Scheffler - how to care at home. What care does the beautiful sheffler need at home

In the interior of official institutions - hospitals, reception rooms, offices - you can often see a plant with the original name "umbrella tree". I fell in love with the sheffler, whose care is reduced to a minimum of events, and the owners of indoor gardens. A tree or bush with a lush crown formed by large leaves, similar to palms with fingers apart, is equally decorative in winter and summer. When grown indoors, a blooming shefflera is rare, but it is beautiful without buds, the attractiveness of which for many is doubtful: when unfolded, they resemble tentacles.

Species and varieties

Culture leads its way to the home garden from the tropical rainforests of the Australian continent, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Her closest relatives are representatives of the Araliaceae family: ivy, eleutherococcus, ginseng. Wild species of shefflera, of which about 200 are known, are diverse. They are distinguished from each other by the size, shape, length and color of the leaves. Among them there are creepers, shrubs, huge (up to 20 m tall) trees. At home, about 10 cultivated flower forms are grown.

Most often, the indoor garden is decorated with a sheffler of the following types.

Eight-leaf (Schefflera octophylla). Its leaves are shiny, leathery, elongated, lanceolate. To the top they are pointed, have a rounded base. Because of their shape, this shefflera was popularly called the octopus tree. The leaves are rough to the touch. They reach a length of 30-40 cm, a width of 10 cm. Petioles are long, strongly drooping, milky-cream in color. Each is attached from 6 to 12 leaves. While young, their color is olive green with a bottle yellow sheen. Over time, they turn into a rich malachite shade, against which paler streaks become clearly visible. From below, the sheet plate is matte, its color is soft, fawn-green.
Palmate (Schefflera digitata). Also known as Aralia Schefflera (Aralia schefflera). It occurs naturally in New Zealand. This is a tall (up to 3-6 m) tree, the shape of the leaves resembling a palm tree. Each of them is divided into 7-10 plates, the length of which is 15-35 cm. The leaves have the shape of a strongly elongated oval, pointed at the base and at the top. They are wide - up to 6 cm. Their surface is glossy, leathery, like parchment. The edges of young leaves are pinnate, as they grow, sparse teeth appear on them. They are located on a long (up to 20 cm) tubular petiole. Blooming palmate shefflera produces umbellate inflorescences, consisting of 4-8 buds. They are very small. In the open state, the diameter of the flower is about 0.6 cm. There are also variegated species of this shefflera.
Tree (Schefflera arboricola). The trunk of the plant is erect, branching. The color of the shoots depends on their age. While they are young, it is green. Mature shoots acquire a light brown hue. The tree-like variety of shefflera differs in the shape of the leaves: they are odd-pinnate. They reach a length of 20 cm. Popular with flower growers varieties Gold Capella (with juicy green leaves covered with small yellow spots), Gerda (with colorful lemon green leaves resembling open rosettes), Amate (having increased resistance to diseases and pests and juicy green leaves). Sheffler's tree home garden can grow up to 1.2 m in height.
Radiant (Schefflera actinophylla). Its second name is star-leaved. It is grown at home most often. Its trunk is dusty brown, powerful, straight, noticeably thickened at the base. The leaves are divided into 14-16 lobes. At first they are ovoid, then they become oval-elongated, pointed towards the top. Them average length- 15 cm, width - 5 cm. They are slightly wavy along the edges, attached to long petioles of a red-brown hue. The color of the leaves depends on the plant variety. In some species they are shiny and rich green, in others they are mustard (Green Gold) or olive yellow, jagged, oak-like (Nova). In the middle part, the lobes are wide, they can even touch the edges with neighboring ones. The veins on the leaves are of a lighter shade, they are clearly visible. Indoor flower can reach a height of 3 m.

All types of shefflers are unpretentious. Caring for them will not seem difficult even for inexperienced flower growers.

Lighting and temperature

Sheffler needs a lot of light. The best place for her is a window sill located on the east or west side of the house. A plant with plain leaves will also be comfortable on the northern windows. If they are covered with fancy patterns of white and yellow color(Gerda, Hong Kong, Gold Capella, Sofia, Janine), because of insufficient lighting, the patterns on them will fade here.

The south windows of the sheffler are not suitable. On them, the flower will be too hot and sunny. It is better to put the tree on a well-lit table, moving it to the window. The plant patiently endures unfavourable conditions, but for a long time in the sun shefflera does not stand up - its leaves turn yellow and become covered with burns. Therefore, it is recommended to hide it from the heat under a light curtain.

You can put the sheffler in partial shade. But it is not worth placing it in the back of the room, at a considerable distance from the light source, otherwise, instead of a spectacular tall tree, a stunted misunderstanding with sparse leaves will grow. In winter this indoor flower needs illumination. This is especially important when it is kept warm (at temperatures above 17°C).

In the warm season, the shefflera pot can be taken outside: to the terrace, balcony or garden. The main thing is to cover it from the bright sun and protect it from wind and draft.

Despite its tropical origin, the plant does not like the heat. Its preferred temperature is between 17-22°C in summer and at least 12°C in winter period. Shefflera reacts sharply to overheating, dropping leaves from itself. For this reason, the window sills under which the battery is located, and the corners near heating appliances- bad options for its placement. The leaves of the flower also fall due to drafts and sharp fluctuations in temperature.

