Sheffler flower: home care. Recommendations for home care for the plant "Schefflera arborescens"

Sheffler's indoor plant came to us from distant countries with a heavenly climate. Australia, New Guinea and Taiwan can be considered its homeland. It can grow as a bush or tree, but all of its species are remembered for their rich greenery and luxurious fan-shaped leaves. To enhance the beauty of the plant, liquid wax is applied to the leaves. Flowers on it at home are rare, but in nature they do not represent anything interesting and look like a white inflorescence of umbrellas.

Schefflera can be shaped like a mini-tree and will be quite tall and spreading, which is why it is often grown in greenhouses or large spaces. carried out by cuttings or air layers. This amazing flower can be planted in ordinary apartment where its presence will enrich home design with its exotic beauty.

The flower got its name thanks to the 18th century scientist J. H. Scheffler. The Schefflera genus belongs to the Araliaceae family and includes about 200 species. Some varieties are bred as indoor flowers, the description of which we will consider in this article. Species differ from each other in color, shape, whimsicality, but have many common characteristics.

Radiant (star-shaped)

One of the most common types. The tree grows quite quickly, the trunk can reach a height of 2.5-3 m. Umbrellas have 16 oblong leaves, their color is light green or bright green. The trunk is gray-brown, thickened below. Young leaves are first egg-shaped, and then stretch out, acquiring blunt tips.

palmate

This species is not so tall. He received the name for the elongated leaves, which are dissected into 7-10 lobes, pointed at the ends. The color can be both uniform green and mixed, but bright streaks always stand out, and the edges are wavy.

treelike

This plant is low, a little over 1 m. Its trunk is straight. The branches are green at first, but over time they coarsen, change color, becoming brownish. tree shefflera- This is an indoor mini-tree. The leaves of its bright green saturated color, strong and shiny, but there are also variegated. The tree-like shefflera is less susceptible than others, all of its species do not require a lot of light, so you can keep them in partial shade.

Gerda

Sheffler Gerda is a kind of tree-like breed, so its description is similar to its "brothers". It also has luxurious greenery, the leaves are bright green or yellow-green. This species needs a lot of diffused light, and if you put it in partial shade, the color of the leaves will be lost and will no longer be so saturated.

Variegata

The variegated sheffler also belongs to the tree. It is distinguished by dark green leaves with light yellow or cream spots. This color is not common, and if you form a plant with a bush, it will look like a lush motley slide.

Octal leaf (eight leaf)

If the tree-like and radiant shefflers are quite common, then the eight-leafed one is a rarer guest. She received the name by the number of leaves on the petiole - 8. The color of young leaves is pale olive, old ones are just green. All leaves are brightly veined, shiny above and dull below.

Conditions for caring for a shefflera

Caring for a shefflera can not be called difficult, but at the same time growing it is not so easy. Under natural conditions, a tender plant is used to an ideal climate. To recreate such conditions at home, you need to try. Room shefflera can not stand either heat or cold; excessive watering is dangerous for her, but drought is also fatal. Drafts, scorching sunlight or the usual rearrangement of the pot from one place to another - you can significantly harm the plant or even destroy exotic flower. No extremes and rudeness, only moderation and softness - these are the main principles by which indoor shefflers should be grown. If you follow all the rules and find mutual language with a plant, it will generously reward you with luxurious greenery that any other green pet can envy.

Lighting

When the sheffler houseplant is mentioned, home care starts with the right place. She needs a lot of light, but not direct, but diffused. Therefore, it is better to place a flower pot on the western or eastern side. It should be borne in mind that species with uniform greenery are less whimsical, they can grow even in partial shade, but varieties with a variegated color love more lighted places. At proper lighting the trunk and leaves of any plant will be healthy and full of life.

Temperature and humidity

Schefflera comes from tropical areas, so it is not surprising that all of its species love warm and humid air. To avoid rotting, the roots should also be warm. An exotic plant should be grown at a temperature of +16 to +22 degrees. If the air in the house is dry, the flower needs constant spraying, which is done much more often than watering. Therefore, caring for this plant will be difficult for those who do not have free time. The microclimate of the house should also be very mild - no drafts and hot air flows, so the sheffler should be placed in places remote from the air conditioner, front door, open windows.

