#Umbrella tree how to#

It’s a bit of effort for just one new plant, but it can be a reliable method if you’re having trouble with stem cuttings. You can indeed propagate a Dwarf Schefflera using standard air layering. Don’t use a pot that’s too large – if the new plant is swimming in empty soil, it will be hard to properly regulate the medium’s moisture. The plant is ready to transplant when you see new growth on top. The cutting should start to sprout roots in about a month. Remove the plastic covering daily to air the cuttings out.ġ2. You can also place clear plastic over the plants to form a tent: keep the plastic from touching the leaves with a supporting structure made of a few pieces of wood or a reshaped wire hanger placed around the rim. The easiest way to optimize humidity is to raise the cuttings in a special tray with a clear plastic top. It minimizes water loss through the leaves and increases turgidity, which enables the plant’s systems to work properly. High humidity is important to help the cuttings grow. Lower light levels reduce transpiration and helps to focus the plant’s energy on root growth.ġ0. Give the cutting moderate indirect light but no direct sun. Ensure the mix stays slightly moist: it’s critical that the medium isn’t soggy or too dry.ĩ. Water lightly to seal the soil around the stem.

A horticultural heat mat underneath the cutting tray may encourage faster rooting.Ĩ.

Since a cutting has no roots, the stem has minimal ability to supply the leaf with water.

Cut the remaining leaves on your cutting in half, horizontally, to reduce moisture lost through transpiration.

Wrap the end in a paper towel and secure it with a rubber band.

Place the cutting in clean water until roots appear.

Optionally, dip the end in rooting hormone to help stimulate root growth.

Poke a hole in the soil surface, place the cutting’s end into the mix, and firm the soil around it.

Here are three basic ways to stimulate roots on your cutting: If you aren’t immediately planting the cutting, wrap it in a damp paper towel to prevent moisture loss. Note: Trimming will encourage branching from the node below the cut, so plan your pruning strategy accordingly.ĥ. Trim off the bottom leaves make sure to leaves at least one complete leaf set. Make a straight cut to speed callusing and minimize the potential area of pathogen invasion.Ĥ. The stem size should be at least the diameter of a pencil. Cut a four- to six-inch section from the stem just above a leaf node, preferably at the tip. Sterilize your tool with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to avoid spreading pathogens to the young hopefuls.ģ.

Scissors tend to crush the stem … a propagation or grafting knife is best bypass pruners also work well.

Use a sharp instrument that cuts cleanly. A standard houseplant potting mix with some added vermiculite makes a great rooting mix.Ģ. Prepare the planting soil: dampen it thoroughly and mix with your hands until there are no dry spots. Here are the steps for Umbrella Plant propagation by stem cuttings:ġ. It’s possible, academically speaking, to slowly coax a leaf cutting into rooting, but it’s doubtful whether it can develop into a normal plant. Part of the large stem and a growth node must be included in the cutting. Scheffleras aren’t the easiest plant to propagate through stem cuttings, but you can succeed with diligent attention. Propagation is a fantastic way to increase your collection of Dwarf Scheffleras: Though they aren’t the easiest plants to grow from stem cuttings, this is the most common and practical method of Umbrella Plant propagation.ĭwarf Scheffleras have a single-stemmed growth pattern, so you can’t divide them seeds require reliable sourcing and take longer to grow.Īir layering a Schefflera is straightforward, but it only reproduces a single new specimen at a time.

#Umbrella tree how to#

If you’d like to learn how to propagate and grow all kinds of beautiful houseplants that thrive year after year, check out my book, “Houseplants Made Easy”. Those little scraps can be tempting, but they’re poisonous! Note: Keep cuttings and other Umbrella Plant material away from pets and children. Successful propagation requires the right stem material and the correct temperature, soil moisture, humidity, and light. They can also be propagated from seed or by air layering, but these have limitations. Umbrella Plant propagation is best done by growing stem cuttings in soil or water. In this article, we’ll outline the steps for successful Umbrella Plant propagation. These popular houseplants look great as single centerpieces or when massed together – you can’t have too many. The Schefflera arboricola, commonly known as the Umbrella Plant or Dwarf Schefflera, is an exotic-looking tropical plant with lots of personality and presence.