Watering and humidity

This houseplant loves a humid atmosphere, but does not tolerate stagnant water in a pot. For those whose home garden adorns the Schlumberger trunkata (better known as the Decembrist), his demands will seem familiar. During the period of active growth, shefflera needs frequent (with an interval of 2-3 days), but moderate watering. Do not allow the soil to dry out. It should always remain slightly damp. But it is easier to cope with a short-term drought of a sheffler than with constant dampness, due to which the soil turns sour and the roots of the tree begin to rot. Waterlogging is indicated by blackening and flying around the leaves. Such problems will not arise if shefflera is grown hydroponically.

When the flower is at rest, watering is reduced to 1 procedure in 7-10 days. It is important to follow this rule if the plant is kept at a low temperature in winter. Shefflers defend water for irrigation. Distilled or boiled is also suitable. Its temperature should be room temperature or higher than room temperature by 2-3°C.

High humidity is the key to the full development of shefflers. On hot days, the tree is sprayed daily, using soft water for procedures, otherwise white spots will remain on the leaves after it dries. From dust, this houseplant is cleaned with a damp sponge or given a warm shower. In winter, a favorable microclimate for shefflers is created by filling the pot tray with wet expanded clay. You can replace it with pebbles or moss. The roots of the flower should not come into contact with water. If the room is warm in winter (more than 17 ° C), do not stop spraying the plant.

Propagation by stem cuttings

Flower growers who are not familiar with breeding shefflers are interested in how a tree reproduces. You can grow it in different ways:

from seeds;
from a cutting;
from the air outlet.

Most often, flower propagation is carried out by cuttings. Having chosen the most developed semi-lignified shoot on an adult sheffler, it is cut off with a sharp knife and divided into parts. Each cutting should have 2 internodes. Then the shoots are dipped in a solution of a root growth stimulator (Heteroauxin) for 6-8 hours. It is advisable to stock up on Kornevin. In it, the cuttings are dipped before planting.

They are rooted in separate containers in a mixture of peat and sand. To prepare the substrate, both components are taken in equal volumes. A container with planted cuttings is placed under a plastic bag. In order for them to take root, it is necessary to provide them with two conditions:

warm (about 22°C);
bright but diffused lighting.

Caring for sheffler cuttings at this stage is easy. It is only necessary to periodically moisten the soil from the sprayer and ventilate the greenhouse, briefly removing the bag. When the cuttings take root, the temperature is reduced to 18-20 ° C, and the shelter is removed. Plants are left in planting containers until their roots completely braid the soil clod. Then they are moved to larger pots. Until they take root in a new place, the temperature should not rise above 14-16 ° C.

Alternative methods of reproduction

Shefflera seeds are almost impossible to get at home, so you have to buy them in the store. Their sowing is carried out early - in January-February. To increase germination, the seeds are pre-treated with a growth stimulator (Epin, Zircon).

The planting container is filled with peat mixed with sand, or a substrate from the following components:

sod land;
leaf land;
sand.

The recommended sowing depth is 3 seed diameters. After sowing, the container is placed under glass or covered with a film. Schefflera seeds germinate at a temperature of 20-24°C. Crop care comes down to daily airing and moistening the soil as needed.

It will be easier to propagate a flower in a generative way if you heat a container with planted seeds from below. So sheffler sprouts will appear faster.

When the seedlings release 2-3 true leaves, they are picked into separate pots. They should not be large - from 7 to 9 cm in diameter. Spiked shefflers need coolness. The temperature in the room with them is maintained at 14-16°C. Closer to autumn, they are transplanted again using pots with a diameter of 10-12 cm. They need a substrate almost the same as for crops. Only the proportions change: the components are mixed in a ratio of 2:1:1.

To breed an adult shefflera air layer, a vertical incision is made on its trunk. Sphagnum moss soaked in a nutrient solution is applied to it. It is prepared from complex fertilizer or immunomodulating drugs. 1 g of the substance is added to 1 liter of water. Having pressed the moss to the trunk of the shefflers, it is tightly wrapped with a film on top. Under it, constant humidity should be maintained, this must be carefully monitored.

Soon, roots will appear at the site of the incision. When they grow up (it will take about 2 months), the flower is cut and planted in a pot. Throwing away the old sheffler is not worth it. It is cut off, leaving a low stump. If you water the plant, over time it will release young shoots.

Feeding and transplanting

During the period of intensive growth (March-August), the sheffler needs care in the form of top dressing. It is carried out every 1.5-2 weeks. Suitable flower complex mineral compositions intended for decorative and deciduous crops. It is desirable to alternate liquid top dressing of shefflers with the introduction of organic matter. The plant responds well to crushed eggshells. 1 st. l substances are scattered on the surface of the soil in a pot. In winter, this indoor flower is not fed.

Young shefflers require an annual transplant. For mature trees, the pot is changed less often - once every 2-3 years, when their roots become cramped in the old one. To adhere to such a transplant scheme, every spring the top layer of the earth (to a depth of 5 cm) is changed to fresh. The new container should be significantly larger than the previous one in diameter - by 5-6 cm. Best time for transplanting - spring.

The bottom of the pot is covered with a thick drainage layer. Sheffler's soil is light, loose, high in nutrients. From ready-made substrates, soil for palm trees or universal soil is suitable for her.

If the soil mixture for the plant is made independently, the following components are taken for it:

compost soil (3 parts);
peat (1 part);
coarse sand (1.5 parts).

