Propagating Schefflera: Cuttings & Offshoots

Do you already own a radiant ara and can't get enough of the beautiful plant? Don't worry one schefflera can be propagated very easily.

The propagation of Radiation Aralia (schefflera) cannot be done in just one way. Here we show which methods are possible and how they work.

Propagating Schefflera: what are the options?

The radiant aralie can easily be propagated vegetatively, which means that no seeds are used. This form is also called asexual reproduction, because plant parts are clones of the mother plant. Above all, the use of cuttings has proven itself, because the method is not difficult and crowned with success in most cases. Another way to get the schefflera to multiply is the so-called mossing, which is somewhat more complex and less promising. In nature, it multiplies schefflera with the help of their seeds.

Why sowing is usually not worthwhile: Should you ever come into possession of schefflera-Seeds have come, so the cultivation is rather difficult. Seeds must necessarily be fresh so that germination occurs and fresh schefflera- Seeds are not that easy to come by. Since propagation via cuttings is easy, sowing is more of a project for ambitious gardeners.

Grow schefflera offshoots

By nature, the radiate aralie does not form offshoots. However, you can obtain a Schefflera offshoot by removing moss: This means that the daughter plant is still attached to the mother plant during rooting, unlike with the cutting.
To do this, cut the trunk of the radiant macaw from bottom to top in autumn or spring to create a flat flap. The cut is best ended below a sleeping eye or leaf. Insert a small rock or damp moss into the cut to keep it from closing up again. Moisten sphagnum moss and wrap the cut with it. The moss is now wrapped in foil again so that everything stays nice and moist. Tie the foil at the top and bottom. After a few weeks to months, roots should have formed. Check after a few weeks whether there are already roots and moisten the moss again if necessary. A temperature of 15 to 20 °C and a consistently high level of humidity are required for root formation. After rooting, it's time to separate the daughter plant from the mother plant and plant it in its own pot.

Take cuttings of the Schefflera

There are different types of cuttings that can be used schefflera-Propagation are used. It is best to cut the cuttings in summer with a sharp and clean knife.

head cuttings

This is particularly easy schefflera propagate via cuttings. To do this, cut off the shoot tips, i.e. the “heads”. This type of propagation is possible all year round, but temperatures of 15 to 20 °C are required for growth. Select a healthy shoot and cut it off below a leaf node. It should be about 10 cm long and have three to five leaves. The lowest of these are removed to minimize transpiration of water. Then stick the cutting with the interface in a pot with potting soil. For example, our is suitable for this Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil with an extra low nutrient content that stimulates root growth in young plants. Our peat-free, particularly loose soil promotes root development and is safe for garden and pets.
Alternatively you can use the schefflera-Root cuttings in a glass of water and plant after rooting. The water should be changed two to three times a week. However, with this method, more water roots are formed, which are sensitive and not of much use in the soil. Therefore, growing in pots is preferable.

Attention: If one speaks of a leaf in the case of the radiate aria, a long stalk with several leaflets is meant. The individual, small leaves together form a leaf. The main shoot from which the cuttings are taken is the thick, slightly woody stem in the middle.

stem cuttings

You can also cut off a larger part of the stem from the radiate aria. This is then divided into pieces. The top part of the trunk is a head cutting that is treated as described above. The remaining part of the trunk is stripped of leaves and divided so that each section contains a "sleeping eye" in the middle. This is where the new leaves form later, and the roots emerge from the underside. The stem cuttings are placed with the eye up, i.e. horizontally, in moist potting soil. At a temperature of approx
20 °C and high humidity, this type of propagation is possible all year round.

care after propagation

Once the cuttings have established roots, it's time to transplant them into their own pot. You can also tell when the cuttings are growing new leaves. A drainage layer should definitely be created in the new vessel. Then comes the substrate. This should now be more nutritious for the young plants than the potting soil. Ours is a good example Plantura organic universal soil, mixed with expanded clay for even better structural stability. It is also peat-free, organically pre-fertilized for at least three months and thus ensures balanced development. In order to prevent a plant shock, do not place the young radiant macaws too brightly at first, but gradually get used to more light. Even after repotting, continue to keep the humidity high until leaves have regrown. The substrate is always kept moist.
If more leaves have formed, a cut can ensure that the schefflera better branched. Regular fertilization with liquid fertilizer about three months after repotting is recommended so that the young radiant aralia grow luxuriantly in the coming period. For example, our is suitable for this Plantura organic indoor & green plant fertilizer excellent, which, in addition to the easy handling, also shines through the quick availability of the nutrients. The lion's share of this fertilizer is organic and is supplemented by potassium sulphate, which is also used in organic farming.

More tips and tricks to further Radiation Aralia care can be found in our special article.