Watering

Proper care of the sheffler also involves competent watering. The soil should be moist, but not wet. When the earth is too flooded, the roots begin to rot, the leaves change color - they become stained, turn black, and then the whole plant dies. To avoid stagnation of water in the soil and acidification, the earth must be loosened more often. You can water any kind of shefflera as needed, in winter - much less than in summer and spring. Water should be clean, settled, warm. In summer, it is recommended to use additional bottom watering. It is very simple to implement it: put a flower pot in a tray containing water or wet moss.

top dressing

Shefflera is much easier to care for when the plant is provided with the necessary nutrition. In winter, top dressing is optional, since the growth of the shefflera slows down at this time, but during the active growth time - the spring-summer period - it is necessary. All types of shefflers are fertilized with complex or organic fertilizers(a description of the process and dosages is attached to each drug). Young plants can be fed by special means from which new roots grow intensively. Fertilizers should be applied regularly - 3 times a month at regular intervals. Watering and fertilizing are often combined.

pruning

Sheffler can be formed in different ways. It depends on what form you prefer - in the form of a tree or a lush bush. If a tree, then the trunk should be one. The formation of a bush is achieved by cutting cuttings and planting several roots in one pot. Pruning of old obsolete leaves is needed to give the plant an aesthetic well-groomed appearance, but you should not remove too many branches, otherwise the sheffler will not be so lush. It is not difficult to form any varieties and even a novice grower can do it.

Soil and transplant

Shefflera in the house needs a regular transplant. The first "bell" to start transplanting is the appearance of roots through the bottom of the pot and pale leaves.

Properly planting a plant is the basis for its successful development. You can transplant all varieties of shefflers in the spring, at the beginning of the period active growth, or in the fall when it ends. It is undesirable to do this in winter.

The soil is taken ready-made (for example, for palm trees) or a mixture is made: turf and leaf soil, humus, sand. The plant is transplanted into a larger pot, while it would be a good idea to make sure that the roots are not damaged. Drainage (expanded clay) is necessarily laid at the bottom of the pot, and soil is poured on top, which it is desirable to renew with each transplant.

After transplanting, abundant watering is necessary to compact the earth. With the right transplant, caring for a shefflera is much easier, and decorative exotic plant compensates for all the effort spent on its cultivation. Sheffler will be a wonderful decoration not only for lovers of the flower world, but also for owners of large office space.

Shefler - tropical plant, which rarely blooms at home, but has leaves of interesting shape. Scheffler was named after the famous botanist Scheffler. How to properly care for and propagate a chefler at home, why the “vampire” is kind and brings happiness and prosperity to the house - we will consider in the article.

Types of cheflers

In the wild, there are about 200 varieties of plants. Let us dwell only on those that are grown in room conditions.

sheflera eight-leaf. The most common plant. It represents bush form with leaves like outstretched fingers. The shape of each leaflet is lanceolate, with lighter veins than the leaf itself. The height of the plant is small, up to 50 cm. There are varieties with variegated leaves. If there are several seedlings in one pot, they form a lush spreading hat;
sheflera arborescens- has the shape of a small tree, with green or spotted leaves extending from the trunk. It is desirable to have a support for this species that will support and guide a thin trunk;
sheflera radiata- has, most often, 7 leaves and grows in the form of a small tree. The color of the leaves is predominantly green;
shefler business- the height of the plant in room conditions is no more than 40-45 cm, it has an interesting and larger oak leaf shape. The color of the leaves can be either green or spotted.

Landing cheflers

If you bought the plant in a peat-based nutrient medium, it needs to be transplanted into a pot with drainage at the bottom and palm nutrient medium. Landing is carried out by transshipment. Nutrient soil can be made independently from soddy soil and peat, sand, humus, leafy soil. The ratio of sod land to the sum of all other parts is 1:1. The soil should be light. After planting, the plant needs to be well watered.

Care for a chefler at home

The plant is unpretentious and is often placed in office space(a beautiful and neat tree or bush is in harmony with the working environment). But, nevertheless, it is important to know the basic rules of care and some features of the plant.

Watering

Like any plant in the tropics, she loves moderate watering, as the topsoil dries out. In summer, the plant is watered every 2-4 days, depending on the temperature and humidity of the environment, in winter - once every 10-12 days. Sheflera needs periodic spraying with soft, slightly cool water. You can put a container with a plant in a small pan with water or moistened moss. The plant will absorb required amount moisture turn drainage hole and leaflets.

top dressing

The plant needs a complex of vitamins and minerals, which will give it the opportunity to grow and develop. This will help feeding any complex mineral fertilizer for decorative and deciduous plants. Top dressing is carried out through watering or spraying the leaves. In summer 2 times a month, in winter - 1 time.

pruning

If you want to get a spherical version of the plant, you need to cut off the top with a sharp knife at a height of 4-5 internodes. The plant will gradually take on a given shape. In order not to cause harm, pruning is carried out in stages. If you want to grow a neat tree, carry out the same pruning of side shoots and leaves that stand out too much.

