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The Umbrella Tree is one of the fastest-growing plants, popular for its lush foliage and unique appearance. Add some height to your indoor urban jungle with our stunning variegated Schefflera. It is one of our favorite beginner plants, ideal for sunroom decor or the patio in the summer, as the Umbrella plant thrives in warm temperatures.
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Umbrella Plant Care Guide & Insights
Prefers medium levels of indirect light.
Water well and then allow the soil to dry out between each watering.
Enjoys humidity. Spritz occasionally.
Keep this plant in rooms where the temperature is a comfortable 65°F-90°F and avoid cold drafts or air vents below 60°F.
Outside: Keep in full shade on a patio out of direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn where nights are above 60°F.
Fertilize throughout the spring, summer and fall every six weeks. Apply at half-strength a balanced, liquid fertilizer especially formulated for indoor plants and let rest in the winter.
When receiving the Schefflera, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months or if the roots are beginning to get crowded and growing through the drainage holes.
Repot in the spring, using a 2 inches bigger pot to keep the roots drier. (Too big of a planter could cause the soil to dry slower.)
Place a piece of screening at the bottom of the container over the drainage hole to secure the soil and allow to drain. Use a well-draining indoor potting mix with perlite to help with drainage.
Water your plant in the old pot before transferring over and let sit an hour.
Add soil to the bottom to elevate the root ball. Lift the plant and release the roots against the existing planter. Use a clean knife or garden trowel to wedge between the pot and the soil to loosen.
Inspect the root ball. Notice if there are any dead or rotting roots and trim off with sterile pruners. If the plant is rootbound, loosen the roots to alleviate continued encircling.
Ensure the plant is sitting about 1 inch below the edge of the pot to avoid water spillage. Add more soil and backfill around the sides by tamping down. Fill up to the soil line but not over.
Water thoroughly, leaving the soil damp but not soggy. If settling occurs, add more soil.
Water well to dampen the soil and let drain.
To clean the leaves and alleviate dust particles, give them a shower from above. Fill a watering can with filtered, distilled or tap water that has been sitting for 24 hours. Place the plant in a sink and lightly wash the leaves with a shower spray end watering can.
Trim off any brown leaf tips that may appear with sterile scissors. Remove any debris from the soil and replenish soil if needed. Inspect for any insects at this time.
Take a stem cutting with sanitized pruners, 6-8 inches long with leaves attached.
Dip the cuttings in water, then in a rooting hormone.
Use a pot with drainage and place the stem 1-2 inches down into the damp, well-draining, moist potting soil mix and tamp down around the stem to secure.
Place a clear plastic bag over the cutting to mimic a greenhouse and mist the bag. Set in bright, indirect sunlight while they are rooting.
Check the moisture and humidity each day and add misting to keep the soil moist while the roots establish.
After 6-8 weeks, roots will begin to establish. You can tug onto the stem to ensure the roots are secure.
Remove the plastic bag but maintain adequate humidity around the new plant.
Prune from the top of the plant to encourage more branching.
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Umbrella Tree: Overview
The Umbrella tree (Shefflera arboricola) is an attractive, fast-growing plant with variegated leaves growing in rosettes that resemble umbrellas. Umbrella trees belong to the Araliaceae family, making them distant relatives of ginseng and ivy. They originate from eastern Asia. These tropical plants thrive in medium indirect sunlight and enjoy some extra humidity. Umbrella trees are easy-care plants, making them great for beginner indoor gardeners. This gorgeous plant reaches up to 6-7 ft tall and lives up to 25 years. The Umbrella Plant Schefflera is associated with prosperity and is considered to have protective properties in Feng Shui. Unfortunately, if ingested, it’s toxic to pets and should be kept out of your furry friends’ reach.
Other beautiful Schefflera varieties include the Australian Umbrella Tree, which has bright green, glossy leaves, and the miniature Dwarf Umbrella Tree, which grows to only 2 feet tall.