The transplant is carried out by transferring the flower from pot to pot and trying not to destroy the earthen clod. The voids are filled with soil, crushing it. Finish the transplant with watering.

pruning

If a sheffler is decorated with an indoor flower garden, she is given the shape of a tree or a bush. In the first case, it will look spectacular next to Benjamin's ficus. In the second, Schlumberger Trunkata will become a successful neighbor for the flower. Young shefflers have thin stems. In order to get a beautiful powerful tree in the future, they are tied to a support.

Whether a flower needs pruning depends on the variety. Radiant varieties of the plant, in which there is only one stem, do not require it. If the shefflera is woody, the goal of such care is to save space. When the flower grows strongly, the upper parts of its shoots can be cut off. This stimulates their branching.

The decorative effect of the plant suffers from pruning, so many sheffler owners do without it. To make the flower bushy and lush, 2-3 trees are placed in one pot. Leaves that interfere with each other are not touched, allowing them to dry. When this happens, they are pruned. A sharp knife is used for it, the blade of which is disinfected with alcohol, potassium permanganate solution or hardening. This will protect the houseplant from infection entering the wound.

Getting on the skin and mucous membranes, shefflera juice can cause irritation. Therefore, its pruning requires caution. It is recommended to carry it out with rubber gloves.

Leaves change color and fall

Improper care can reduce the decorative shefflera and even destroy it. An indicator of the well-being of a tree is its appearance. The yellowing of the leaves of the plant indicates an excess of sunlight. In this case, the flower must be removed from the windowsill or shaded. Insufficient level soil and air moisture is the main reason for the blackening of shefflera leaves at home. It starts from their ends. If you normalize watering and increase the frequency of spraying, the tree will gradually restore its former beauty.

The leaves of the flower fall due to pests or unfavorable conditions for it:

prolonged hypothermia (if the temperature in the room is below 14°C) or overheating (at 30°C);
chronic waterlogging, which resulted in rotting of the shefflera roots;
insufficient lighting (more often plant species with variegated leaves react to it this way).

Having discovered that the shefflera roots are rotting, it is urgent to save the tree. It is taken out of the pot. The roots are carefully examined, cutting off diseased areas. Then they are immersed in a solution of a growth stimulant drug (Epin, Zircon). The next step is the disinfection of the shefflera roots. For it, you can use Fitosporin or crushed coal. Having processed the roots, the plant is planted in a fresh, slightly moistened soil mixture. The pot is placed under a plastic bag. Sheffler is kept in such a greenhouse for 5-7 days. Periodically, the package is removed to ventilate and water the flower.

From insects are dangerous for a tree:

scale insects;
thrips;
spider mites.

Due to their invasion, the development of shefflers slows down, the flowers turn yellow, and then the leaves fall off. If you do not fight pests, the plant will wither. Getting rid of them in the initial stages of the defeat is easier. Detected insects are carefully removed from the leaves and stems with a sponge, cloth or cotton swab soaked in soapy water.

If the pests on the sheffler have formed a whole colony, you will have to use insecticides. Actellik, Fitoverm and Karbofos have proven themselves well. You should work with them carefully, observing safety rules and making sure that the drug solution does not get into the soil. If necessary, re-treatment is carried out after 2 weeks.

Schefflera is truly a versatile houseplant. It will subtly shade the beauty of other flowers in the home garden, but even in a single planting, it will delight the eye with its lush, bright crown, creating an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. Caring for a tree is easy. It is worth providing the sheffler with good lighting and constant humidity, and she will thank for the care, quickly turning into a tall, spectacular flower.

Fans of indoor plants who believe in omens will find many reasons to bring this guest from the tropics. According to Feng Shui, a well-developing sheffler in the house speaks of material well-being and peace of mind. This plant, like a sponge, absorbs negative energy. Being next to him relieves anxiety, fears and sad thoughts, calming, invigorating and bringing a sense of peace and harmony. If you put a shefflera pot in the bedroom, you can not worry about nightmares and insomnia. It will be successful to place it in an office or study room - esotericism ascribes to a tree the ability to facilitate and improve the assimilation of knowledge.

The shefler flower is considered tropical, so it grows well on a bright windowsill and indoors. It is not recommended to put it in the sun so that the leaves do not lose their decorative appearance from sunburn. In summer, the chefler can be taken out into the street or placed on the balcony. In winter, you should leave it alone, so it is better to rearrange the pot with it in a cool room and reduce watering.

Like all tropical plants, sheflera prefers moist air. In this regard, it becomes necessary to spray it more often in the summer. In winter, radiators dry the air very much, so wet pebbles should be placed near the plant.

Caring for a cheflera is not particularly difficult, as it looks at first glance. Such a flower will great decoration rooms, if you follow simple rules:

do not pour water during watering;

do not allow the complete drying of the earth;

do not keep it in a dark corner;

create room for growth.

Sheflera propagation methods: cuttings and seeds

There are several ways to propagate a plant. The most common is with the help of cuttings. It is not easy to achieve the appearance of roots, so the cutting is about 6 hours in the root growth stimulator. At this time, it is necessary to prepare a pot, on the bottom of which it is desirable to put a thin layer of drainage and soil consisting of a mixture of peat and river sand. After the time has elapsed, the stalk is planted in a pot and covered with a glass.

The container with the plant must be placed on a warm and bright windowsill, where the air temperature should not fall below 22-25 degrees Celsius. Sometimes it is advisable to open the jar to ventilate the shefler flower, the photo of which is located below. And you can also spray it with a spray bottle. The water must be warm.