Transfer

If you have purchased young plant, it should be transplanted once a year according to the method specified in paragraph 2. mature plant transplanted every few years by transshipment, if the soil is depleted and the bush has grown greatly. It is also necessary to transplant the chefler if the roots become visible through the drainage hole. This means that the pot is too small for her.

Reproduction of cheflers

You can get new plants in 3 ways:

cuttings;
seeds;
air outlets.

The first 2 breeding methods for cheflers are available to beginner flower growers, the third one requires some experience, therefore it is not very common.

When forming the crown of a plant or spring pruning, the cuttings are treated with Kornevin or crushed coal, planted in small containers with nutrient soil and drainage. From above, the cutting is closed with a bag to create optimal conditions for germination. After their rooting, the plants are planted in pots. The survival rate of cuttings is high.

If the shefler is propagated by seeds, they must be soaked in any growth stimulator and placed in a mixture of peat and sand in a ratio of 1: 1, lightly sprinkled with earth. The container is also closed with a bag and removed only for ventilation. In the phase of the second true leaf, the cuttings are seated.

When layering is obtained, an incision is made at the junction of the leaves with the stem with a sharp knife and this place is wrapped with wet moss. After some time, the appearance of roots is observed. When a good shoot is formed, it is carefully separated from the mother plant and planted. The difficulty of this method is that an illiterate incision can damage the plant.

flowering sheflers

As mentioned above, sheflera in room color is rare. This is due to the necessary balance of air humidity and intense lighting, which is difficult to create in an apartment.

If flowering occurs, then the flowers are paniculate inflorescences yellow color from small flowers. Flowering comes in summer.

Diseases and pests

Sheflera diseases are most often associated with improper care:

with excessive watering, the leaves may turn yellow and fall off;
with excessive dryness, the plant fades, spots appear on the leaves, and they become lethargic;
improper watering or contaminated soil can provoke the appearance of aphids and mites.

If the cause of the disease is an excess or lack of moisture, it is necessary to normalize watering and place the plant in a lit place. After a while, it will take its original forms.

If you notice pests on the leaves of a flower or in the soil, you need to treat the chefler with an insecticide and place it in a bag for several days. Repeat if necessary. Be sure to isolate the flower from other plants.

Signs

"Good vampire", although it refers to plants with poisonous juice, normalizes the energy of the house. It is believed that it absorbs only negative energy, cleaning the home in this way.

By placing the plant in the bedroom, you harmonize relationships and normalize the energy flow. If the plant withers, which is associated with falling or yellowing of the foliage, the atmosphere in the house is far from positive and harmonious.

If the plant quickly started to grow - wait for an addition to the family.

Sheflera's magical properties

It is no coincidence that the chefler is used as office plant. In addition to a neat and strict look, unpretentious care, she is able to attract money, good luck, good partners and customers. According to the state of the flower in the office, one can in some way speak about the state of affairs in the company.

"Good vampire" - chefler in the house or office not only normalizes the situation, but promotes harmony between spouses and the development of normal relations in a business environment.

Sheflera is a tropical plant from the Araliaceae family, which grows up to 4 meters in height in the wild, and can reach 1.5 meters in width. All parts of this flower are poisonous. Its juice is very irritating to the skin, and this can cause contact dermatitis.

Sheflera is not only a houseplant, but also a tropical tree that can reach 4 meters in height.

In a pot, sheflera is grown in the form of a bush or small tree. It attracts the attention of flower growers with leaves that have unusual shape reminiscent of a savage skirt or an umbrella.

At home, they grow an eight-leaved shrub shefler, which has an elegant appearance. Its lowered petioles are painted in a cream shade. They hold shiny dark green leaves in the shape of a lancet. Their length reaches 40 cm. The plant is photophilous, and for flowering on the windowsill it does not have enough color day. At artificial lighting a flower appears, resembling a light green sea mollusk in shape.

For lovers of bonsai, a tree-like shefler is suitable. You can grow the Amate variety with green leaves or grade Gold chapel. This kind of sheflera looks like a miniature palm tree with variegated leaves, the length of which is about 20 cm.

Sheflera radiant (or star-leaved) has a brown trunk, elongated shiny leaves of green color. Variety Nova is distinguished by its leaf, similar in shape to oak leaves.