Umbrella Plant Schefflera: Benefits
- Low-maintenance and perfect as a starter plant
- Fast-growing plant
- Air-purifying properties
- Used against rheumatism and pain in Chinese traditional medicine
- Protective and wealth-attracting properties in Feng Shui
Umbrella Plant: Common Names
- Octopus Tree
- Star Leaf Plant
- Parasol Plant
- Arboricola Tree
Schefflera Plant: Care Guide
The Umbrella tree is one of the best starter plants because of its easy care requirements. Here are a few Umbrella tree care tips to keep your Schefflera thriving:
Watering and Light
Only water your variegated Umbrella plant when the top layer of the soil gets dry. Don’t let the soil get soggy, as Schefflera doesn’t tolerate waterlogged soil. This plant prefers medium indirect light for best growth. For proper Umbrella plant care, avoid direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn.
Umbrella Plant: Temperature and Humidity
To ensure your Umbrella tree thrives, choose a place away from drafts with a stable temperature of 65°F to 90°F. If you keep your Umbrella plant outdoors as a patio plant, ensure that the night temperatures in your climate zone don’t drop below 60°F. As a tropical plant, the Umbrella tree enjoys some extra humidity. Mist it occasionally to keep the surrounding air humid.
Soil, Fertilizing, and Repotting
The Schefflera Gold Capella prefers a well-draining indoor plant soil mix. You can repot your plant in the spring using a pot around 2 inches larger than the previous one. Water the plant, and if settling occurs, add some more soil. Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every six weeks during the growing season and let the plant rest during winter.
How to Propagate Umbrella Plant
You can propagate your Umbrella tree plant from stem cuttings. Dip the stem cuttings in root hormone and place them in a pot filled with well-draining soil. Cover with a clear plastic bag to retain moisture and help the new plants grow.
Pruning, Cleaning, and Common Issues
An Umbrella plant can grow very tall if given the chance. So, prune your variegated Schefflera into shape to achieve a neat, shrub-like appearance. Trim off the top to encourage bushier growth. You can shower your plant occasionally to keep the leaves clean from dust. Umbrella trees can occasionally develop browning leaf tips or spots on the leaves. Soft and mushy leaves indicate overwatering, while crisp brown areas on the leaves are often a sign of leaf burn or underwatering. Before buying an Umbrella tree for sale, always ensure its leaves look healthy.
Umbrella Plant: Placement, Companion & Alternative Plants
The Shefflera Gold Capella is a shrub-like plant with eye-catching variegated leaves that makes a beautiful centerpiece. Its unusual beauty and tenacity make it a good fit for many spaces.
Best Locations & Uses
- An easy-care plant that is perfect for beginners and busy plant owners
- Great plant for patios in warmer climates (hardiness zones 10/11), indoor greenhouses, and sunrooms
- Perfect for large spaces as this plant can grow up to about 7 ft tall indoors
- Great for bedrooms because of its air-purifying properties that promote good sleep
- Excellent low-maintenance office plant for spacious working spaces with natural light
Companion Plants
If you want to group your Schefflera tree with other beautiful house plants, here are a few ideas to consider:
- Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): The Peace Lily is an air-purifying and easy-care flowering plant that prefers similar growing conditions to the Schefflera; it thrives in medium indirect light and needs the soil to dry out between waterings.
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (Ficus lyrata): Like the Umbrella tree, the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree makes a spectacular floor plant. Requiring extra care, this large plant sports fiddle-shaped vivid green leaves that will complement the Umbrella tree’s variegated foliage.
- Hawaiian Sunshine Dragon Tree (Dracaena warneckii): You can combine your variegated Umbrella plant with another easy-care tropical beauty, like the spectacular Hawaiian Sunshine Dragon Tree. This plant has lime-green stripes running the length of its dark green leaves, giving it an exotic appearance.
Alternative Plants
Beware that the Umbrella trees are toxic to pets, so if you have a cat or a dog, consider the following alternative pet-friendly plants:
- Money Tree Plant (Pachira aquatica): This charming money tree is a popular Feng Shui good-luck house plant. It is safe for pets and has leaves gathered into umbrella-like rosettes, similar to Umbrella plants.
- Neanthe Bella Palm (Chamaedorea elegans): A graceful indoor palm, the Neanthe Bella Palm is a non-toxic, resilient, and easy-care plant that will add some elegant tropical vibes to your interior.
- Dwarf Cavendish Banana Tree (Musa acuminata): This is another pet-friendly option with large, broad leaves. It is low-maintenance and grows delicious edible fruit.
Get a Stunning Umbrella Tree From Lively Root Now
Buy a lush Schefflera Umbrella plant to create a cheerful and eye-catching focal point for your home!