It is considered in another way. To do this, they are purchased at a flower shop, treated with epin or potassium permanganate. They are planted in soil consisting of peat and sand, to a depth of about 15 centimeters in moist soil, covered with glass on top. After the emergence of seedlings, they are looked after, just like cuttings. Wherein:

ventilate;

watered;

loosen the earth;

sprayed.

As soon as the sprouts grow about 10 centimeters, they are transplanted into separate containers.

Transfer

As the flower grows, it is necessary to transplant into a larger pot. How to care for a cheflera during a transplant? To do this, it is necessary to take it out along with a clod of earth and transplant it into a container that is 3 cm larger in diameter. Such transshipment must be done every 2 or 3 years. After transplanting, it is advisable to water the plant well.

Pests and diseases

Florists often have a question, why does shefler shed leaves? Like most plants, this flower is subject to various diseases. When the chefler sheds leaves, the cause of such troubles is indoors with increased humidity and excessive watering, which leads to root rot. An indicator will be the resulting dark spots on the leaves. With a decrease in watering, the plant again becomes saturated green. But just in case, you need to check the condition of the roots.

In addition, the plant is attacked harmful insects: thrips, spider mites, scale insects. What to do if the chefler drops leaves due to a pest attack? To combat them, it is necessary to use various chemicals: karbofos, fitoverm and others.

If the chefler sheds the leaves and they begin to turn yellow, there may be several reasons for this. One of them is poor lighting. Therefore, it is advisable to rearrange the plant to another place where there is more light. Another reason why sheflers have mites, which usually hide under the leaves.

Scheffler in the house: signs

This flower is considered a symbol of prosperity and wealth. Often it is bought to attract the energy of money into the house.

Charges positive energy the room in which it is located.

The plant brings good luck in business fire signs Zodiac: Sagittarius, Leo and Aries. It becomes their kind of amulet.

How to grow a chefler at home

For all its decorativeness, the chefler is quite unpretentious, it will not be difficult to grow it in if you know the minimum set of conditions that the room must satisfy, as well as water and feed the plant in time.

Sheflera does not tolerate hot and dry air. In summer, the temperature in the room should be in the range from +16 to +22 C, in winter this figure should not exceed from +14 to +16 C. Sheflera needs bright diffused light, but direct sunlight is harmful to her, they cause leaf burns. You can achieve this condition if you grow the plant on the eastern or southeastern windows, with obligatory shading during the hot part of the day.

When landing, you need to pay Special attention good soil fertility: the soil should be loose, airy, contain soddy, leafy soil, humus and river sand. If the soil is purchased in a store, you need to choose a special soil for palm trees. For an adult cheflera, a rather large capacity is required, so once every 3-4 years you need to transfer the plant to new pot. It should exceed the previous one by no more than 4-5 cm in diameter, so that the earthen lump is completely braided with roots.

How to care for a chef

The plant is demanding high humidity soil and air, therefore, the earthen clod should not be allowed to dry out, and the leaves should be sprayed with water at room temperature from a spray bottle and wiped from dust. In order for the chefler to always have a spectacular look, she needs regular pruning and crown formation. To do this, annually in the spring, you need to shorten the main branches by 1/5 of their length, and completely remove the shoots that are too old, small and growing inside the crown, leaving no stumps.

Quite rarely, but the chefler can be affected by pests: if the soil was not properly frozen during transplantation, spider mites, scale insects or thrips can breed in it. At the same time, the plant loses its decorative effect, lags behind in growth, and pest colonies can be seen on the underside of the leaves. For processing, you need to use insecticidal preparations "Iskra", "Corado", which can be found in the "Priroda" store.

Timely watering and fertilizing is of great importance for the normal development of cheflera. During the growing season, it is necessary to water 1 time in 2-3 days, controlling the humidity of the earthen coma, in winter, watering should be reduced to 1 time in 7-10 days. In summer, top dressing should be applied 1-2 times a month, using a special fertilizer for ornamental foliage plants, and in winter you can do without them.

Schefflera (Schefflera) is a plant that belongs to the Araliaceae family (Araliaceae). Such flowers grow well in the house, and are also characterized by high decorativeness and relative unpretentiousness.

Schefflera - a plant that belongs to the Araliaceae family

Associated with decorative perennial great amount will accept superstitions. Culture can become a flower - a talisman for all those born under the sign of Sagittarius, Aries and Leo. If the leaves fall, it's a bad omen., which can be a harbinger of illness or financial loss.

If the leaves darken or the flowers fall off, a large amount has accumulated in the house. negative energy. It is impossible to say unequivocally whether such an indoor flower should be grown at home: such a plant brings happiness to someone, and some flower growers are categorically against such a culture.

Gallery: Scheffler's flower (25 photos)

Shefflera's magical properties (video)

Description of species and varieties of shefflers

Representatives of this genus are shrubs, lianas and trees, with a height of the aerial part up to 2.5 m. The foliage is complex, dissected into lobes. With age, the stem part becomes bare, and the foliage remains only at the top. Flowering paniculate or racemose inflorescences. The most unpretentious is the variety "Plant Mix".

Schefflera variegated

The most popular variegated forms are represented by varieties Gerda, Sofia, Trinette and Gold Carella. Spots on a green background may have a yellowish or white color. They are differ in leaf size, but all have a very high decorative appeal.

Schefflera digitata

S.digitata is a small, bushy plant that is best suited for growing amateur gardeners. The leaves are represented by several shares, the number of which can be ten. Foliage elliptical in shape, with very characteristic points at the ends.