How to grow a plant

Reproduction of sheflera occurs with the help of seeds, cuttings or layering.

On a note! For a good development of the plant, you need to choose pots with large holes at the bottom.

Expanded clay, broken brick or pebbles are laid down. Fall asleep from above nutrient soil with sand so that the water quickly leaves the tank.

For planting seeds, you need a peat-sand mixture. They are sown in early February, deepening the seeds in moist soil. The pot is covered with a film and placed on the south window until shoots appear. Seeds germinate at temperatures above 20°C.

The film is removed when the first shoots appear. Sprouts and the soil under them are constantly irrigated with a spray gun.

When three leaves appear, the sprouts dive into small pots with a substrate, which consists of equal parts sod land, leaf humus and sand. There they can stay for a year, after which they are transplanted into large pots.

To get layering, the lower branches of the cheflers are slightly incised and sprinkled with earth, which is treated with a solution of a root formation stimulator. If the ground is constantly wet, in a month the branches will give roots. Layers are carefully removed and planted in the ground. For several days, the plant is kept in a warm, dark place so that the root system takes root. Then the pot is found permanent place and take care of the flower as usual.

Cuttings are obtained during the trimming of the tops. Places of cuts are dusted with a root formation stimulator and placed planting material into a wet mixture of peat and sand, where the cuttings take root within 2 months. The plant can be transplanted when it begins to actively grow. 2 plants can be planted in one container so that the young flower looks decorative.

A flower needs a transplant once every 2 years. During this time, the roots braid the entire earthen ball, and their number must be reduced. The roots are cut to half the volume. The pot is cleaned of old soil, washed, disinfected, dried. Drainage and fresh soil are poured to the bottom, in which the plant is placed.

While the flower takes root, it should stand in the shade. The pot can be put under the table for several days until the roots begin to fully work. For a while, it can be placed in a closet on the top shelf. This is done when there are small children or cats in the house who like to explore. flower pots.

How to care for a plant

All varieties require special care. They prefer diffused light, moist air, abundant watering.

Attention! Shoots do best on the windowsill of a west-facing window.

Sheflera loves to swim. To make its leaves shine, they must be sprayed regularly. In summer, the plant is watered often and plentifully, using water. room temperature. In winter, watering should be moderate.

To form a crown, you need to trim. Do this in the spring, on the new moon, when the plants are actively growing. To give the shape of a ball, cut off the top of the plant. It will start up side shoots, which are then pinched so that the crown is thick and beautiful.

For a pyramidal shape, cut off the tops of the side branches. After pinching the tops, the plant is watered and fed abundantly.

Shefler is fertilized with a universal mixture designed for indoor plants. During active growth, this is done after 2 weeks, starting in February. From October to January, the flower is at rest. During this period, he does not need food.

Diseases and how to deal with them

The plant can be attacked by common scale insects, spider mites, thrips, which damage the stems and leaves of the plant, inhibiting its growth. Insecticidal treatment with any drug to which pests are sensitive will get rid of them. Spraying dichlorvos or karbofos helps.

There are a lot of indoor plants in the world that are unpretentious and undemanding in care. There are hundreds of them, maybe even thousands. Most people grow and graft wild plants at home for beauty and decorative design. Some do it "for the soul."

One of the most famous indoor plants is the Schefflera flower, which came to us from the tropical regions of the world. It began to be grown as a house plant relatively recently, but now the flower is very popular with gardeners. It grows widely in the wild in Australia, China and Japan. Sheffler was named after the famous German botanist Sheffler, who was a close friend and colleague of K. Linnaeus.

The Scheffler flower is poisonous plant, which must be handled as carefully as possible, otherwise you can get skin diseases from the smallest rashes to the most serious diseases of skin cells. Schefflera is a small tree or shrub that can reach a height of 2.5 meters. Sheffler blooms at home extremely rarely, because this action is useless to her, since the plant has bright juicy green leaves that grow like a person's fingers. In addition, on one "wrist" you can count from 4 to 12 leaves. Schefflera is an unpretentious and undemanding plant, which, despite its toxicity, is widely grown at home for decorative purposes.

