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How to Grow & Care for Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) Common Name Schefflera, umbrella plant, umbrella tree Family Araliaceae Plant Type Broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree Mature Size 4–15 ft. tall, 3–6 ft. wide (indoors); up to 50 ft. tall (outdoors) Sun Exposure Bright, indirect light.
How long will an Umbrella plant live?
Schefflera plants can live for decades in optimal conditions. Grown indoors, these plants can live up to 25 years even.
Where do you put an Umbrella plant?
First, on our list on how to care for your Umbrella plant is to place it in a spot where it can receive bright indirect light. It can tolerate direct indoor light and medium-to-low light, but it will become leggy and grow more slowly. Avoid placing your plant under the intense, direct sun because its leaves will burn.
What is the difference between an Umbrella plant and an umbrella tree?
Umbrella Plant or Tree. The Umbrella plant is also known as the Dwarf umbrella tree. Schefflera Arboricola is the scientific name. Grown indoors the Schefflera Arboricola can be kept to a manageable size of 4 – 8ft tall, and the good news is they respond well to basic indoor conditions.
How do I keep my Umbrella plant small?
Since these plants grow so quickly, it is very possible that you will need to prune the plant in order to keep the plant the shape and size that you desire. Umbrella plants bounce back quickly, so even if you harshly prune away a good bit of the plant, it will grow back fuller that it previously was.
Can you plant an umbrella plant outside?
Although umbrella plants do best in bright, indirect light, they can usually tolerate direct indoor light, and will just grow more slowly and become leggy in medium-to-low light. Indoors, umbrella plants prefer temperatures of 55°F to 75°F (13°C to 24°C). They can be grown outdoors year-round in USDA zones 10-11.
Is umbrella plant poisonous to dogs?
19. Schefflera, commonly known as “Umbrella Plant”: Schefflera can cause vomiting, kidney problems, tremors, and heart and respiratory problems. Scheffleras can also cause oral irritation, such as difficulty swallowing, drooling, and burning of the mouth, lips, and tongue.
How do you make an umbrella plant bushy?
Use a sharp pair of pruners or a knife and make cuts just above leaves. Make cuts to break up denser clumps and to make the plant appear more even. Strategically pruning a Schefflera plant can encourage it to grow out as well as up and make for a denser, more bushy shape.
Do umbrella plants lose their leaves?
An Umbrella Plant dropping leaves is normally a sign of stress due to improper care. Over or underwatering, low light, temperature extremes, repotting, pests, diseases, under/overfeeding, low humidity, or a new location can cause dropping leaves. Old leaves will also drop naturally.
Why is my umbrella plant drooping?
The most common cause of an Umbrella Plant drooping is overwatering, resulting in root rot. Signs of this include yellow lower leaves, poorly draining soil and an offensive smell from the soil. Other causes of drooping include cold stress, transplant shock, underwatering, or overfertilizing.
How much sun does an umbrella plant need?
Provide them with at least 4 hours of light a day. They will stay healthy and grow properly if they are getting the required light.
Does an umbrella plant need a moss pole?
One thing you need to remember, though, is that older umbrella trees typically need to be supported by a moss stick or a stake. In case you wish to use a moss stick make sure to choose the one that has matured enough and has aerial roots. The only way to prevent this is to regularly prune and pinch your umbrella plant.
Does an umbrella tree bloom?
Umbrella plant sends up a flower stalk with pink or white blooms in early spring, but it’s the dramatic 2-foot-diameter leaves that are the main attraction.
Do umbrella trees like to be root bound?
But you may be surprised to learn that some plants really like being root bound. The following is a list of plants that prefer to be root bound: Peace lily, spider plant, African violets, aloe vera, umbrella tree, ficus, agapanthus, asparagus fern, spider lily, Christmas cactus, jade plant, snake plant and Boson fern.
Can you put a schefflera plant outside?
Ideally, place schefflera plants near a window that gets bright but indirect light. Gardeners in zones 10 to 12 can grow schefflera plants outdoors in full to partial sun in moist, well-drained soil. When grown outdoors, mature Schefflera actinophylla plants will bloom during the summer.
Is dwarf umbrella tree poisonous to dogs?
This tree can grow as high as twelve meters and is a preferred plant for landscaping in tropical and warmer areas. The umbrella tree in both forms is toxic to dogs and other small animals; it contains insoluble calcium oxalates, saponins, and terpenoids (aromatic hydrocarbon chemical substances).
Do Umbrella Plants need staked?
Outdoor Umbrella Plants need shade and must be kept on a regular feeding and watering schedule. You’ll need to keep them moist to combat pests like mealybugs, scale, aphids, and spider mites. For optimal growth, you might also consider adding staking or supports. In severe cases, you might even kill your plant.
How cold can a Schefflera plant get?
Schefflera will tolerate 35 to 105°F without chilling or heat damage, but best growth and quality occur between 65 and 90°F. Schefflera `Gold Capello’ was reported to bring greatest returns when grown at a minimum temperature of 60°F as opposed to 64 or 68 in Belgium during the winter.
How often do you water an umbrella plant?
Water every 7-14 days or as the soil becomes dry. This plant is flexible about watering but will be more tolerant of dry soil than overwatering. Yellow leaves are a sign of overwatering and drooping leaves are a sign it needs more water.
