Common Name:   Umbrella Tree

Family Name:       Araliaceae

Scientific Name:   Brassaia Actinophylla (Schefflera)

Intro -

-This is a very good solid houseplant. It grows quite large, although they do have dwarf cultivars available. They are native to Queensland in northeast Australia.

Moisture -

-Keep the soil evenly moist during summer active growth.  In the winter, water only enough to keep the soil moist.

Light -

-A medium to high light level produces the best results.

Temperature -

-Average home temps are best (60-75°F). They will tolerate hotter conditions.  (Be sure to avoid drafts since it will drop leaves if it cools down too fast).

Fertilize -

-Fertilize it 3 times during the summer and then no more the remainder of the year, unless you want to push growth.  They do fast, even without fertilizer.

Pests -

-Mealy bugs are one of the most common problems and hard to control just by removal. You may also find scale, mites and aphids.

Repotting -

-This is something you only want to do when it outgrows its pot.  You will then want to use a potting medium.

-There are two main forms of propagation. The first is stem cuttings, and the second is air layering.

-Prune this plant as needed to keep the plant looking nice. (If you keep it watered, that will prevent leaf dropping and you shouldn’t have to prune it.)

-To keep the plant smaller than a tree, pot it in a pot that is no larger than an 8 inch container.  You will want to add a small amount of soil regularly.

-You can clean the leaves with a dry, soft cloth to remove any dust.