The Scheffler flower is a numerous plant that has up to 200 subspecies, but not all of them are suitable for indoor cultivation. Many wild species of this flower in nature reach up to 40 meters in height, but their size is significantly reduced when home cultivation. Among the main indoor views plants are as follows:

Schefflera tree - one of the brightest and most well-known representatives of this flower, which is distinguished by an upright trunk, complex and large leaves(about 20 cm). This variety is unpretentious in care and is easy to trim and form the crown of the plant. In addition, the plant has a main feature - yellow, white or cream-colored spots that adorn the leaves and give them even more beauty and elegance.
Schefflera palmate - a variety of shefflera, which is characterized by short stature, large juicy green leaves and large quantity"fingers", the number of which reaches ten. This variety is more widely used for growing at home, as it is more pleasing to the eye of a person.
Schefflera eight-leafed - a variety of shefflera, which differs from other representatives in the shape and number of leaves on one "wrist". The shape of the leaves is longitudinal with a pointed end, and the number of leaves on one "wrist" ranges from 8 to 12. Young leaves differ from mature ones in olive color, which eventually turns into juicy green.
Schefflera starfolia is the most famous flower variety, which differs from others in its brown strong trunk, the shape of the leaves, which are different: longitudinal, oval round, and also the color of the leaves, which is olive, yellow, juicy green or spotted.

Features of proper flower transplantation, competent care and growing plants at home

Features of the correct flower transplant

A Schefflera transplant is necessary no more than once every two years. Only in this way will the plant grow and develop properly, while maintaining all the substances and components it needs. Plant loves slightly acidic soil, so it is necessary to create soil composition, which will consist of one drainage part and two parts of sand and clay. special requirements the plant does not require a transplant, however, it must be remembered that the Scheffler flower reaches a fairly impressive size, so every two years it needs to choose a larger pot.

Competent care and growing plants at home

Proper care and cultivation of a plant at home must be carried out in accordance with all the basic rules, otherwise the plant may die or get sick. The Schefflera flower is an unpretentious and undemanding plant, so any, even inexperienced, flower grower can easily grow it at home. Among the basic rules for the care and cultivation of a plant, the following can be distinguished

Lighting (The plant needs sunlight, but it is advisable that it avoids sunlight on its leaves, as burns may remain and the plant will have to be treated later. The best places according to the lighting factor in the house are the western and eastern windows, sometimes the northern ones. In winter, the plant requires special lighting, since everything depends on the temperature of the place where the flower grows. In summer, the plant can be taken outside so that it avoids direct sunlight on its leaves while on the window.)
Air temperature (The plant is very demanding on this item. In summer, spring and autumn, it is necessary to constantly maintain the air temperature up to +20 degrees Celsius, and in winter it should be up to +17 degrees Celsius. If these temperature conditions are not maintained, the plant will get sick and drop leaves.In addition, it is necessary to observe important condition: you can not put the plant near heaters and various heating systems, which overheat the body of the plant, thereby harming it.)
Watering and top dressing (Schefflera really needs moisture, she does not like parched soils, so the plant must be watered once every two days. The plant also requires constant spraying to maintain moist air around the plant. However, watering and spraying should not be overdone, as they can greatly harm the plant and destroy it.Feeding must be done in autumn and spring once a week, and in winter - once a month.This is the only way to maintain the necessary composition for the development and growth of the plant.In addition, it is necessary to alternate organic and mineral supplements so that the plant fully receives all the necessary substances.)
Soil requirements (The plant requires a light, slightly acidic nutrient, which you can make yourself from the necessary components or buy ready-made in flower shop.)
Pruning a plant (Pruning shufflers must be done gradually so as not to harm the plant. The leaves of the flower must be cut very carefully, treating the cut with charcoal. Pruning is done to give the plant a certain shape, so when new branches grow in the plant, you can form it into a spherical or other shape crowns.)

Reproduction of shefflers and growing a flower from seeds

Schefflera can be propagated in three ways: propagation by cuttings, seeds and air layering. Each method has its own characteristics and differences that must be observed. We will deal with each method and highlight the main rules of reproduction.

Propagation by cuttings occurs in several stages: preparation of cuttings, soil preparation, planting and caring for cuttings. The preparation of cuttings must be done carefully, choosing only the healthiest and strongest, otherwise the plant will not take root. The cuttings should be of medium size and 3 green young leaves should be left on them. Soil preparation is also carried out under careful control. It should be saturated with all the necessary minerals and organic matter, should be well moistened and dug up. Planting and caring for cuttings is carried out in accordance with other plants: in stages, gradually and according to all the basic rules.
The seeds of this plant are sold in any flower shop, so growing this plant from seeds is very affordable. Seeds after purchase must be soaked for some time in water with the necessary minerals dissolved in it. nutrients. After the seeds are saturated with all the necessary substances, they are planted in seedling cups, and after the first two green leaves appear on the seedlings, it can be concluded that the plant is ready for planting in the soil. And they are transplanted. There is nothing complicated in this technology, it only takes time and patience.
Air layering is the most difficult sheffler breeding process, so it is used by the most patient and experienced flower growers. Layers are obtained from the trunk of another plant using moss and plastic bags. Then these layers are removed and planted separately from the mother plant. If you continue the procedure with moss and polyethylene, then the plant will begin to curl and give more air layering.

