Schefflera Plant Care: What to Know

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Today, I’m going to talk to you about one of my favorite houseplants. I have a lot of favorite houseplants, and this one is the Schefflera, commonly known as the umbrella plant. I absolutely love this plant for a variety of reasons. One of the reasons I love it is that it’s really easy to grow indoors if you just keep a few things in mind, which we’re going to cover, of course, in this plant care video.

The other thing is that it’s just beautiful. I love the umbrella-like foliage, and it also will grow in your home to be a nice, big houseplant. It makes a really good tall floor plant—I like to call them floor plants—for your home. The great thing about tall floor plants is that they fill in corners really nicely. They can even be used for natural screens in between, if you have a great room kind of atmosphere or a one-bedroom situation but want to partition it off a little bit naturally. These make a great option for that as well.

As mentioned, they are easy to grow and are fairly fast-growing. They can also be grown outdoors in temperate areas, such as Southern California. However, Schefflera is semi-tropical, so it can’t be grown outdoors in most areas in North America, but they can be grown outdoors in some. If it does get a little too big and you live in an area where you can do that, you can also grow them in screened-in porches or areas that have a little more warmth during the winter months. In those areas, they can potentially thrive.

As mentioned, it’s a beautiful plant—I just love the look of it. I have a series on pressing foliage and flowers from houseplants, and this makes a really cool pressed foliar piece if you want to try that as well.

So, how do you keep this plant healthy and happy so that you have good times with your Schefflera for many years to come? It is fairly easy to grow, as mentioned, but there are a few things you want to keep in mind. One of those is that you don’t want to overwater this plant. It will quickly get root rot. I have a playlist on what to do if you think your plant has root rot and how to potentially save it, so I’ll put that link below.

But in order to have good luck with this plant starting from the beginning, not overwatering is key. Let the top inch or so of soil dry before you water the plant, and if it’s a big plant, you may want to let it dry down to about two inches before you water. When you do water, use warm water. It’s important to water all your houseplants with warm to tepid water.

Moisture meter-wise, you’d want the reading to be around four, approaching three. Four is the last point of being moist, and then three is dry. Right in between is a good place to decide to water. This will keep the plant healthier in the long run.

Lighting: This plant does best in high light. It thrives in bright locations and will grow stronger, healthier, and more upright for you near a southern window or an eastern window. They absolutely love eastern windows, especially ones that are unobstructed by anything like another building or a big tree. Western windows can be too harsh later in the day, so it’s better to have earlier lighting. Southern windows can also vary in brightness depending on the time of year, so you may need to move the plant around. Schefflera also loves full-spectrum lighting that simulates daylight. If you have medium light, they will still do well, though they won’t grow as fast. However, low light won’t work well for these plants, so in low-light situations, full-spectrum lighting is recommended.

Fertilizing: These guys aren’t heavy feeders. I suggest feeding them every three to four months with an organic houseplant food. I’ll put a link to my Green Gourmet Houseplant Food below. Organic fertilizers are gentle and provide nice nourishment without overwhelming the plant. Worm compost is another great additive for these plants.

Do not fertilize in the winter months. Start fertilizing again in early spring and do the last feeding in late to mid-fall.

Pruning: Schefflera can grow quite tall, so if you want to keep it bushier, prune it back. When pruning, trim down to the stem, not the leaves. Leaving long stems with no growth hormones will cause them to die and fall off eventually. You don’t want to prune back more than one-third of the plant at a time because it can shock the plant and disrupt the two-thirds plant to one-third pot ratio, which would lead to needing to repot. Always prune with caution, especially when it comes to Schefflera and other houseplants.

Humidity: Schefflera does well with a minimum humidity level of 45%, but it thrives with higher humidity levels. It will tolerate lower humidity when necessary.

Pests: While they’re not prone to many pests, you may occasionally see mealybugs or spider mites. If spider mites are present, the plant is likely being kept too dry, as they thrive in dry environments. Overall, though, Schefflera isn’t very attractive to pests, which is another reason why I love this beautiful plant.

Repotting: When it’s time to repot, choose a soil that retains some moisture but also drains well. Add drainage-promoting agents like perlite or pumice. I’ll include a link to a pumice product below. Plants that are more susceptible to root rot, such as Schefflera, benefit greatly from these agents.

And that’s it for how to grow the beautiful Schefflera. Thank you for stopping by today! Please leave any comments about indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video. Don’t forget to hit the bell to be notified when new videos are released.

Frequently Asked Questions about Schefflera (Umbrella Plant)

What are the ideal growing conditions for Schefflera indoors?

Schefflera thrives in bright, indirect light and can tolerate medium light. It’s important to avoid placing it in low-light areas. Eastern windows are perfect, and southern windows are suitable if light is unobstructed. Full-spectrum lighting can be used in lower-light situations.

How often should I water my Schefflera?

Water your Schefflera when the top inch of soil has dried out. For larger plants, allow the top two inches to dry before watering. Always use warm, tepid water to avoid shocking the plant.

What type of soil is best for Schefflera?

Use a soil mix that retains some moisture but also drains well. Adding drainage-promoting materials like perlite or pumice is recommended to prevent root rot.

How can I prevent root rot in my Schefflera?

To prevent root rot, avoid overwatering and ensure the soil dries out between waterings. Use a well-draining soil mix and consider using a moisture meter to avoid over-saturating the soil.

When and how should I fertilize my Schefflera?

Fertilize Schefflera every 3-4 months using an organic houseplant fertilizer. Avoid fertilizing during winter months, and resume in early spring until late fall.

Can Schefflera tolerate low humidity?

Schefflera prefers humidity levels above 45%, but it can tolerate lower humidity when necessary. Increasing humidity can improve the plant’s overall health.

How do I prune a Schefflera plant to keep it bushy?

Prune Schefflera by cutting back to the main stem, ensuring not to cut more than one-third of the plant at once. This helps keep the plant bushy without shocking it.

What are common pests affecting Schefflera?

Schefflera can occasionally attract mealybugs or spider mites, especially if the plant is too dry. Keep humidity levels higher and monitor for pests regularly to prevent infestations.

Can I grow Schefflera outdoors?

Schefflera can be grown outdoors in temperate climates like Southern California, but it should be brought indoors in colder regions. They can also thrive in screened-in porches or other warm areas during the winter months.

What are the benefits of growing Schefflera as a tall floor plant?

Schefflera is perfect for filling empty corners or creating natural partitions in large rooms. It makes an attractive tall houseplant that adds greenery to your living space.

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