Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) Care & Growing Guide

Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) Care and Growing Guide

Schefflera is a genus of plants with about 200 evergreen species from the Araliaceae family that grow in their natural habitat in Australia and New Zealand as shrubs or trees up to 50 feet high.

Grown indoors, the plant has gained widespread popularity due to its relatively simple care, striking dark green or variegated and radially arranged leaves. Not to mention it provides a lush jungle-like vibe to any room. 

The umbrella plant is formally named, Schefflera, in honor of the German botanist Johan Sheffler.

The common name, dwarf umbrella plant, describes finger-arranged leaves, resembling an open umbrella. The plant is also known under the names Australian Ivy Palm, and Starleaf.

How To Take Care Of An Umbrella Plant

So let’s cover how to take care of and grow an umbrella plant indoors.

Even though umbrella plants are beginner friendly – they still require the appropriate care in order to thrive within your home.

Below is a comprehensive guide from lighting and watering requirements to propagating and pruning umbrella plants. So feel free to skip to the section that will help you nurture your umbrella plant.

Lighting: Where To Place Umbrella Plants Indoors

Scheffleras require moderate sunlight, which means that the best option for lighting is bright indirect sunlight.

This means umbrella plants will grow very well in a bright room but out of the direct sunlight from the window.

The best place to place an umbrella plant are near an east or west facing window since these windows will only receive direct sunlight for a portion of the day.

Keep in mind that if your umbrella plant has variegated leaves (green leaves with yellow streaks) then the plant will need more light to retain this pattern. So place variegated umbrella plants closer to the light if the plant starts losing some of its yellow or creamy leaf color.

Monochromatic species of umbrella plants will thrive well even in semi-shady positions since their leaves do not need as much sunlight to grow.

Watering: How Often To Water An Umbrella Plant

Generally speaking, you can water an umbrella plant every few days during the period of active growth from spring to autumn and once a week in the winter months when the plant is semi-dormant.

However, keep in mind that Schefflera is more sensitive to overwatering than underwatering. So it is better to underwater an umbrella plant than it is to overwater it.

Therefore, it is best to water an umbrella plant only when the substrate is almost completely dry. The plant is resistant to extend periods of drought, which of course, does not mean that you can leave it without water for days on end.

When To Water An Umbrella Plant

Follow these steps in order to determine when to water an Umbrella plant:

  1. Insert your index finger into the soil 1 to 2 inches deep
  2. Feel for moisture
  3. Water if the soil is dry
  4. Do not water if the soil is wet or moist

The best part of this method is that your plant will tell you when it needs to be watered just by feeling the soil.

So as it consumes more water during the spring and summer months, the soil will dry out quicker than the winter months when it is dormant.

Humidity: Do Umbrella Plants Like To Be Misted?

Umbrella plants are highly adaptable plants that are not particularly picky when it comes to humidity, and unlike many tropical plants, umbrella plants can tolerate the standard humidity of our living spaces of 40% to 50%.

Typically most houseplants are tropical plants which prefer humidity levels to be anywhere from 60% to 90%.

So you can see why Umbrella plants are better suited for homes since they can tolerate lower humidity levels that are commonly found in homes.

However, Umbrella plants will benefit from the occasional misting since this will prevent the leaves from drying out and increase the leafage quality.

Temperature: What Temperature Can Schefflera Withstand?

Dwarf umbrella plants prefer to grow in temperatures ranging from 55°F to 72°F. However, the umbrella plant is adaptive and can withstand even 45°F in the winter especially if the plant is older and larger.

Umbrella plants do not tolerate temperature that are too hot since hotter air is typically accompanies by drier air. The combination of hot and dry temperature can negatively affect an umbrella plant if the plant is exposed to these conditions for too long.

Fertilizing: Should I Feed The Umbrella Plant?

If you grow Schefflera in any standard indoor potting mix that contain things such as peat moss, compost, and sand then the plant will not need additional fertilization.

Most potting mixes already include a certain level of nutrients which will be sufficient for an umbrella plant.

Although umbrella plants can blossom or flower, most species do not. So unlike other plants that frequently blossom or flower, the umbrella plant is only growing new branches and leaves which do not need any specialized fertilizers in order to grow.

However, you can use a standard liquid fertilizer for houseplants every few months in the spring and summer plants if the plant is large and has been growing in the same soil for over a year.

Umbrella plants are low maintenance plants so fertilizing is not a requirement for growing healthy umbrella plants.

Soil: What Substrate To Use For Schefflera?

Even when it comes to the choice of soil or substrate, umbrella plants are easy and low maintenance plants.

Umbrella plants will thrive quite nicely in any standard potting mix for house plants as long as the soil has good drainage.

If the umbrella plant’s soil is retaining too much water or not draining fast enough then adding sand, pebbles, or perlite will increase the soil’s permeability.

Keep in mind that all houseplants planted in soil need proper drainage so that the roots are not continually submerged in water. Plants that are overwatered or that have their roots continually wet will show signs of stress from issues related to root rot.