Necessary fertilizers, plant diseases and pests

Pests: spider mites, scale insects, mealybug, aphids;
Diseases: falling leaves, the appearance of unwanted spots, stretching of shoots and loss of the characteristic color of the leaves;
Fertilizers: nitrogen, potash, phosphorus, boric, organic, mineral.

Sheffler, this unusual plant with large leaves resembling a human palm, was cultivated not so long ago, but despite this, flower growers who prefer unusual pets from the world of flora have managed to fall in love with its decorative effect and ease of care.

General information

There are more than 200 varieties in the Schefflera genus. Far from all representatives of the sheffler are suitable for growing at home, since many of them in nature can grow up to 40 meters. House plants are much more miniature, but with good care can easily grow to the ceiling.

The flower tolerates shaping pruning well, so the grower can give his plant absolutely any shape. Caring for a shefflera is quite simple, so even novice flower growers will be able to cope with this unusual plant, growing a beautiful specimen to the envy of everyone.

Scheffler types and varieties

- is a cultivated form of tree shefflera, grown as home plant. The homeland of shefflers of this species is Southeast Asia. The plant is a small tree with a straight trunk that resembles a palm tree. The height of the flower reaches 120 centimeters. It has lush bright green foliage with golden spots.

- is room variety plant, which is distinguished by elegant foliage and unpretentiousness in care. The flower has long and narrow leafy plates of a green hue with bright yellow specks. The edges of the leaves are decorated with even teeth. Schefflera has a lush crown and dense foliage.

- has all the advantages of its kind and is as unpretentious in care as the rest of the shefflers. Among others, it is distinguished by elegant, variegated foliage. Dark green leaf plates are diluted with light specks and streaks. Janine normally treats the shade and does not lose the variegation of the color of its leaves.

- Differs in simplicity in leaving. The plant will be comfortable on the windowsill with diffused lighting. It reaches a height of 50 centimeters to 2.5 meters. It needs moist and fertile soil. The leaf plates of the plant are variegated, having a pale green or yellow-green color.

- the most elegant representative of her kind. It has openwork, leathery, shiny leaf plates that have an unusual decorative effect and a variegated green-yellow hue.

This variety differs from the rest in shorter leaves that reach up to 8 centimeters in length. Each sheet plate has a white edging and beige blotches at the base. Due to the contrast of dark and light shades, decorative notches that decorate the edges of the leaves become almost invisible.

Schefflera arborescens (shefflera arboricola ) - is flowering shrub, whose homeland is considered to be China. In nature, it has a straight trunk and reaches a height of up to 4 meters. The plant has complex, palmate, large leaf plates of a light green hue.

- the plant has decorative dimensions, so it will become ideal option for growing in an apartment. It reaches a height of up to 120 centimeters and has medium-sized dark green, leathery, shiny leaf plates.

Schefflera Radiant (shefflera starfolia ) - is the most common type of plant. In nature, shefflera reaches a height of 15 meters and can have one or two trunks. When growing a tree at home, it will grow up to 2.5 meters in height. It has dark green, leathery, shiny, large leaf plates with notches at the ends. Sheffler blooms with small red inflorescences.

Is one of the most miniature species. Its homeland is Asia, China and Australia. The plant has several trunks, on which there are palmately compound leaves with a green color and yellowish or white spots.

- the plant can grow up to 2.5 meters in length and has shiny, large, feathery, waxy leaf plates of a dark green hue. The flower is resistant to pests and tolerates shade well, therefore it is suitable for apartments with north-facing windows.

- belongs to the genus tree-like sheffler. It can reach up to 1.5 meters in height. It has a lush crown with olive, shiny, large leaf plates with dark green stains. The plant is unpretentious in care, so it is suitable for beginner growers.

– given plant grows up to 1.5 meters in length and has dark green pinnate leaf plates with olive stains and patches. It is unpretentious in care and practically not subject to attack by pests.

The plant of this variety is distinguished by its unusual decorative leaves, which have large sizes and a dark green hue with yellow spots and jagged edges. The flower is unpretentious in care and is suitable for growing in apartments and offices.

