Schefflera Care: Light, Water, Pets and Leaf Drop
Schefflera arboricola and relatives
Schefflera, also called umbrella plant, grows into a full, upright tree. It likes steady light and a steady routine.
How to care for a schefflera
Scheffleras prefer bright, indirect light and tolerate medium light with sparser growth. Moves, drafts and sudden changes in light can cause leaf drop, so choose a spot and leave the plant there.
Prune to keep the shape tidy and the plant bushy.
Where a schefflera works
Bright, indirect light
The best growth and the fullest shape.
Medium light
It tolerates it, with sparser growth.
Drafts and moves
Drafts and sudden changes can cause leaf drop. Pick a spot and leave it.
How often to water a schefflera
Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry, typically every 1 to 2 weeks, and empty any water that collects in the saucer. Overwatering is a bigger risk than a missed watering.
Why schefflera leaves turn yellow
Yellow leaves and leaf drop are most often from overwatering, a pot that does not drain, or a recent move. Check the soil moisture before changing anything else.
Dry, crispy leaves point to underwatering, low humidity or heat from a vent.
Pots, drainage and water
Scheffleras drop leaves when the roots stay wet. The pot is where that is prevented.
- Rocks on a pot collar hide the rim of the liner and the soil line.
- The plant stays in its liner, a nursery pot with drainage holes, so water can leave the soil.
- A filler under the liner sets the height so the rim sits just below the top of the decorative pot.
- The decorative pot has no hole. Water that drains from the liner collects here, and has to be emptied.
My pot has no drainage hole. How do I water?
Use a liner with holes inside the decorative pot. Water at a sink, drain, and put it back.
It dropped leaves after I repotted.
Leaf drop after a move is common. Keep the light steady and do not add extra water.
Will a tall schefflera tip over?
A heavy decorative pot with a snug liner and a filler keeps it steady.
How big should the pot be?
Move up one size when roots fill the liner. A much larger pot keeps soil wet for too long.
Is a schefflera toxic to cats and dogs?
Scheffleras are toxic to cats and dogs. The leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and cause drooling and vomiting. Keep them out of reach. Pet-safety information here follows the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
Schefflera in offices
Schefflera grows into a bushy tree at a size that fits most lobbies and open offices.
In the plant list for a recent office install of about 120 planters, about 6 scheffleras were listed in 14 inch pots.
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Plants for Friends designs, installs and maintains interior plants for commercial spaces and homes across San Diego County, Orange County and Los Angeles County. Every project starts with a walkthrough of the actual space, light, scale, traffic and access, before anything is chosen.
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