Caring for the Schefflera: cutting, watering & Co

the scheffleraCare is not complex and the plant will thank you for your attention with strong growth and shiny leaves. If it sheds its leaves, you should act quickly.

Water and nutrients are basic needs of the radiant macaw (Schefflera arboricola), but an occasional pruning is also good for the plant and promotes bushy growth. It also tells you when it's time to schefflera to repot. The recommendations in this article relate only to the Lesser Rayed Aralia. There are more scheffleraspecies, such as the fingered aralia (Schefflera elegantissima), which is a bit more demanding.

Caring for Schefflera: watering and fertilizing

So that Radiation Aralia stays healthy and grows well, it comes next to a suitable location for that schefflera also on the care. This includes regular watering and fertilizing.

the schefflera tolerates occasional drought better than too much moisture. Daily watering is not necessary, because the substrate should dry out in the meantime. Only water when the soil feels dry. Lime-free tap water or rainwater is well suited, because limy water can lead to stains on the leaves and the nutrient absorption of the schefflera hinder. Has proven itself in the schefflera the dipping process, in which the pot of the radiant macaw is very rarely dipped into a bucket of water until no more air bubbles rise. Then you let the soil drain well until you get the schefflera puts back in place.

Tip: Spray them schefflera from time to time with lime-free water and wipe dust off the leaves. This way the leaves keep their beautiful shine.

Apart from the winter dormancy, the radiant macaw needs nutrients every two weeks to be able to grow well. To the schefflera To fertilize, it is best to use a fertilizer for green plants, such as ours Plantura organic indoor & green plant fertilizer. With the help of our organic fertilizer, not only magnificent leaves are developed, but also the roots are strengthened, so that your schefflera stay healthy and strong. By simply adding it to the irrigation water, the nutrients are evenly distributed in the soil and are quickly available to the plant.

Cut schefflera

If you schefflera If it gets too big, you can easily cut it back. A pruning in the spring is ideal, but it is also possible later in the year schefflera to cut. You should only refrain from pruning during the winter break. Crooked, leafless or disturbing shoots may be removed. Always cut just above an eye or fork in a branch. The cut shoots can be used for the propagation of schefflera be used.

Branch schefflera: So that schefflera grows bushier, the ends of the shoots are simply shortened to the desired height. At this point, the aralia drives out more and the shoots of the schefflera branch out.

Repot radiant aria

A larger pot and fresh soil are best given in spring so that the schefflera strengthened into the new growth phase. Since the schefflera grows quite quickly, young specimens in particular should be repotted annually. With older radiant aralia, repotting every two to three years is sufficient.

Prepare the new pot by adding a layer of drainage and a layer of soil. It is best to use a high-quality soil for this, such as ours Plantura organic universal soil, because this retains its structure for a long time and can thus store water and nutrients and provide them to the plant.

If you want to encourage the growth of the radiant aria, choose the next larger pot size. lift schefflera from their old pot and remove the old soil from the roots. Rotten and dead root parts are cut off. If the radiant aria is to be limited in its growth, you can cut back the roots a little more generously. In this case, however, the shoots must also be shortened so that the relationship between roots and parts of the plant above ground fit together and the plant is able to close all shoots supply. Put the schefflera then in the new pot and fill everything up with soil.

Schefflera loses leaves: what to do?

A leaf loss of schefflera can have different causes. If you have identified the cause, you should take action and cut back the bare shoots next spring.

• Cold: the schefflera should never be exposed to temperatures below 10 °C. A location that is too cold can lead to leaf shedding. Even during the hibernation phase, the temperature must not drop below 10 °C. Ask the schefflera especially in winter at at least 12 °C.
• draft: In addition to cold, cold drafts should also be avoided. stands the schefflera at a leaky window, this can also be the reason for the leaf drop. Then place the radiant aria in a wind-protected, bright place.
• waterlogging: By waterlogging can at the schefflera Root rot develops so that the leaves are no longer supplied with water and nutrients and are shed. Usually gets the schefflera first brown leaves before they fall off. Check to see if the substrate is wet and has a musty odor emanating from it. Then you should schefflera Repot immediately in fresh soil and remove rotten roots. Water more sparingly and less often in the future.
• Darkness and Warmth: The combination of lack of light and heat can schefflera also lead to leaf loss. It needs as much light as possible, especially in winter - namely at least 400 lux. In summer, however, when the intensity of the sunlight and its duration are higher anyway, a semi-shady spot is sufficient.

Common pests on the Schefflera

Not only mistakes in care or the wrong location can reduce the growth of the schefflera affect. Some pests also find their way to the plant, especially in winter.

• spider mites: They suck out the surface cells of the leaves, creating tiny silver dots. The brown, orange or red ones spider mites are in fine webs on the plant.
• scale insects: These are armored pests that often sit in the leaf bases and appear when the room air is dry. scale insects produce sticky honeydew, the larvae feed on the plant sap.
• Mealybug: The pests often have white threads on their bodies and also use the plant sap. Mealybug form honeydew and hide under the leaves or in the leaf axils.
• Aphids:aphids usually sit on the fresh shoots and suck out the plant sap, so that the leaves curl up or grow misshapen.

Tip: The best way to combat scale insects, mealybugs and aphids is to use biological agents such as ours Plantura Pest Free Neem. The active ingredient it contains is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree and simply sprayed onto the affected plants.

So that schefflera is not attacked by pests in the first place, you should pay attention to suitable site conditions when you use the schefflera plshow We show what is particularly important when planting.