Schefflera digitata

Schefflera eight-leafed

S. ostorhylla - has leaves in which the number of shares can vary from five to sixteen. To many flower growers, this variety is known as the octopus tree. Shares of an oval form, on an individual petiole. Young foliage often has sparsely serrated or pinnate margins. Flowering in November or early December, after which the plant begins to form fruits.

Schefflera arboreal (tree-like)

S.arboricol is the most common variety in home floriculture. The tree-like Heptapleurum is characterized by an appearance resembling a vine without branches, as well as a significant amount of growth formed from the root system. The most popular varieties of this variety Variegata with dark green leaves and yellow spots, as well as Janine with dark green leaves and cream stripes or spots.

Schefflera arboreal (tree-like)

Schefflera radiant (star-leaved)

S. аstinоhyllа is an independent variety with a height of the aerial part of just over ten meters. It has a powerful and erect trunk with a thickening at the base. Leaves on long petioles are red-brown. The leaf plate is green, glossy, with slightly wavy edges. Inflorescences are represented by red flowers.

Sheffler Nora

S.Nora - indoor variety, which has elegant foliage and is characterized by unpretentious care. It has very long and narrow leaves of dark green color with yellow speckles. The edges of the leaf plate have even teeth. The crown is very lush, well leafy.

Sheffler Nora

Scheffler Custer

S.Kastera is a short and rather compact variety, which is highly valued by amateur flower growers and is best suited for growing in small apartments. Differs in attractive appearance and unpretentiousness.

Sheffler Louisiana

S. luiziana is one of the most elegant varieties with very decorative and openwork, leathery and shiny leaves. The leaf plate is variegated, with quite numerous patches of white or yellow coloration.

Scheffler Custer

Sheffler Gerd

A tree-like variety with very decorative, luxuriant greenery, bright green or yellowish green leaves. For full-fledged cultivation and preservation of all external attractiveness, the plant requires a large amount of diffused lighting, therefore a flower pot should be kept on windows with diffused light.

The main types of shefflers (video)

Sheffler breeding

propagate yourself decorative perennial in conditions indoor floriculture possible in several ways. The culture is fairly easy to propagate not only by layering and cuttings, but also through seed material.

How to propagate a plant from cuttings

Cutting is the most convenient way. It is necessary to choose a stiffened trunk, from which, with the help of a sharp and clean knife, a stalk is cut, which has at least five leaves. Before planting, the cutting is kept for several hours in a solution based on the Heteroauxin stimulant. Also very good result gives powdering of the cut on the handle with fine coal or Kornevin preparation. Planting is carried out in small flower pots with drainage holes filled with nutrient soil substrate. All landings must be covered with a film to ensure comfortable microclimatic conditions.

Scheffler cuttings - the most convenient way

How a flower propagates by air layering

This breeding option is more suitable for already experienced amateur flower growers. For this purpose, roots germinate on the stem part. The stalk itself is not cut off, but only slightly incised. The incision site is wrapped in moss, after which it is covered polyethylene film. Do not allow the incision site to dry out.. Subject to the technology, after about one and a half or two months, you can get a completely finished process with a root system. Such a shoot must be cut off from the parent plant and planted in a separate planting container.

Propagation of room shefflera seeds

Seed propagation of indoor perennials is not carried out too often, since the culture grows in this case for a long time. Seed propagation should be done in January or February. Seeds should be pre-treated in a solution based on any phytohormone. Sowing is carried out at a depth of one and a half meters. Subject to the temperature and humidity conditions, as well as regular ventilation, seedlings grow steadily.

Sheffler seed propagation is not carried out too often, since the culture grows in this case for a long time

Shefflera care at home

It is not too difficult to take care of the plant, but in order to prevent the leaves from falling off, as well as to maintain an attractive appearance for many years, it is necessary not only to form the aerial part correctly and in a timely manner, but also to follow the cultivation technology. It is important to remember that the culture is poisonous, so care must be taken when leaving.

Lighting, humidity and temperature

The culture needs a lot of diffused lighting, so it is better to put a flower pot on the western or eastern windows. Varieties with green leaves are the least whimsical, so they grow well even in partial shade. Variegated varieties need to provide a more lit place. tropical plant loves warm and fairly humid air. Optimal for cultivation will be temperature regime at the level of 16-22оС. It is required to completely eliminate drafts and hot air flows from heating appliances.

soil and flower pot

When choosing flower pot preference should be given to stable planting containers with a sufficient number of drainage holes. The soil for cultivation must necessarily be fertile and slightly acidic, consisting of 10% medium-grained sifted sand, 20% quality humus, 30% leafy soil and 40% soddy soil. Also you can buy ready-made soil for palm trees.

When choosing a flower pot, preference should be given to stable planting containers with a sufficient number of drainage holes.

The soil in the flower pot must be constantly wet., but without waterlogging, which can cause rotting of the root system. Water for irrigation measures is used clean and separated, at room temperature. AT summer period it is advisable to apply additionally the so-called bottom irrigation. Fertilizing the culture will be required only at the stage of active vegetation, in spring and summer. For top dressing, complex or organic fertilizers which are paid every two weeks.

Forming a flower with pruning

Do best shaping in early spring, with a sharp and well-disinfected knife, or garden pruner. You need to cut off all old and obsolete leaves, and for splendor, extra shoots are removed.

It is best to perform the formation of shefflers in early spring.