- this species was bred relatively recently. The plant has unusual leaf plates, the outer part of which has a light shade, the edges are decorated with a dark green edging, and back side leaf plates has a rich dark green tint. The plant resembles a palm tree, is easy to care for and has high decorative qualities.

- this type of plant in the wild grows in China, India and Japan. The height of the tree reaches up to 2 meters. Its leaves are covered with small, light needles, which eventually fall off. Each leaf has eight large green oval-shaped leaf plates.

The plant is native to New Zealand. In nature, it grows in tropical forests, where it reaches a height of 8 meters. Its leaf plate is divided into 7 parts, which resemble the fingers of a human hand. The leaves have pointed edges and a dark green tint.

The inflorescences of this variety of shefflers have a paniculate shape. They are quite large and reach a diameter of up to 40 centimeters. After the plant fades, fruits appear in place of the flowers, which are eaten by tropical birds. Sheffler is listed in the Red Book, since locals sell young shrubs to tourists, thereby reducing its numbers.

Scheffler home care

Schefflera is very photophilous. At the end of autumn, the plant should be moved to a windowsill overlooking south side at home. It should stay there until spring. In summer, the plant needs to be shaded so that direct sunlight does not fall on it. Sun rays.

If there is not enough light in the apartment or house, then it is better to choose those sheffler varieties that tolerate shade well and have green foliage. Variegated varieties in this case are not suitable, since they need a lot of light to maintain decorativeness. In summer, the plant must be taken out into the street, placing it in a shaded area.

Schefflera will be comfortable if the florist in the room provides her with high humidity air, although it can adapt to normal humidity. The plant needs regular sprinkling, which is carried out with warm, settled water.

The tree will grow and develop well at room temperature. AT winter time year, temperature indicators should not fall below + 12 degrees. There should be no drafts in the room with a sheffler, and it should not be placed next to the battery. However, small temperature differences will benefit the plant.

Heptapleurum is also a member of the Araliaceae family. It is grown when caring at home without much hassle, if you follow the rules of agricultural technology. You can find all the necessary recommendations in this article.

Watering shefflers

Water the tree should be systematic, not too waterlogged soil. The best water for irrigation is settled water at room temperature. It is necessary to ensure that the earth does not dry out.

In winter, when the plant has a dormant period, watering should be reduced. It is impossible to allow waterlogging of the mixture to the ground, its acidification and stagnation of water, otherwise the sheffler will die.

Soil for shefflers

The soil for the plant should be nutritious and light, only in such a substrate it will feel comfortable.

You can prepare the mixture on the ground yourself or purchase ready-made land in the store, preferring the soil for growing ficuses. To prepare the soil at home, you need to take turf, humus and river sand in a ratio of 2:1:1.

Pot for shefflera

Having prepared the soil mixture, you should choose the right pot for the plant. Here everything will depend on the age of the plant. For example, small pots or even plastic cups are suitable for seedlings.

But, when the roots grow, they should be transferred together with the earth in a lump in pots with a diameter of 9 centimeters, and in the autumn they should be transplanted into pots of 12 centimeters in diameter. With each subsequent transplant, the diameter of the pot must be increased by 3-5 centimeters.

Sheffler transplant

A young tree should be transplanted in the first year of its life. This is extremely important for proper growth and development in the future. Before transplanting, you should choose a suitable size pot and prepare the soil.

Then, a drainage layer of gravel or expanded clay must be placed on the bottom of the pot. A layer of soil should be poured on top of the drainage and placed on it root system plants lightly shaking it off the ground. After that, carefully fill the remaining space in the pot with earth with a mixture and lightly tamp to eliminate the void formed in the pot. After transplanting, the sheffler needs to be watered abundantly.

An adult tree should be replanted every five years. If the plant is very large, then the transplant is carried out very carefully, by moving the shefflers in new pot along with an earthen clod.

Fertilizer for shefflera

In order for the plant to grow beautiful and healthy, it must be fertilized. Top dressing is carried out liquid fertilizers for indoor flowers. The frequency of fertilization will depend on the time of year. During the dormant period from late autumn to early spring, the plant is fertilized once a month, the rest of the time - once every 15–20 days.

The concentration of ready-made dressings may not always meet the needs of the plant. For this reason, experienced flower growers recommend playing it safe by diluting the fertilizer at a lower concentration and fertilizing the tree twice as often. Dry fertilizers for shefflers are not suitable.

flowering shefflera

Domesticated specimens of the plant bloom extremely rarely, but if inflorescences appear, they are paniculate with small flowers of red or yellow hues.

