Schefflera care: umbrella tree and dwarf schefflera

Light

Clemson says scheffleras prefer medium to bright light, and the Illinois Extension rates both species as medium-light plants, about 150 foot-candles. Missouri Botanical Garden is more specific for the dwarf schefflera: an east, west or south window with curtain-filtered sun for 3 to 4 hours a day, and no direct sun. NC State gives the same 3 to 4 hours of filtered light and warns that bright, direct light burns the leaves of indoor plants.

The larger umbrella tree takes more brightness. NC State describes it as preferring a bright, sunny spot as a houseplant, protected from hot afternoon sun. Too little light shows quickly in both species: Clemson notes that low light causes yellowing leaves on spindly, weak stems, the classic stretched schefflera reaching for a window. Clemson also notes that the umbrella tree cultivar 'Amate' keeps its compact growth even in low light, which makes it the better choice for a dim office.

Water

Clemson's rule is precise: water thoroughly, then let the soil dry to half an inch deep before watering again, and never let the plant sit with water in its saucer. Missouri Botanical Garden suggests a deep watering followed by letting the soil nearly dry, and the Illinois Extension says to let it dry moderately. The three agree on the shape of the cycle, a full soak followed by a dry-down, and differ only on how far to let it go, so start with Clemson's half inch and adjust to your room.

Leaf drop is the schefflera's signal for both mistakes. Missouri Botanical Garden and NC State say the leaves drop if the soil becomes too moist or too dry, and Clemson adds that root rot usually comes from a mix that drains slowly or from watering too often. NC State recommends rainwater or filtered water for the umbrella tree. From fall to late winter, Missouri Botanical Garden advises reducing water somewhat, since the plant grows more slowly in short days.

Soil and pH

Clemson recommends a general-purpose potting soil, Missouri Botanical Garden a peaty, well-drained mix, and NC State a well-drained medium rich in organic matter. Any good peat-based houseplant mix satisfies all three. Drainage is the real requirement: a pot with holes, no layer of gravel in the bottom, which Clemson's repotting guide says actually slows water movement through the pot, and a mix that does not stay soggy for days after watering.

Humidity

Both species come from humid tropical forests, and dry indoor air invites their worst pest. The Illinois Extension warns that umbrella trees in warm, dry rooms tend to be attacked by spider mites and recommends raising the humidity and carefully washing the leaves, top and underside, on a regular basis. Missouri Botanical Garden suggests misting or a tray of wet pebbles for the dwarf schefflera, and NC State says it likes high humidity, with the water line in the tray kept below the top of the pebbles so the pot never stands in water. Clemson lists low humidity among the causes of leaf drop.

Temperature

Clemson recommends day temperatures of 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C) with nights above 60°F (16°C), and Missouri Botanical Garden and NC State also treat 60°F as the floor; NC State gives 65 to 90°F as the umbrella tree's preferred range. Clemson's problem section mentions keeping plants above 50°F, but because dead patches show up on the leaves several days after excessive cold, 60°F is the safer line. Keep scheffleras away from heating vents, radiators, open windows and air conditioners, since Clemson notes that hot or cold drafts damage them.

Fertilizer

Clemson advises regular feeding with a water-soluble or time-release houseplant fertilizer at the label rate, adding that plants in reduced light need less frequent feeding than plants in bright light. The Illinois Extension's general schedule, no more than once every one to three months from March to September, suits a schefflera in typical indoor light, and its advice to leach the pot with plain water every four to six months keeps salts from building up. Hold off in winter, when growth slows.

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Repotting

Clemson allows repotting an overcrowded schefflera at any season, using a general-purpose potting soil, and its repotting guide calls for a pot 1 or 2 inches larger in diameter. Spring or early summer is still the easiest time, while new growth is starting. Signs that it is due are roots growing out of the drainage hole, a solid mass of roots around the root ball, and a plant that needs frequent watering or wilts shortly after watering. For a tall umbrella tree in a container too heavy to handle, Clemson suggests topdressing instead: replace the top 2 or 3 inches of soil with fresh mix every other year or so.

• The plant is overcrowded and roots fill the pot
• Roots grow out of the drainage hole
• The plant wilts shortly after watering

Propagation

Clemson lists seed, cuttings and air layering, and NC State recommends layering, seed or stem cuttings for the umbrella tree. Stem cuttings taken in spring or summer root in moist mix under a clear plastic cover in bright, indirect light, following the Illinois Extension's method. A tall, bare umbrella tree is a good candidate for air layering, which roots the top while it is still attached to the plant; the Illinois Extension says roots usually show through the plastic after 3 to 4 months.

Pruning keeps both species in shape. To keep plants small, Clemson says to prune just above a leaf, and the Illinois Extension recommends tip pruning the umbrella tree and pinching out the growing tips of the dwarf schefflera to keep them bushy. NC State notes that the umbrella tree can be cut back in winter to control its size.

Methods: Stem cuttings, Air layering, Seed · Best season: spring or summer.

Common problems

Spider mites are the pest to expect, especially on the umbrella tree; the Illinois Extension says they attack the dwarf schefflera less often, and Clemson notes that 'Amate' resists both mites and Alternaria leaf spot. Mealybugs and scale insects are the other common pests in Clemson's list, with aphids and thrips added by NC State. Leaf drop has several triggers, which Clemson names as excessive watering, low humidity and chilling, and NC State adds that underwatered plants drop their leaves too. Bacterial leaf spot and soft rot follow soil that stays too wet, according to NC State.

Not sure which one it is? Try the plant problem diagnosis tool →

Is the schefflera toxic to cats and dogs?

The ASPCA lists scheffleras as toxic to cats and dogs under two entries with different details. Its Schefflera entry names calcium oxalate crystals, with oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Its Umbrella Tree entry, for Brassaia actinophylla, lists terpenoids, saponins and insoluble oxalates, and says the most common effects are mild vomiting and diarrhea. NC State calls all parts of the umbrella tree toxic if ingested and says all parts of the dwarf schefflera are seriously toxic to dogs and cats; the sap of both can irritate skin, so wear gloves when pruning. Keep the plant out of reach and call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center if a pet chews it.

Check any other plant against the ASPCA lists →