How to care for an umbrella tree in winter

In winter, all care measures are to provide the plant with an optimal microclimate. Watering should be reduced, but the soil should be moist. Feeding during this period is completely excluded. If necessary, spraying of the aerial part is carried out.

Under what conditions does the plant bloom?

As a rule, the flowering of an umbrella tree in the conditions of indoor floriculture is a rather rare phenomenon. To achieve flowering, it is necessary to strictly observe the regime of watering and fertilizing, and also to provide the decorative culture with the most comfortable indicators of temperature and humidity in the room.

About transplanting shefflers after purchase

It is necessary to transplant the acquired plant in without fail, since the purchased soil is completely unsuitable for permanent cultivation. To properly transplant the plant, you will need to prepare a nutrient soil substrate and a flower pot.

Ordinary garden soil is not suitable for these purposes. You can use ready-made soil suitable for growing palm trees, or you can make a planting mixture yourself, based on soddy and leafy soil, humus and sand. At the bottom of the flower pot, drainage in the form of expanded clay is necessarily filled up. Transplantation is carried out by the method of transshipment of an earthen coma.

Difficulties in growing

The most common reason for the loss of decorativeness is improper plant care. In this case, the perennial leaves often turn yellow, the plant throws off foliage or buds, dries up or dies completely. In this case, you can save an ornamental culture if you adjust the temperature and humidity indicators, as well as top dressing and watering.

Pronounced blanching or yellowing of the foliage, as a rule, is noted with malnutrition

Why does the flower turn yellow

Pronounced blanching or yellowing of the foliage, as a rule, is noted with malnutrition. Feeding solves the problem complex fertilizers three times a month or every ten days. Particular attention should be paid to top dressing in spring and summer, at the stage of active growth of the umbrella tree.

What to do if the sheffler sheds leaves

If the leaves have dropped or fall in large numbers, you need to pay attention to the air temperature in the room. Most often, this phenomenon is observed with improper watering, as well as too low or high temperatures, and with the negative impact of drafts.

We determine the reasons why shefflers turn black and leaves curl

With too intensive irrigation measures, as well as the use of poor quality or cold water, the root system rots, and the foliage noticeably changes color. Leaf plates are covered with numerous spots, turn black, and as a result, the perennial dies. To prevent this phenomenon, it is imperative to ensure sufficient drainage and often loosen the soil in a flower pot.

How to care for a shefflera (video)

Flower diseases and their treatment

To prevent injury spider mite, it is required to pay attention to air humidification and periodically spray the crown of settled warm water. Mass defeat will require the mandatory use of modern chemical insecticides. Compliance with the rules of cultivation will keep the decorative culture healthy and attractive for many years.

Estimate

A spectacular decorative culture with a memorable luxurious name of a chefler and amazing palmately dissected leaves has recently conquered Russian houses, introducing notes of the unfamiliar world of the equatorial tropics into them. It's picturesque and elegant evergreen with an abundance of bright foliage today it is in great demand, its wonderful relaxing qualities and the ability to saturate the surrounding space with oxygen and air ions have been proven.

Schefflera has adapted well to room life, but in order to improve the comfort of her existence, the florist will have to make an effort, although this tropical beauty cannot be called a capricious one. We will talk about the features of home content culture and solutions to emerging problems in this article.

Meet Shefler

Perpetuating the famous name of the German botanist J. H. Scheffler, representatives of the Araliev family are trees and shrubs that can grow up to 10 meters in their places of origin.

All of them are characterized by leaves that are complexly dissected into 4-12 parts, resembling an open holey umbrella or a palm with spread fingers. Not only the shape of the leaves is decorative, but also their amazing color: juicy green monochromatic or variegated with white or creamy yellow spots. In nature, these plants bloom and bear fruit, but within the framework of a potted culture, shefler is an ornamental leafy plant that creates a warm atmosphere and delights with the generous beauty of exotic greenery.

Sheflera blooms with inconspicuous light flowers collected in panicles. After flowering clusters of small berries are formed.

How to take care of the culture

There are almost 200 species in the genus Shefler, among which several cultivars are grown in culture. Depending on the species in indoor floriculture, plants reach a height of 0.5-2.5 m. The tropical origin of the culture dictates the same conditions for keeping and care for all "domesticated" species.

illumination

An important factor in caring for a sheflera in the house is lighting. The culture is photophilous, but does not tolerate the scorching sun and the accompanying heat. It is able to adapt to low light and low temperatures, although it loses its inherent gloss. Therefore, the place for cheflers is chosen bright, but not illuminated by direct rays of the sun.

Advice! The plant, especially its variegated varieties, should not be placed in rooms facing the north side. The lack of light will affect the brightness of the foliage, significantly reducing the color intensity.

It is considered successful to place the culture on the windowsills or near the windows of the western or eastern direction. When choosing a place, the proximity of heating appliances is taken into account - it is impossible to place a chefler next to central heating batteries, since dry air and excess heat are the main enemies of culture, and severe overheating can provoke leaf fall.

Temperature addictions

The plant welcomes cool conditions with an air temperature of 17-22˚С.

Advice! If it is impossible to lower the temperature in the room, the situation will be corrected by periodic spraying of the plant and humidification of the air with a special device or spray gun.

Irrigation Features

An equally important aspect in caring for a cheflera is the watering regimen, which should be regular and moderate. The condition of the soil should be such that it is constantly slightly moist. Drying out of the earth is undesirable, but the culture will be able to endure a short-term drought, and it is not known how it will react to excess water in the pot. We only note that the plant will not endure the constant “bay” and will die.