Flowering time is in mid-summer.

Scheffler pruning and shaping

Flower pruning is carried out in order to form a lush crown and reduce vertical dimensions in fast growing plant species. The first pruning should be done when the young plant is a little older. For this purpose, it is necessary to shorten the apical branches by 4 internodes. It is best to cut the branches with a sharp pruner. Sections must be treated with activated charcoal.

After the side branches grow back, you can begin to form a spherical crown by cutting off the tops of the branches. The cuttings obtained during pruning can be used for propagation. It should be noted that pruning greatly weakens the sheffler, so it must be carried out in several stages.

Sheffler in winter

The dormant period of the plant begins in late autumn and lasts until spring. At this time, the shefflera slows down all processes and it stops growing. Accordingly, her care is changing.

During this period, it is better to transfer the tree to a bright room with a temperature not lower than + 12 degrees. Watering and sprinkling should be kept to a minimum, as should fertilizing.

Propagation of shefflers by cuttings

For grafting, shoots are selected, in which the stems are already partially stiff and cut off. Then they are treated with drugs that stimulate the growth of the root system. After processing, the cuttings are placed in a mixture of peat and sand.

In order for the planting material to take root, in the room where it is located, the temperature should not be lower than + 22 degrees. When the shoots take root, temperature regime change, reducing to +18 degrees.

After the root system grows enough, gets stronger and takes up the entire pot, young plants can be transplanted. You can also germinate the root system on the cuttings with the help of water. For this purpose, the processes are placed in cups with warm water and wait for them to take root.

After the root system is sufficiently developed for planting in the ground, the plants are transplanted into separate pots for permanent cultivation.

Sheffler from seeds at home

The procedure should be started in the second half of winter. Seed material is placed in peat to a depth of 3 to 5 centimeters. After planting, the soil must be watered, covered with a film and provided with a temperature of + 22 to + 24 degrees.

From time to time, the film must be removed by airing and spraying the crops. When the first leaves begin to appear, the sprouts are transplanted into separate cups and left in a room at 19-20 degrees.

Reproduction of shefflers by air layering

To use this method of reproduction, a small incision is made in the outer layer of the trunk, the resulting scar is lined with wet sphagnum, which should be constantly moistened. Then the barrel is wrapped in polyethylene.

After two months, roots appear at the incision site. The layering is carefully trimmed and transplanted into a separate pot.

Scheffler leaf reproduction

This breeding method is suitable experienced flower growers. To obtain planting material, it is necessary to tear off a large leaf plate from an adult plant and place it in a growth stimulator solution. Then the workpiece must be placed in a warm place and covered with polyethylene.

After three weeks, the polyethylene layer should be gradually removed, lowering the temperature to 20 degrees. When the leaf adapts, it must be transplanted into a prepared pot with drainage and substrate.

Which of the methods of reproduction to choose, each grower will decide for himself.

Diseases and pests of shefflers

The most common Schefflera ailment is rot . It affects the plant if the grower floods it, keeps it cold and drafty, or overfeeds the tree. All of the above reasons lead to the fact that the plant sheds leaves, fades, black spots appear on the leaf plates. .

To get rid of rot, the plant must be transplanted into a new pot and substrate, after sorting through the root system and removing the damaged areas. To finally kill the fungal spores, the roots should be held for 20 minutes in a weak solution of manganese, after which the plant can be transplanted into the prepared soil.

If a shefflera leaves are starting to turn yellow that means they were exposed to direct sunlight and the plant got burned. To help the tree, you can remove it to a slightly shaded place.
Schefflera sheet plates darken with a lack of light, therefore, to avoid this problem, the plant must be moved closer to the sun.
If the leaves fall, the shefflera dries, grows poorly or does not grow at all - reason for improper care for her. Only by creating a microclimate favorable for growth and development, you can eliminate all the above problems.

In addition to diseases, the plant is susceptible to attack spider mite , thrips and scale insects . The first signs of damage by these pests are the stickiness of the leaves. By releasing its poisonous juice, the sheffler tries to protect itself from harmful insects on its own.

To destroy pests, the plant can be sprayed with a solution of soda and wipe the leaves with soapy water. Also, the sheffler should be treated with Actellik insecticide according to the instructions on the package.

As you can see, caring for an exotic green pet is not difficult at all. By following all of the above recommendations, you will get a beautiful and healthy plant that will delight you with decorative leaves and fast growth, eventually turning into a luxurious tree with a dense and chic crown.