-drained, loamy soil with acidic pH levels
Flower colour	Pink, red, and white
Water Requirements	Average.
Mature size	Indoors: 4 to 6 ft. tall and 3 to 6 ft. wide  Outdoors: up to 25 ft. tall and 15 to 18 ft. wide.
Fertilizers	Heavy feeder; requires balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during spring and summer.
Toxicity	Toxic to both humans and pets

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How to Propagate a Schefflera Plant?

The best way to grow a Schefflera plant is by propagating it. You can propagate your umbrella tree during spring and summer. Here are some simple steps to propagate a Schefflera tree: 

1. Cut a piece of healthy Schefflera stem around 6 inches long, making a 45-degree angle.
2. Remove the leaves from the lower end of the stem. Do not leave more than 4 to 6 leaves at the top of the stem.
3. Dip the cut end in the rooting hormone. 
4. Now, place the cut end in a clean glass container filled with water. Do not fill the container up to the top. 
5. Ensure that no leaves are underwater. 
6. Loosely cover the container with a plastic bag. Remove the bag for an hour or so every few days for air circulation. 
7. Place the container in bright, indirect light.
8. In several weeks, you’ll notice roots at the end of the stem.
9. Carefully remove the stem from the container and place it in your desired location. 
10. Ensure that the soil is rich, well-drained, loamy soil with acidic pH levels. 
11. Feed the soil with liquid fertilisers every two weeks during the growing season. 
12. If growing outdoors, mulch around the plant base as it will help the soil to retain moisture and maintain soil temperature.
    

Tip

Propagate your plant every 1 to 2 years during spring for better growth.

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Schefflera Plant Care Tips 

Here are the main care tips for growing schefflera plants:

1. Place your plant in a location that receives indirect, bright sunlight. This will ensure proper plant growth. 
2. Feed your umbrella plant twice a week during the growing season. 
3. Make sure that the soil is rich, well-drained, and has acidic pH levels. 
4. Only water the plant when the top layer of soil starts drying. This will avoid overwatering, and your plant will survive longer. 
5. Schefflera plants can tolerate an average humid area when planted indoors, but prefer higher humidity around 40%.
   

Did you know?

Umbrella plants rarely bloom indoors, but produce flowers in the wild. 

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Common Pests, Diseases, and Problems With the Schefflera Plant

Bacterial leaf spots and Alternaria leaf spots are commonly found in umbrella plants, and they are known for affecting the plant easily. To avoid these diseases, avoid overhead watering and apply a copper fungicide. If you still do not witness any changes, try fertilising your plant. 

Indoors, Schefflera are prone to attracting aphids that leave a honeydew excretion, which makes the leaves sticky and leads to sooty mold. To treat aphids, use an organic pesticide like neem oil or use a strong spray of water on the plant. 

Tip 

Keep the infected plant in an isolated space so that it does not spread pests, which might cause harm to other plants. 

When planted outdoors, pests like mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects can attack your plant. These can be recognised as webbing, white, cotton-looking sections, or tiny bugs on the underside of the leaves. To avoid them from attacking your plant, make sure to keep an eye on your umbrella tree plant and use organic pesticides like neem oil or insecticidal soap spray. 

Common Problems with the Schefflera 

The common problems with the Schefflera plant are listed below with the solution:

Problem	Solution
Brown spots on leaves	The common reason behind brown spots on Schefflera leaves is underwatering. In such a situation, water your plant more frequently during the growing season.   Tip: The best way to water your plant is by watering it deeply and allowing the soil to slightly dry between two watering sessions.
Yellowing leaves	Yellowing leaves are a common indicator of overwatering the schefflera plant. This can be avoided by watering the plant only when the soil’s top layer dries out completely and avoiding overhead watering.
Drooping leaves	Drooping leaves symbolize that your plant is stressed. This might happen because of certain reasons like a sudden shift in environment, too much sun exposure, reduced or increased temperature, or watering changes. You can let the plant settle into its new environment, place it in an area that receives indirect, bright sunlight, and water only when required.

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Takeaways

While Schefflera is known as a houseplant, it requires a well-established environment in which it can thrive. The non-negotiable factors include proper ventilation, bright, indirect sunlight, and hot, humid weather conditions. If these parameters fit perfectly in your space, the umbrella plant can be one of the best additions to your space. 

The plant comes in various varieties, which allows you to choose your houseplant. Some of the most popular varieties include Schefflera actinophylla, or umbrella tree; Schefflera arboricola, commonly known as draft umbrella tree; Schefflera elegantissima, or False Aralia; and Schefflera arbicola, or Golden Capella.

Next summer, if you are planning to plant a tree or draft a tree, Schefflera can be one of the best choices for you. Happy planting!

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