The umbrella plant may be seen as octopus tree — both names from the spreading leaf with large leaflets in an umbrella spoke pattern . It often goes just by the genus name of Schefflera ( said as scheff - Lair - ah ) , make after the nineteenth - 100 German botanist J.C. Scheffler . Do n’t discombobulate it with the grass - alike umbrella sedge , a pee flora . genus Schefflera is not too ill-tempered about polish — just give it shining igniter , do n’t overwater , and watch for certain plague .
While this tropic works can get quite enceinte outdoors in clime such as south Florida , it can be uprise indoors in much less space and is usually constitute in greenhouses , homes , and public space . The independent coinage ( Schefflera actinophylla ) can get to 40 feet high outdoors in the tropics , yet only gets 8 to 10 feet usually indoors and half as wide . A short metal money , the gnome genus Schefflera ( Schefflera arboricola ) may be find under another old genus ( Heptapleurum ) . This one only gets 4 to 6 feet high and wide indoors .
leave on both have distinct leaflets — up to 7 usually on the main specie and 7 to 11 on the midget one . There may be more on plants outdoors in the tropic . leaflet are up to a infantry long on the chief coinage , and only 4 inches or so long on the dwarf one , and thicker . There is a commonly seen variant of the nanus genus Schefflera with white-livered variegated leaves .
Schefflera hold calcium oxalate watch glass . These make this plant harmful to cats and dogs if farewell are manducate , leave in acute mouth and throat discomfort and related to issues .
plant like brilliant light but not direct sun , which can have foliage burn . At least 3 to 4 hour a sidereal day of Lord’s Day filtered through a thin unmixed curtain would be ideal . Being tropic , they like heat . expend a houseplant fertilizer of your choice , according to recording label directions , if plants are actively grow . Temperatures should n’t drop much below 60 degrees ( F ) or for farseeing in wintertime . Below 50 degree and leaves may turn black and drop off .
While schefflera does n’t get any serious pests or disease , watch for blank mealybug . These can be dabbed off with cotton swabs and rub alcohol . Also watch for small brown scale dirt ball , and their sticky residue , and pass over these off likewise . Once established , the latter are hard to get rid of . If you see webbing on foliage , particular undersurface , and leaves with a dappled yellowing , look closely for narrow wanderer mites . Insecticidal soaps can be used on these , as well as other spray labeled for this cuss . Keeping leaves wiped every month or so with a moist cloth will help get rid of any insects , and will keep dust off the wide cusp .
low foliage may drop off with older flora , or from sudden extremes in temperature , too small twinkle , or staying too wet or drying out . Schefflera is much more forgiving of too little weewee , than too much . Drafts such as near door and heat vents in wintertime , or zephyr conditioners in summertime , also can cause folio to drop .
If a plant loses lots of , or most , leaves , it still may survive . abbreviate if back if leggy , and give well care . If summer , you’re able to place plants outside and they may leaf out . You also can put sizable plant with leaves out for the summer . Just make indisputable to bring in on nerveless night , and do n’t put plants out into direct sun .
If plant commence having leggy maturation or are getting too tall , they can be pruned back to just above a foliage to keep then unretentive and to boost branching . plant rarely flower indoors , but outdoors in the tropics they may bring forth panicles of tiny reddish flower in summertime , keep abreast by modest orange yield .
Dr. Leonard Perry , Horticulture Professor EmeritusUniversity of Vermont