Repotting: How Often Should I Transplant My Umbrella Plant?

Umbrella plants will benefit from being repotted every other year. The best time to repot an umbrella plant is in the spring before the plant enters its growth stage.

When repotting the umbrella plant, make sure to use a wider stable pot that will allow the plant’s roots to expand and will also prevent the plant from toppling over as it grows taller.

Make sure to use new potting soil when repotting an umbrella plant so that the plant is provided with all the nutrients it needs to grow.

If you do not want to repot your umbrella plant, especially if the plant is larger, then replace the top 2 inches of soil with fresh soil. This will help balance the nutrient soil in the umbrella plant’s soil.

Propagating: How To Start New Schefflera Plants?

There are a few ways to propagate an umbrella plant. Here are the most common ways to start new umbrella plants from your existing umbrella plant:

  1. Planting cuttings
  2. Air Layers
  3. Layering

You can grow a new umbrella plant from seed but this process is time-consuming and requires specific greenhouse conditions to properly germinate and grow an umbrella plant from seed.

So it’s much faster to propagate a new umbrella plant from your existing umbrella plant.

Cuttings: Where Do You Cut An Umbrella Plant To Propagate It?

Umbrella plant cuttings can be created by clipping a leaf as close to the stem near the plant’s base as possible. The goal is to make the cutting or new plant as big as possible with as many leaves as possible.

Having a larger cutting will allow the cutting to sprout new roots while having the existing leaves photosynthesize and feed the new tiny plant.

Here are some tips when creating a cutting from an umbrella plant:

  • Use a clean, disinfected knife or scissor so that you can cleanly remove the cutting from the mother plant.
  • The cutting stem size should be at least the diameter of a pencil.
  • Make sure that the new cutting has more than 1 leaf node or layer of leaves.
  • Remove the lower leaves of the cutting to get at least 3 inches of bare stem.
  • Shorten the remaining leaves length by one-half to prevent moisture loss during the rooting process.

The reason why the cutting needs more than 1 layer of leaves is because the bottom leaves near the cut are going to be removed and planted into soil or a cup of water.

The trimmed leaf nodes are where new roots will sprout on the cutting so a cutting with only 1 leaf will be much harder to propagate than a cutting with multiple leaves.

Schefflera is a more difficult plant to propagate from cuttings so its best to dip the cutting’s end into a rooting hormone and stick it into a container full of fresh moist soil.

The rooting process takes about two to four weeks after which new leaves will begin to appear on the cutting. However, keep in mind that even if everything is done correctly, the propagating process may still fail since umbrella plants are harder plants to propagate.

So always propagate a few cuttings at a time in order to successfully propagate a new umbrella plant. 

Propagating Schefflera Cuttings In Water

Instead of propagating umbrella plant cuttings in soil, you can also use a glass of water to encourage root growth.

For those unfamiliar with hydroponics, this is where you simply grow plants in water instead of soil. See this article where I documented the process of propagating my Fittonia (Nerve Plant) in both water and soil.

So it is possible to successfully propagate cuttings, including umbrella plants, in either water or soil.

Typically it takes about 4 weeks until you will start to see roots sprout from a cutting that is sitting in a cup of water. The benefit of propagating cuttings in a cup of water is that you will be able to actually see the roots.

So by propagating a cutting in water, you will know when the cutting is ready to be transplanted.

Pruning: How To Trim An Umbrella Plant

Schefflera is a large tree-like plant that can grow indoors up to 6 feet, so pruning is a recommended treatment to control the plant’s size and shape.

Not to mention pruning actually stimulates new growth in plants so this is a great way to keep your umbrella plant healthy.

How To Get A Bushy Schefflera?

If your umbrella plant is growing tall and does not branch out much then feel free to cut off the top part of the plant just above a growth node.

This will cause the plant to sprout new branches horizontally where it was trimmed which will make the plant bushier.

You can also shorten or cut all the bare lateral stems that only have leaves on the tips. It may sound radical but this procedure will encourage new side growth, which will eventually result in a bushier umbrella plant.

When To Prune An Umbrella Plant

The most suitable time for pruning an umbrella plant is near winter’s end. The reason why an umbrella plant should be pruned near winter’s end is that spring is right around the corner which is the umbrella plant’s growing cycle.

Although it’s best to prune an umbrella plant right before it’s growing cycle, you can prune an umbrella plant anytime of the year as long as it’s not drastic or heavy prune.

Umbrella plants are very tough plants and can withstand a light pruning during its growth cycle.

Don’t worry about incorrectly pruning this plant or pruning too much since this plant will grow back and sprout new branches.

Can I Cut My Umbrella Plant Back?

A plant that grows improperly, loses shape, elongates, is attacked by parasites, or has leaf damage can be shortened to a height of 6 inches. So an umbrella plant can be cut back from it’s current height to as little as 6 inches high.

After cutting an umbrella plant back, new shoots will appear quickly as the plant regrows from its new height.

