Intro
The Schefflera is a very decorative, but also easy to maintain plant: cold or warm, much or little light: it doesn’t matter much to this houseplant. It also belongs to the group of air-purifying plants. This makes the Schefflera not only beautiful, but it also contributes to a better climate in your room or office. The plant is known for its leaves in the shape of a hand.
Location
The Schefflera likes to stand in a light place, a maximum of 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight is sufficient. The more coloured Scheffleras such as the trinette or gold capella prefer a little more light.
The distance to a window on the south for the green species is 3 to 4 meters, for a window on the east or west this is 2 to 3 meters and for a window on the north 1 to 2 meters. The variegated species can be at all windows 1 to 2 meters closer.
Watering
You can let the soil dry out a little before watering again. Don’t leave the roots in the water, this causes root rot.
Substrate
If the pot is provided (or you provide it yourself) with a substrate and a water meter, watering is easy! Upon arrival there is little water in it, fill the pot slowly with water (sometimes wait a while) and you will see that the meter will rise automatically. All you have to do is keep an eye on this meter. If you go on holiday you can fill the pot almost half full (you can see this on the meter which then rises a bit above its maximum) and you can safely leave for 3 weeks. It is also not bad if the plants do not get water too much and too fast. The substrate absorbs the water, so when the water meter is at the bottom, the substrate is still moist, but there is no water left at the bottom of the pot. The plant still has enough space for 4 summer days.
Spraying
Only spray the Schefflera occasionally to remove dust from the leaves and prevent vermin. Spraying also improves the quality and ornamental value of the houseplant.
Nutrition
Provide the Schefflera with new food once every two months. Use Pokon green plant nutrition. Feed only in spring or summer. Never give too much this can lead to burning of the roots. Look at the packaging for the correct dosage.
Repotting
A Schefflera is best repainted once every three years in a larger pot. The best period for transplanting is spring or immediately after purchasing the plant. A larger pot will stimulate the growth and the advantage is a larger buffer of soil so that the water is spread more and there is less chance of root rot. Always take a pot that is 20 to 25% larger and do not use Hydro grains on the bottom of the pot. It is best to use a plastic insert sleeve for large pots.
Leaf damage
If a Schefflera gets discolored (brown or yellow) leaves, this is probably due to a lack of sunlight. Move the houseplant about one meter closer to the window. People often think that falling leaves are a cause of too little water, this is usually not the case, so do not give extra water because this will lead to more leaf fall
The Schefflera can also get too much light, you can see this because a yellow glow appears on the leaves. In that case, place the indoor plant one meter away from the window.
Pruning
A Schefflera is a relatively fast grower and needs to be pruned. The advantage of this is that the plant receives more light and remains more compact. The Schefflera will start branching “on every branch where it has to be pruned”. This will give you a nice full house or office plant. Use a pruning shears for this.
Origin
The origin of the Schefflera is Australia. The Schefflera is an easy to care for houseplant. The houseplant requires little maintenance, likes light but can also be in the semi shade and is therefore very suitable for offices.
Diseases
The Schefflera suffers most from mealy bug, this can be caused by drafts on the plant. If possible, place the plant outside or in the shower to clean this indoor plant with a powerful jet of water. If necessary, after-treat with a biological “or if desired” a chemical pesticide.