Dwarf Umbrella tree care is pretty similar to Croton care. Because this is a multi-stemmed shrub, they can sometimes become top-heavy or fall over. Over time, umbrella trees can grow to heights over 10 feet tall, forcing homeowners to cut the plant to make it fit in an indoor space. Half-fill the new container with the appropriate potting mix. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. To do this, in the spring take cuttings of 2 to 6 inches in length. The type of pruning you need to engage in will depend on your desired final look. Today I am going over how to propagate your Umbrella Tree or Schefflera plants and care for your cuttings. Due to the plants hardy nature, it should recover well from overwatering if the appropriate action is taken. Keeping humidity levels above 50% can help to keep these sap-sucking pests at bay. Dwarf Schefflera plants need regular feeding during the growing season. Leaves are compound, with stalks up to 40cm long. Its large leaves and bushy foliage are just some of the reasons why the Schefflera plant tops the list of trendy houseplants. In winter, you will need to water the plant less frequently than in summer. The dwarf scheff is also grown in tree forms, bonsai and braided just like Ficus trees. Learn more. Its close relative () Schefflera Actinophylla) has to carefully planted because of its invasive nature and is seen as a weed in certain places. Apply general purpose, 20-20-20 ratio fertilizer to moist soil beneath the tree's drip-line at a rate of 1 pound per 100 square-feet of area. The umbrella plant is a multi trunk tree that can grows over 15 metres tall outdoors and has to be pruned and topped at some point to keep its size manageable within a home. You will know if your Umbrella Plant has been overwatered if the leaves and stems turn brown or feel soft inside. The Umbrella Plant can also be grown as a bonsai tree with aerial roots. Hello guys! Every two or three years, it’s necessary to repot a dwarf Schefflera plant. Sometimes the branches get so long that they start to collapse under their own weight. If you are happy to have a long and tall Umbrella Plant with more of a tree-like look, then simply let it grow. This residue, if left untreated, can spread to nearby household items and furniture, where it attracts mold and can cause serious problems. While this is an Australian native, the Umbrella tree or Schefflera actinophylla can end up being a nightmare in cultivation and in some applications. Perhaps these under-appreciated beauties are due for a renaissance in your home. The umbrella plant rarely flowers indoors – its flowers look like compact white spikes and they are arranged in clusters. An Umbrella tree that begins losing healthy green leaves in mass is most likely signaling that it is not receiving enough light. Naturally, older leaves on houseplants like Schefflera turn yellow before falling off. Fill up the remaining space with the remainder of the fresh potting soil. Apply a diluted houseplant fertilizer once a month from spring until the end of summer. In addition to releasing oxygen into the atmosphere like other plants, the Umbrella Plant also absorbs toxins, thereby filtering the air in your property and leaving you with better air quality. Plant the umbrella shrub at the same height in its new pot. Of course, growth slows down in winter, and this is normal. Under ideal conditions, the tree-like plant can eventually grow up to 6 feet (1.8 m) indoors with a relatively slender spread of up to 2.5 feet (75 cm). The other pest commonly associated with Umbrella Plants are Scale Insects. The best care advice for growing dwarf umbrella trees at home is to water when the top layer of soil is dry. The Schefflera arboricola (dwarf umbrella tree) includes several cultivars, some with variegated leaves. You can combat the problem with a number of steps, but disposing of the plant is often the best option. If you find that your plant is frequently suffering from an insect issue, you should try to raise the humidity levels. The Umbrella Plant is a fast-growing shrub or tree that is native to Taiwan (Missouri Botanical Garden). Crotons are very susceptible to change in temperature and location. The reason why dwarf Schefflera plant is called umbrella plant is due to how its unusual leaves are arranged like an umbrella. You should stop feeding the plant in the fall and winter. leaves falling on man holding umbrella - umbrella tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images blurred motion of woman holding umbrella against trees and sky - umbrella tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images So, if the light only comes from one source—such as a window in a dimly-lit room—the stems will bend and lean towards the light. Long, oval-shaped and pointy-tipped, the leaves grow in circular groups of 5-9 leaves. Another way to humidify umbrella plants and keep them looking good is to wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. You can determine if your umbrella tree is an Arboricola or Actinophylla through their leaves. The common names “umbrella plant,” “schefflera,” or “octopus tree… Be very conservative with your watering until the cutting has plenty of new growth, at which point you can treat it more like a normal Umbrella Plant. Even when pruned, the Umbrella Plant will not spread very wide, with a maximum diameter of around 75 cm / 18in. Grown outside, it can reach over ten meters in height. So, check the soil for moisture and only water when the top 1” to 2” (2.5 – 5 cm) of soil is dry. The most common reason for yellowing leaves is over-watering. If you don’t know how to take care of this plant, I hope this article has shedded some great light. Schefflera plant can be easily propagated by stem cuttings. The umbrella plant is the dwarf variety of the Schefflera tree and is related to the large Schefflera actinophylla which is also called the Australia umbrella tree. Unlike its light requirement, the umbrella tree isn’t fussy about its water intake. Dwarf umbrella trees are not fussy when it comes to care. Sad-looking leaves which droop or turn brown are generally a result of overwatering. Arboricola mostly has the variegated varieties or colored leaf. To deter spider mites, keep the environment in your home fairly humid, as the mites like dry air. Flowers are red, with 7-18 (usually 12) petals each 3-5mm long, same number of stamens, clustered along radiating spikes up to 60cm long that grow umbrella-like above leaves. Other common names for this tall houseplant include dwarf umbrella tree, parasol plant, octopus tree, and dwarf Schefflera. Bright light, regular watering, and feeding every few weeks help to boost its growth rate. Let me know if you have any question about it. The umbrella tree or also well-known as Schefflera is one of a plant consist of some leaves in which you can find 5 to 6 leaves in each of the stems. Each type of plant absorbs water at a different rate. So, if you have the Schefflera ‘Gold Capella,’ ‘Green Gold,’ or ‘Trinette,’ make sure that there is enough light. You could also use a room humidifier or pebble water tray to increase air moisture. Avoid the common mistake of watering your houseplants on a schedule. The variegated cultivars need to grow in warmer temperatures. Schefflera plant growth becomes dormant in winter, and you shouldn’t expect it to grow much. To care properly for your dwarf umbrella tree, water it when the top soil has dried out. When growing indoors, dwarf umbrella plants are susceptible to pests such as spider mites and scale. Pruning will also keep your plant healthy and help to elongate its lifespan. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says that Schefflera plants contain poisonous substances called calcium oxalate crystals. The crucial care factor for umbrella plants is that the potting soil retains some moisture without ever being soggy or damp. If kept in these conditions, the plant should become bushy and tall. Your email address will not be published. A few hours each day of direct sunlight can be tolerated by the Umbrella Plant; however, too much sunlight will cause damage to the leaves. They cause damage by making tiny holes in the leaves to feed, resulting in the leaves becoming pocked and discolored. The soil should be just damp, with a light feeling of moisture. Always empty water from a drip tray to prevent the soil from sitting in water. You should cut a stem just below a node so that it is 4” to 6” (10 – 15 cm) long. Umbrella Plants become inactive during winter so do not produce new growth during this time. If you want an impressive umbrella plant, choose one of the yellow and green or white and green variegated cultivars. Umbrella plant stems can start growing crooked if there is not enough light. If you trim the main trunk back to around six inches in length, it will regenerate and quickly catch up to the longer lengths of any of the minor branches. These plants are almost identical in terms of looks, and so are both referred to as Umbrella Plants, with the names Schefflera and Heptapleurum becoming almost interchangeable, though the true Umbrella Plant is the Schefflera, a relation of the Umbrella Tree. Apart from your plant dying, the insects can infest other plants in your home. It is native to tropical rainforests and gallery forests in northern and north-eastern Queensland coasts and the Northern Territory of Australia, as well as New Guinea and Java. To avoid overwatering, keep the amount of water you use to a minimum, and also use a drip tray to collect any water and dispose of this regularly. September 24, 2009 ©Forest & Kim Starr Images-2009. If you have neglected pruning your Umbrella Plant and it has become wild and overgrown, you may be wondering where to begin with cutting it back and getting it into good shape. There’s literally hundreds of Schefflera species in existence. Another way to root stem cuttings is to put them in a jar of water. Growth rate of Schefflera is best in temperatures between 60°F and 75°F (15°C – 24°C). The Umbrella Plant requires a small amount of fertilizer to sustain maximum growth and health. A member of the ginseng family, umbrella tree leaves grow in an unusual fashion. If you suspect spider mites, check the underside of leaves for the spiders themselves or the webs they create. Dwarf Umbrella trees, on the other hand, are a little more forgiving in this regard. So, the tropical houseplants will grow well in average room temperatures. dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola) is a shrub or relatively small tree usually growing 3-4 m tall. Multi-trunked, evergreen tree up to 15m tall. Old leaves will also drop naturally. Overview: Umbrella Plants (Schefflera Arboricola) And Leaf … Its greenish-yellow flowers are borne in massive clusters with branches up to 30 cm long. Umbrella plants quickly grow into tall tree-like plants indoors. Repot your Schefflera arboricola plant every 2-3 years to encourage healthy growth. It will grow best in bright rooms, away from direct sunlight. However, insects love to make their home on the Umbrella Plant, and this is particularly a more prevalent problem in areas of low humidity. Umbrella Leaf resembles a small tree more than any kind of known leaf. Schefflera plants usually have … The dwarf Schefflera plant has small flowers that look like small white spikes as seen in the picture above. Related reading: How to get rid of houseplant pests fast and safely. Such a problem, that is, yellowing of leaves and premature falling of umbrella plant leaves, is usually caused by a sudden drop in … These umbrella plants are fast growers and can put out a lot of new foliage in spring and summer. Umbrella plants that have dark green foliage can survive better in cooler temperatures. In this instance, the solution is simple. The main downside is with age or prolonged incorrect care, the lower leaves will fall and you will have a bare lower stem but still with a full canopy. However, the Umbrella plant can produce some very interesting looking foliage, especially the variegated varieties which have various patterns of white and green on the leaves. The Umbrella Plant itself fares well in normal humidity levels found in homes and offices (Iowa State University- Extension and Outreach- Horticulture and Home Pest News). You should prune back unwanted growth to make the plant grow more like a bushy indoor shrub rather than a large tree. The type of leaves on this tree like umbrella plant are palmate, meaning there are 7 – 9 leaflets growing from a single point. Schefflera arboricola plants thrive in a potting mix with plenty of organic matter that has excellent drainage. The most well known are the umbrella tree and the dwarf umbrella tree. Transfer to a pot that has moist, well-draining potting soil. The plant will not need feeding once it becomes inactive during winter or when it has reached the ideal size. Dwarf umbrella trees are quite sensitive to the cold. During winter, when growth slows to a minimum, you need to water less and stop fertilizing. Schefflera's open, delicate growth habit and dark green, glossy foliage brings a tropical feeling to any home. However, if pests infest your plant, use a neem oil solution or insecticidal soap to get rid of the bugs quickly. 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