As a moisture-loving culture, sheflera responds well to daily light shower procedures. Spraying with soft water is favorable not only for its appearance, but also as hygiene procedures that prevent the formation of dust deposits on the leaves that prevent the plant from breathing.

Advice! On hot days, to increase humidity and reduce ambient temperature, a container with a chefler is placed in a tray with wet expanded clay.

In winter, with a slowdown in the natural activity of the culture, the intensity of irrigation is also reduced, but only if the air temperature in the room decreases. It is impossible to allow the soil to dry out at any time of the year.

Schefflera transplant

The root system of sheflers does not grow quickly, therefore, the culture is transplanted every 2-3 years, focusing on filling the entire volume of the pot with roots. Transplants are carried out in spring or autumn. With each such procedure, the volume of the container is increased. For a comfortable existence of culture, it is necessary to choose the right soil. The purchased mixture for palm trees or universal primer is suitable. Can be compiled earth mixture from fertile garden soil, grassroots peat and vermiculite in a ratio of 3 * 1 * 1.

Important! When transplanting, drainage is laid on the bottom of the pot (expanded clay, fine gravel, marble or foam chips), which occupies at least a third of the volume.

How to propagate a plant

The existing opinion about the difficulties in breeding sheflers is difficult to refute, since this procedure is quite lengthy, requires attention and patience. The main method is propagation by stem cuttings.

Important! Viable are cuttings cut from the tops of lateral shoots, well developed and semi-woody.

Before planting, they are treated by keeping in a solution of any biostimulant, for example, "Heteroauxin", "Kornevin" or aloe juice, for 8-10 hours. You can place the cuttings in water and plant in the ground with an already formed root system.

Of particular difficulty is maintaining containers with cuttings in a constant temperature regime at 20-22 ° C. To solve this problem, you can arrange a heated greenhouse on a conventional heating radiator. Any transparent material is used as a shelter - glass or film. The rooting period may take 1.5-2 months.

Important! Periodically, the shelter from the containers is removed by spraying the cuttings and giving them the opportunity to breathe.

The degree of illumination is not important for the process of survival of cuttings by sheflers. With signs of rooting, the film is removed, and the seedlings are kept in containers for another 2-3 months.

They are seated after the root system gets stronger and develops, tightly braiding the entire earthen clod. Young sheflerks are placed in a bright room with a temperature of 14-16˚С.

seed propagation

Sheflera can also be propagated by seeds, but such a method will require a substantial amount of time. The soil for sowing is the same - universal. Before planting, the seeds are left overnight in the Zircon solution, controlling the concentration in accordance with the recommended one in the annotation to the preparation. The depth of seed placement is 1-1.5 cm. The container with seeds is covered with a film and placed in a warm place, and preferably with bottom heating, like containers with cuttings.

Seedlings dive and transplant them into separate pots immediately after the appearance of leaves.

Then they are grown in the same way as the cuttings: when the seedlings get stronger and the roots become cramped in containers, they are transplanted into larger dishes and cared for in the same way as adult plants.

pruning

Flower growers form a plant at their own discretion. Someone likes tall plants in one trunk, but someone likes bush forms. It is important to remember that you need to cut the chefler in the spring before the onset of activity.

Advice! Tall specimens can be turned into bush ones by shortening no more than half the height, and then doing a shaping haircut every year.

In a word, they give the desired shape to the plant gradually and for a long time. Cardinal pruning will do nothing but harm.

Pests and problems

The exotic sheflera has many enemies that make her life much more difficult. Aphids, scale insects, spider mites - this is an incomplete list of insects that create serious problems. For example, an attack by a scale insect cannot be immediately recognized, and when the chefler becomes sticky, as if doused with sugar syrup, the insect colonies have already multiplied so that household or folk remedies can no longer solve the problem. A similar picture is with the spider mite, which usually appears due to excessive dryness of the air in the room.

Advice! With a large area of damage, you should not delay the time, but turn to the help of insecticide preparations, the choice of which in stores is very wide. A good effect is provided by Intavir-S or Iskra. If necessary, the treatment is carried out 2-3 times, maintaining a week break.

Basically, problems with the plant provokes improper care. Sometimes sheflers fall leaves, and there can be many reasons for this: temperature changes, unusually low or, conversely, extremely high thermometer readings for the crop, direct sunlight, drafts, insufficient watering, etc. As a rule, leaf shedding is always a consequence care mistakes. And if in some cases the situation can be corrected, for example, by stabilizing the air temperature in the room, streamlining watering and eliminating drafts, then in others (with severe overheating or flooding), the plant may not be saved.

Sheflera's ability to demonstrate the resulting discomfort by dropping leaves is a very valuable feature, often saving or facilitating her existence. For a grower, this is a signal for action aimed at eliminating the problem.

These are the tricks of caring exotic beauty, recently appeared and so organically fit into the interior of the Russian house.

Among lovers ornamental plants a small "rosette" tree - shefler is popular. Caring for this flower at home does not require special skills, but in order to maintain its appearance, it is important to follow a number of simple rules.

Sheffler's indoor flower belongs to the Aralievs. In nature, its representatives settle in Australia, Japan, China. Among the genus Scheffler, which has about 600 species, there are mainly low trees, shrubs, and sometimes lianas. Wild species can reach 2 m, indoor ones are much lower. The leaves are of decorative value: complex, divided into several lobes, sitting on long petioles. Because of their shape, the sheffler is popularly called the "umbrella tree". The trunk of young plants is leafy, becoming bare with age.

