The Propagation of a Schefflera Umbrella Tree
Schefflera umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola) is a small tree that is commonly grown indoors, but survives outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. The scientific name for the plant is sometimes recorded as part of the Brassaia spp. of plants; the difference is the size of the plant. Sometimes referred to as a Queensland umbrella tree or octopus tree, the Schefflera tree is an evergreen that grows in shade or sun, and is drought tolerant. The plant may be propagated through air-layering, cuttings or seeds, if they are available. Commercial growers generally propagate through cuttings, but air-layering works well for the home gardener who wants to clone a single specimen.
Simple Layering of Stems
Young Schefflera plants are pliable and bend easily. You need another growing container filled with a soil mixture made of perlite, coarse sand or peat moss. A rooting mix made from an equal combination of the three works for propagation, as well. Bend the lowest stem down so the middle of the stem can rest in the second container. Scrape the outer bark from the stem where it touches the soil in the container. Include at least one or two leaf nodes on the wounded section of the stem. Coat the scraped area with a rooting compound to encourage root growth. Bury the treated part of the stem in the soil mix, and anchor it in place with a piece of wire or a gardening staple.
Air-layering the Schefflera plant produces a clone without the use of a second container. You need sphagnum moss, a sheet of clear plastic and rooting hormone powder. Remove the leaves from a 3- or 4-inch section of the plant stem. Peel the outer bark from the cleared area to reveal the cambium layer: the white section of the stem directly under the bark. Dust the wound with a thin coating of rooting hormone. Wrap the treated area with moist sphagnum moss, covering the entire exposed stem portion. Wrap the moss with clear plastic and seal the top and bottom of the plastic with tape to create a humid environment.
The simple layering technique is slow, about four to five months, but the result is a perfect clone of the existing plant. When the exposed end of the stem starts growing, carefully check for roots growing along the wounded stem. Once a healthy root ball has formed, it is safe to cut the new plant from the host Schefflera tree. The longer you let the roots develop, the stronger the plant will be for the garden.
The humid environment created in the air-layering technique generally speeds up the propagation process. When the roots form, they will grow out of the sphagnum moss. When the plastic is full of roots, cut the stem at a point directly below the root ball. Make the cut at an angle so water drains off the exposed stem cut.
New Plant Care
Transplant new Schefflera plants in a general-purpose potting mix, if grown in a container. Water thoroughly when you pot up the plant. Pinch the top of the plant to promote a bushier growth. The indoor Schefflera needs bright light in the indoor climate. Keep the humidity level high to avoid spider mites that may attack the plant. Keep the tops and bottoms of the leaves wiped down to remove the pests and avoid infestation.
For outdoor growth, move the new plants outdoors for a few hours each day to acclimate the Schefflera to the outside environment. Keep the young plant in the shade until the plant can tolerate 24 hours outdoors. Slowly move the plant into the sun over the course of several days. Water the plant to avoid moisture stress while acclimating outdoors. However, allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings, because wet soil will cause the Schefflera roots to rot. Once the plant is acclimated to the sun and outdoor climate, plant where you wish in the landscape.
- University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service: Schefflera Arboricola
- New Mexico State University College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences: Propagating a Shefflera
- University of Missouri Cooperative Extension: Home Propagation of Houseplants
- North Dakota State University Extension Service: Home Propagation Techniques
- University of Illinois Cooperative Extension: Schefflera Actinophylla (Brassaia Actinophylla)
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