Schefflera (Schefflera) - home care

Latin name: Schefflera

Category: perennial herbaceous plants

Native to: subtropical and tropical regions of America

Schefflera (Schefflera) is a unique umbrella for the office and home

Schefflera is the most numerous genus of tropical plants, with more than two hundred species that adorn the Araliaceae family with their decorativeness.

The name Schefflera is a tribute to Carl Linnaeus, who honored the name of his friend, the famous German botanist of the eighteenth century, Jacob Christian Sheffler.

The native habitats are the tropical forest areas of Southeast Asia, the Australian continent, the island of New Guinea, Java, Taiwan, Hawaii. Here, this southern natural wonder is represented by evergreen trees, shrubs, and sometimes vines, reaching a height of six meters. They are covered with inconspicuous, small, white flowers, collected in complex panicle inflorescences that resemble an umbrella.

The flower of schefflera is no less attractive in room conditions. This exotic, evergreen, sprawling bush with flexible branches and unusual-shaped leaves will decorate any interior. Many varieties of schefflera are used to create beautiful bonsai.

The amazing and unique structure of the schefflera leaves resembles a palm with widely spread fingers, which attracts the attention of flower lovers. Each leaf consists of 6-12 bright green, flexible, segmented plates that extend from a central point, resembling an open umbrella. Thanks to this analogy, schefflera has received a second name - umbrella tree.

Types and unique varieties of schefflera

Schefflera arboricola

A flowering evergreen shrub that came to our country from the islands of Hainan and Taiwan. In its native habitat, the plant with an upright, branched trunk reaches a height of four meters. The leaves are complex, oval in shape, with up to nine leaf plates, with a length of up to 20 cm and a width of up to 10 cm. The young shoots of Schefflera arboricola are light green, and with age they become light brown.

Based on this species, new varieties have been bred: Amate - has very beautiful shiny waxy leaves, is less susceptible to pests and requires less light; the Gold Capella variety has an incredible resemblance to a palm tree, with bright green leaves dotted with small yellow spots.

Schefflera actinophylla

It is also called "green star". One of the most common species. In natural conditions, this single- or double-stemmed plant reaches a height of up to 15 meters. This decorative tree grows well in gardens and greenhouses in a warm, mild climate.

In home conditions, it can reach a height of 2.5 meters. On the gray-brown straight trunk, there are reddish-brown long petioles that beautifully carry bright green, shiny, large leaves. They consist of 8-15 separate leaf plates. The length of the elegant toothed leaves reaches 60 cm. Small bright red flowers form inflorescences, resulting in bunches of purple fruits.

Schefflera octophylla

A tropical plant from the humid mixed forests of India, Japan, and China. Here, trees or shrubs of Schefflera octophylla reach a height of up to 15 meters.

Original light green rosettes with 8-11 glossy, leathery, oval leaf plates are located on creamy, thirty-centimeter petioles. The back of the leaf has a matte green color. In late autumn, the plant is decorated with inflorescences of white flowers, and by December, fruits appear.

Matches made from soft wood are in demand. Folk medicine treats colds, congestion, and injuries with a decoction of leaves and roots of Schefflera octophylla.

Schefflera Janine

This beautiful and bright leaf beauty has become popular due to its unpretentiousness in cultivation. It grows well in the shade, retains its bright green foliage and dark, chaotically arranged contrasting stripes and specks.

Schefflera Nora

The lush foliage and unpretentiousness in care of Schefflera Nora are increasingly loved by flower growers. A lush crown of long, narrow, light olive leaves with yellow speckles can create a cozy and positive atmosphere in the home.

Schefflera Louisiana

This exquisite Schefflera Louisiana is absolutely undemanding in care. It is enough to follow only the general rules of cultivation, and you can endlessly admire its decorative, openwork leaves. When placing the plant in a sunny room, its leathery, shiny leaves will become even more colorful with yellow or white speckles.

Schefflera Gerda

This variety does not require special care. It will feel good with diffused light and reach a height of 2.5 m. This picturesque tropical plant will be grateful for moderate soil moisture and normal room temperature of 16-20°C.

Schefflera Charlotte

This variety was recently bred by breeders. Landscape designers decorate offices and residential premises with this beauty.

The leaves of Schefflera Charlotte have a dark green border on the outside. The back of the leaf is a darker and more saturated color.

