An elegant houseplant, the Umbrella Tree is low maintenance and fast growing whilst also being a brilliant air purifier. The Umbrella Tree gets its name from the shape of its graceful, elongated foliage. This houseplant can withstand some neglect and is known to adapt to its surroundings, making it ideal for those who don’t naturally have green fingers.
Top Tips
✔ The Umbrella Tree will naturally grow towards the light which can cause the stem to bend. Regularly rotate the plant to encourage balanced growth and in order to avoid the central stem becoming crooked.
✔ If you want your schefflera to branch out, prune it by pinching the tip of the main stem to allow new shoots to develop
✔ Avoid moving your schefflera around too much - once it’s found a happy spot, leave it there
Plant Care
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Bright, indirect light will help to encourage the Umbrella Tree to grow bushy. Although the Umbrella Tree can tolerate lower light conditions, this will cause the plant to grow more leggy.
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The Umbrella Tree is definitely more tolerant of under-watering than it is of over-watering; allow the top soil to dry out between waterings and never allow the plant to sit in water as this can lead to root rot.
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As the Umbrella Tree is a tropical plant it likes lots of humidity. It is recommended that the plant is placed on a pebble tray with water or that the plant is misted very regularly to help boost humidity levels.
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Using a liquid fertiliser once a month during the spring and summer will be plenty for the Umbrella Tree.
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The Umbrella Tree grows well in normal room temperatures, between 15-24°C, make sure to avoid sudden temperature changes and to keep the plant away from any drafts.
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This plant is toxic to pets.
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It is quite difficult to successfully propagate an Umbrella Tree, however the most common method is planting cuttings. It is best to propagate the plant during the spring as this gives the cutting time to establish itself during the warm season. Use a sharp knife to cut around 4 - 6 inches from the plant, making sure that part of the large stem and node are included in the cutting and then wrap the end of the cutting in a damp paper towel to avoid the cutting losing moisture. Dip the end of the cutting in a rooting hormone and plant the cutting in fresh potting soil, water the cutting and position in a spot that receives bright, indirect light. The cutting should begin to establish roots within a few weeks.
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The Umbrella Tree will need to be repotted every few years in order for it to reach its full potential size. The plant will need a new pot when it begins to become root bound, or when its growth begins to slow down. It is best to repot the plant in the early spring.
Quick Plant check up
Yellowing leaves
A sign that you might be overwatering. Allow soil to dry out before watering again. This can also happen when you repot your plant or change it’s position (i.e. from one room to another)
Losing leaves
This is quite common with Umbrella Trees, as long as not too many are falling. If so, check your plant has had a good drink.
Sticky white powder on leaves
A pest like mealybugs or scale insects. Find out more about treating pests here