How to Plant, Grow, And Care For Umbrella Plant?

Basic Info:

• Common Name: Schefflera, Umbrella Plant
• Botanical Name: Schefflera spp.
• Family: Araliaceae
• Mature Size: 4-6 ft. tall, 3-6 ft. wide (indoors); up to 25 ft. tall (outdoors)
• Sun exposure: Partial
• Soil Type: Moist, Loamy
• Flower Color: White, Pink, Red
• Native Area: Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Islands

Schefflera, commonly known as umbrella plants or trees, features long, shiny, oval green leaves that droop gracefully from a central stalk, forming an umbrella-like shape. They make excellent tropical houseplants.

These tropical houseplants can live 25 years or longer and produce flowers when planted outdoors. They grow best in indirect light, requiring rich, loamy, well-draining soil and warmer temperatures below 60°F. These plants are mildly toxic to humans and seriously toxic to pets.

Types of Umbrella Plants

The Schefflera genus has about 600 species native to Asia, Africa, and Southwestern Pacific. With their unique characteristics, they can bring life and beauty to any room.

Of the many species, let's explore some of the familiar umbrella plants:

Schefflera Aboricola

It is a well-loved variety, also known as the Dwarf Umbrella Plant. It is compact and bushy, making it perfect for smaller spaces. The smaller leaves add a delicate touch to your indoor garden.
They can grow as tall as 25 feet outdoors, but people keep them less than 6 feet as houseplants.

Schefflera Actinophylla

This variety stands taller than its counterparts and features larger leaves that exude a tropical vibe. 

With its vibrant green foliage, this variety can transform any room into a lush oasis. It can grow to 50 feet tall outdoors, but won't grow more than 15 feet indoors.

Schefflera Elegantissima

This variety showcases stunning variegated foliage, with its leaves showcasing a beautiful green and creamy white mix.
Also called False Aralia, it adds a sophisticated and graceful element to your indoor garden, elevating the indoor's overall aesthetic.

You can plant an umbrella plant in the spring or the fall when the weather is mild and not too hot. If you want an outdoor location, select a location with a bright yet indirect light.

Also, keep Schefflera by a bright window that gets indirect light as the sun can burn its leaves after growing.

Choosing The Right Pot

While choosing a pot, make sure the pot has drainage holes and don't allow the water to collect in saucers or the base of cover pots. The right pot is more than just a container, as it plays a crucial role in drainage, root health, and overall plant stability.

Choose high-quality pots that are durable and won't crack easily. Furthermore, selecting the correct pot size is essential for healthy root development. Choose a pot, one or two inches larger in diameter than the root ball, creating enough space for roots to grow without overwhelming the umbrella plant.

Selecting The Right Soil

These plants are susceptible to root rot, so a well-draining potting mix is essential. The right soil mix provides essential nutrients, proper drainage, and adequate aeration to the roots.

A good potting mix for umbrella plants includes peat moss or coco coir, perlite, and vermiculite.

Planting Process

After having your right pot and soil mix, you can now start planting through the following steps.

1. Remove the Plant from its Nursery Pot: 

First, remove the plant from its nursery pot by squeezing both sides of the nursery pot to loosen the soil.
Carefully tilt the pot and slide the plant out, supporting it with your hand.

2. Loosen the Root Ball if Necessary: 

If the roots are tightly circling the root ball (root-bound), gently loosen them with your fingers or a small tool. It encourages the roots to grow outward into the new soil.

3. Place it in the New Pot, having the soil mix

First, Place a small potting mix layer at the bottom of the new pot. Position the new plant in the center of the pot, ensuring that the top of the root ball is slightly below the rim of the pot.

Fill the remaining space with potting mix, gently pressing down to eliminate air pockets.

Umbrella Trees happily grow as indoor plants with bright, indirect light. They are easy to grow and are very low-maintenance, making them perfect for the beginner gardener.

They can grow up to 2 meters tall, but if you don't repot them each year into bigger pots, the smaller pot may dwarf them. You should keep it out of direct sun and in a room with a temperature above 12ºC.

Growing In A Pot

You should choose a pot for your Umbrella tree roughly 2 times the size of an initial nursery pot. Ensure it has drainage holes or use a black plastic pot that sits snuggly inside a cover-pot.

Then, half fill your pot with well-drained potting mix gently remove the Umbrella tree from the nursery pot, and put it into the potting mix, backfilling around the rootball slightly below the top of the pot.

Water well and tip out excess water from the base as the umbrella trees prefer watering when the top 2-3cm of potting mix is dry to the touch. 

Since the umbrella plants thrive extremely fast, you may need to prune them to keep your plant in the desired shape and size. It is an ideal way to transform a sluggish pant into a more beautiful houseplant. The best time to prune is in spring but is also possible to prune later in the year.

While pruning, remove crooked, leafless, and troublesome shoots. Always cut just above a node or a branch fork. These houseplants rebound quickly from pruning and will reward your efforts. If pruned healthy, it can also be used for propagation.

Propagating these plants allows you to create new plants from existing ones ensuring their beauty to thrive continuously.

When choosing a stem for propagation, it's crucial to choose a healthy one. Look for stem cells free from any signs of disease or damage. The healthy leaves will have vibrant green leaves and a strong structure. Also, ensure that the chosen stem has at least two nodes, where the new roots will develop.