Schefflera digitata

Native to the tropical forests of New Zealand, where it reaches a height of eight meters. The leaves of the plant, divided into 7-10 finger-like, soft, and thin plates with pointed ends, resemble palm leaves. Large flowers form inflorescences, resulting in edible purple fruits - a favorite treat for birds and insects.

Local residents use the sap of the plant to treat weeping sores and ulcers on the skin. In ancient times, the wood of Schefflera digitata was used to start fires. Nowadays, local residents sell souvenirs and products made from the plant to tourists.

Care for a shefflera at home

Schefflera is a plant of tropical forests. This beautiful unpretentious, heat-loving, picturesque, branchy plant needs no more care than other green inhabitants of the windowsill. This beauty will decorate any interior. Young sheffleras will feel good next to other indoor plants, and adults will look especially majestic in proud solitude. Caring for a shefflera is not at all difficult, but to admire this beauty, you need to work a little and fulfill the following growing conditions.

Choosing a place

The permanent place of residence of a shefflera should be well lit, direct rays of bright sunlight, drafts and sudden temperature changes should be excluded. Summer temperature 16 -25 ˚С, in winter not lower than 12˚С, and 18˚С would be ideal. The shefflera should be placed on the west or east side, most importantly away from central heating radiators. Variegated forms need bright light, and sheffleras with green leaves will also feel good on a northern windowsill. In summer, the plant will be more comfortable in the fresh air in the garden or on the balcony. Shefflera loves high humidity, wants regular spraying with warm, soft water.

Watering

In summer, when the shefflera is growing intensively, the soil should be moist, but without stagnant water to prevent root rot. Watering 2-3 times a week is sufficient, the top layer of soil should be slightly dry. In winter, watering is significantly reduced to once a week. If it is cold indoors, the plant should be watered even less often. You need to use soft, warm water.

Soil

For a shefflera, you need to choose a light, fertile soil mixture that is well permeable to air and water. You can buy ready-made soil. A mixture for palm trees, ornamental flowers may be suitable. It grows well in a mixture of: turf land, coarse sand, peat, humus, leaf soil - all ingredients in equal quantities. Drainage is mandatory.

Top dressing

Intensive plant growth requires the application of liquid fertilizers, half diluted, every two weeks. You can alternate the application of organic and mineral fertilizers. Crushed eggshells will also only benefit the shefflera. In a dormant state, the plant does not need top dressing. Shefflera transplant Transplant every three years. The main indicator for transplanting will be the filling of the pot with roots and their appearance in the pot hole. For transplanting, a pot five or six centimeters larger than the previous one is required. Schefflera propagation For the propagation of Schefflera, you can use cuttings, air layers and seeds. The easiest way to propagate the plant is by cuttings. It is necessary to cut the apical shoot, treat it with root growth stimulants - Kornevin or heteroauxin. You can root in a moist mixture of perlite and peat or sand. Rooting is also possible in water. Seed propagation is a more laborious process. Seeds need to be sown in a mini-greenhouse and kept in a dark place until shoots appear. The seeds will germinate in about a month. They need to be provided with diffused light and a temperature not lower than 18˚C. Then plant them in separate pots for a permanent place of growth.

Diseases and pests

Schefflera can be affected by: scale insects, spider mites, thrips, mealybugs, aphids. Uninvited guests can be immediately seen on the leaf blades of the plant and on the trunk. We immediately take measures to eliminate insects. First of all, we apply a soap solution, you need to wipe the plant with a sponge in the solution. If this procedure is not enough, we proceed to more stringent measures. Actellic solution will help. Possible difficulties in growing a shefflera Shefflera leaves fall, but no harmful insects have been found. The conditions for growing the plant are probably not comfortable. In the winter months, the temperature is low, and the soil is overmoistened. In the summer months, there is intense heat, drafts. Blackening of the edges of the leaves - insufficient watering, drafts. The leaves are covered with white or yellow spots - excess sunlight. Pale color of the leaves, elongated stems - insufficient lighting and nutrients. The edges of the leaves dry out, the color is dull - increased temperature and reduced humidity, increase watering and the frequency of spraying. Dark spots on the leaves, rotting roots - excessive watering, low air temperature. Schefflera purifies the air, absorbs benzene. It is necessary to reduce contact with schefflera for children and animals, as the plant is poisonous. Philodendron is toxic. Take care of your schefflera with love, it will absorb negative energy, help cope with anxiety and neurosis, and will maintain a state of cheerfulness and good mood.