Common Problems With Umbrella Plants

Umbrella plants are a beginner friendly plant since they are easy to grow and can tolerant a lot of different growing conditions.

However, umbrella plants still need to have their basic needs met in order to stay and grow healthy.

Common signs that there may be problems with your umbrella plant are the leaves falling off during spring and summer and brown spots or patches on the leaves. Although umbrella plants are hardy plants, they still need the proper care in order to stay and grow healthy.

Leaves Falling Off

Before getting worried, remember that leaf fall is a normal part of an umbrella plant’s life cycle. Just seeing leaves fall off your umbrella plant does not necessarily mean there is a problem.

So seeing leaves fall off an umbrella plant during fall and winter is completely normal since it is part of the leaf cycle.

However, seeing lots of leaves fall off an umbrella plant during the growing season is an indicator that the plant may be stressed due to inadequate care.

The most common reason for leaves falling off during a growing season is underwatering or overwatering, but the same problem can be caused by low temperature, excess or lack of nutrients, too much light, or not enough light.

Furthermore, drafty spots or sudden temperature changes also may also cause the leaves to fall off.

Just remember to place the plant in an area that receives bright indirect sunlight, has relatively consistent temperature, and water the plant when the soil feels dry 1 to 2 inches deep. 

Brown Spots And Patches On The Leaves

Brown spots and patches will develop on your umbrella plant’s leaves when the plant has been underwatered. Typically the leaves developing brown spots means that the plant’s leaves are drying out from a lack of water.

However, it may be surprising, but overwatering can have the same effect since overwatering can lead to root rot where the plant is unable to absorb the water it needs to survive.

Black or dark purple leaves are often the consequence of low temperatures. However, sometimes it is the result of root rot that is a significant problem.

When To Water An Umbrella Plant

Follow these steps in order to determine when to water an Umbrella plant:

  1. Insert your index finger into the soil 1 to 2 inches deep
  2. Feel for moisture
  3. Water if the soil is dry
  4. Do not water if the soil is wet or moist

Bacterial infection – Alarming Brown Spots On Leaves

Plants with large and dense canopies, such as Scheffleras, are prone to fungal diseases developing in the dense canopy.

In the heavy above-ground part, the air may not circulate if there are a lot of leaves and branches clumped together. This causes the moisture level to rise and creates the ideal conditions for fungus to grow.

 If you notice brown spots on the leaves, cut off all infected leaves immediately. However, this is usually not enough to stop the disease, so additional treatment is needed.

Homemade Remedy To Get Rid Of Fungal Infections

Put a teaspoon of baking soda and one teaspoon of mineral oil. In a standard one-liter bowl sprinkler, add water and shake well to distribute the ingredients evenly. Mist the whole plant once a week until you see progress.      

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are umbrella plants toxic to cats or dogs?

A: Schefflera plants contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, a poisonous substance that is dangerous to pets and humans. When consumed, calcium oxalate can cause health issues such as vomiting, respiratory problems, and kidney problems. However, cases of poisoning by umbrella plants are relatively rare.

Q: Can Schefflera be grown outside?

A: In the US climate zones 9b to 11, Schefflera can grow outside in the garden. Umbrella plants are a great addition to any outdoor tropical garden, but make sure the umbrella plant grows in a place that is not exposed to the bright midday sun.

Q: Can the umbrella plant be kept outside in the summer?

A: In colder climate zones, you can take a potted umbrella plant out in the summer months. Placing the umbrella plant outside will help the appearance and growth of the plant. As soon as the night temperature starts to drop below 45°F then bring the umbrella plant back inside.

Q: Why is the umbrella plant stem turning brown?

A: Young umbrella plants have green stems which become woody with brown bark as they get older. The change is natural and starts turning brown near the base of the stem closest to the soil.

Q: Is Scheffler prone to pests?

A: Umbrella plants are not prone to pests. However, it does not mean that umbrella plants are resistant to pests. Like any other houseplant, umbrella plants can be exposed pest infestations. The problem is likely to occur if the plant spends the summer outside or grows in rooms full of dry air. Usually, the plant is attacked by aphids that you can identify as tiny soft bodied insects that live on the underside of curls of the leaves.

Spider mites are also relatively common, and produce web-like material under leaves and around stems.

Fortunately, most pests can be treated by using some homemade remedies.

Does Schefflera bloom?

Schefflera is a flowering plant, but it rarely happens indoors. The flowers are similar to the octopus tentacles, so in some areas, it is even called the Octopus plant. The only species that blooms as an indoor plant is Schefflera arboricola.

Final Thoughts

There are many reasons why umbrella plants are such a desirable houseplant.

It’s not just because of its elegantly arranged leaves or the gorgeous look that allows you to have a private piece of exoticism in your home. It is a plant with the ability to clear the air and eliminate toxins from its surroundings.

Provide an umbrella plant with just a little space and care, and you will get in return not only remarkable decoration but also a very efficient, natural air purifier.

Steven

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