Here is how you can propagate an Umbrella tree in the spring by cuttings;

• Using sharp pruners, cut off a 6-inch stem section at a 45-degree angle and remove all but four to five leaves at the top.
• Dip the cut end in rooting hormone, then place the cut into a container filled with potting soil.
• Cover the pot with a loose and secured plastic bag to hold in humidity, then place it in bright, indirect light.
• Once roots form, you can remove the plastic bag and continue growing the new plant with proper care.

Proper potting and repotting are crucial for the health and growth of the Umbrella plant. You need to report the Schefflera plants annually or as needed with fresh soil and in bigger ones if they have outgrown the previous one.

Also, you can slow the growth rate and prevent it from getting too large by prolonging the period between repotting and allowing it to get rootbound.

Potting

When potting for the first time:

• Choose a pot slightly larger than the current root ball.
• Avoid enormous pots, as they can retain excess moisture.
• Prepare well the potting mix with a blend of well-draining soil and organic matter.
• Remove the plant from its nursery pot, being mindful not to damage the roots, and place it in the new pot ensuring it sits at the same depth as it did before.
• Backfill the pot with a prepared potting mix, gently pressing it down to remove air pockets.
• Water the plant thoroughly and place it in its preferred location with regular care and need for adjustment.

When Repotting

• First, repot your Umbrella plant every 2 to 3 years or when it outgrows your current pot.
• Follow the same steps as for potting, ensuring that the new pot provides ample space for root growth.
• Trim any damaged or overgrown roots during the repotting process.
• Check for any signs of stress or decline after repotting, and provide extra care during the recovery.

Proper overwintering is crucial not only for the healthier growth of Schefflera but also for flower formation. For most of the year in cooler climates, people commonly overwinter these plants indoors in USDA hardiness zones 10-12. However, appropriate climates allow you to move them outdoors during warmer months.

You should place them in a bright and cool place around 12-16 degrees Celsius. During this period, you should water less but do not leave the rootball completely dry. Also, avoid fertilizing during the winter. After its dormancy period, it will start growing again in the spring.

Schefflera requires indirect, bright light. Growing in lower light conditions could result in less growth or the plant becoming leggy. Regular watering is essential, with a lowered amount in the winter months.

Proper care is vital for the health and well-being of a plant to ensure it prospers and blossoms in the home. Therefore, let's dive deeper into the specifics of caring for an Umbrella plant to help you create a preferable environment for it to bloom.

1. Light

When it comes to light, this plant prefers bright, indirect light. Placing it near a window that receives filtered light throughout the day would be ideal, mimicking its natural habitat light condition.

During the summer, you can move it outside so they can receive bright light but not direct sun such as under a patio cover. If you lack a suitable spot with enough natural light, you can replace it with artificial lighting. Also, remember to rotate the plant every few weeks to ensure even growth.

2. Soil

If you are growing an umbrella tree indoors, plant it in rich, loose, and well-drained soil. A well-draining, sandy loam soil with a slightly acidic pH is ideal when growing outdoors.

It's a good practice to refresh the soil every couple of years to replenish nutrients and ensure optimal growth. Avoid planting outside where the soil becomes too wet or soggy. Never choose a bigger pot with excess space, so excessive soil can retain too much moisture and lead to root rot.

3. Water

Proper watering is crucial for the plant's overall health. Aim to keep the soil slightly moist but not soggy and allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again.

Water regularly during the growing season and spray the leaves with water frequently. Wait until the pot's soil dries out, and provide it a thorough soaking. You can cut back on the amount of watering during the winter months. Ensure the leaves are not yellow and dropped, which indicates over-watering.

4. Temperature And Humidity

These plants flourish in average room temperatures ranging from 15°C to 24°C. It can tolerate slightly cooler temperatures, but it's best to avoid temperatures below 13°C.

Do not keep these plants to drafts or dry heating vents. In cold conditions, bottom heat might be necessary. A cold schefflera will begin to drop leaves quickly, and if all leaves are gone, you can save it by moving it outdoors in spring and watering generously.

5. Fertilizer

Feed schefflera plants twice a week during the growing season with the liquid fertilizer for houseplants. They are heavy feeders and will benefit from the extra provided nutrients. 

During fall and winter, when the plant enters its dormant phase, reduce or remove fertilization. This allows the plant to rest and prepare for the active growth period in the following season.

Although it is generally a resilient and sturdy houseplant, it can still fall victim to common pests and diseases. Both bacterial leaf spots and Alternaria leaf spots affect schefflera.

Indoors, the plant is prone to problems with aphids, which leave a honeydew excretion that leads to sooty mold. Outside, it is vulnerable to several pests including mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects.

Pests

1. Spider Mites: These tiny pests thrive in warm and dry conditions, sucking sap from the leaves leading to yellowish color.
2. Mealybugs: These cottony pests can infest the nooks and crannies of your plant, sucking sap and leaving behind a sticky residue.
3. Aphids: They congregate on new growth, causing curling and distortion of leaves.

Diseases

• Rhizoctonia root rot: This fungal disease occurs in overly moist soil and causes the roots to rot, leading to the eventual demise of the plant.
• Leaf spot: These fungal leaf spots can appear as small brown lesions on the leaves, leading to defoliation if left untreated.