Blooms only in natural conditions. The inflorescences are elongated, racemose, reminiscent of tentacles. That is why natural varieties are called "octopus tree". All parts of the shefflera are poisonous.

Species and varieties

Among the many types of shefflers in indoor floriculture, the following are cultivated:

Radiant. The trunk is erect, strong, grayish-brown, grows up to 80 cm. Petioles are brownish-reddish; leaves are green, may have up to 16 lobes. Based on it, the "Compact" variety was developed with variegated leaves and sizes more suitable for home conditions.
Tree-like, which is sometimes called "Abricola" (schefflera arboricola). A compact plant, shaped like a branched tree. The leaves are large, up to 20 cm long, bright green. Variegated varieties have been bred, for example, Janine: its leaves are creamy, with chaotic dark green spots.
Schefflera is the most elegant. Compact, up to 50 cm, plant with serrated leaves, sometimes decorated with cream edging.

Based natural species(mainly variegated shefflers) varieties designed specifically for indoor floriculture have been bred. The most popular among them are:

Scheffler Melanie. The leaves are medium-sized, golden in color, sometimes with green patches.
Scheffler Gold Capella. The leaves are glossy, fleshy, golden olive in color, sometimes green at the edges. To maintain variegation, it needs bright diffused light all year round.
Sheffler Nora. It differs in the original form of dark green leaves: the lobes are long, narrow, with large, unequal teeth. A yellow edging stands out along the edges; vein more light color. Unpretentious, densely leafy and elegant variety.
Scheffler Bianca. The shape of the leaves is similar to the previous variety, but they are shorter, with a white border around the edge.
Scheffler Louisiana. An elegant plant with leathery shiny leaves of bright green color with yellow or white speckles. The central vein is clearly visible. The variety is undemanding to the conditions of detention.

How to care for a shefflera at home

Caring for a sheflera at home requires compliance with the rules of agricultural technology aimed at recreating "native" tropical conditions.

Lighting and temperature conditions

The need for light depends on the type of shefflera. In variegated forms, it is higher; window sills of western or eastern orientation will be optimal for them. Plants with plain leaves feel great even on northern windows. Excess light, and even more so direct sunlight, harm the sheffler. In the warm season, you can take the tree out into the fresh air, choosing a shaded place for it. In winter, it is desirable to have artificial lighting. If it is not there, the pot is moved to the southern window sills.

The optimum temperature for an umbrella tree is 18-25 degrees. It is easier for him to endure the summer heat in the open air. In winter, the temperature can drop to 15 degrees. During this period, the sheffler is placed away from the batteries and protected from cold drafts.

Air humidity

Like all araliaceae, shefflera needs high humidity. In summer, the leaves are sprayed daily. You can place the pot on a pallet with wet sand, expanded clay or sphagnum, which will preserve the beauty of the leaves throughout the hot period. With a decrease in temperature, the number of sprays is reduced; if in winter the sheffler is kept at 15-18 degrees, then they stop completely.

Watering and fertilizing

Sheffler is watered moderately, allowing the top layer of soil to dry out. The plant responds negatively to both excess and lack of moisture. Soft rain or spring water is used, in extreme cases, tap water can be defended. Before use, it must be heated to 30-35 degrees.

Sheffler is fed from March to October twice a month. It is advisable to alternate mineral and organic fertilizers. The dosage is reduced by half of the recommended.

In winter, watering is reduced, without bringing the earthen coma to complete drying. Top dressing is stopped altogether, as is spraying. Flower care in winter is no different. Sheffler pruning is not needed.

reproduction

If care does not cause problems, then the reproduction of shefflers may be beyond the strength of novice flower growers. It propagates in several ways: cuttings, layering and seeds.

To successfully root cuttings, you need:

Cut off strong healthy tops 7-10 cm long with a sharp knife.
Soak them in a solution of any stimulant (Heteroauxin, Epin, Succinic acid) for several hours.
Prepare small containers with drainage holes, lay a layer of expanded clay on the bottom.
Fill containers with a mixture of sand and peat (1:1).
Plant cuttings, carefully water the soil.

After planting, the containers are placed in greenhouse conditions. It is important to air the seedlings daily. The temperature in greenhouses should be kept within 20-23 degrees. For successful rooting, it is desirable to provide seedlings with bottom heating. Central heating batteries are not suitable for this purpose. Sheflera leaf does not reproduce.

Roots appear in about a month. After the young plants grow a pair of new leaves, they can be transplanted into cramped pots (0.25-0.35 l) and placed in a permanent place. Experienced flower growers it is advised to plant several cuttings in one pot; they can even be intertwined.

Growing roots on cuttings is similar to propagating from cuttings, with the difference that young plant does not separate from the parent until it grows its own roots.

To get layering, a shallow incision is made on the trunk of an adult plant 7-10 cm below the top. Then it is wrapped in wet sphagnum and wrapped in a plastic bag. The package is fixed at the top and bottom with a thread or wire. This is done to create a greenhouse effect. Moss is constantly kept moist. After the appearance of air roots, the stalk is cut off, planted in a sand-peat mixture and placed in a greenhouse for several weeks.

Sheffler from seeds is one of the easiest, albeit requiring patience, methods of reproduction. Seed material can be purchased in specialized flower shops. It is problematic to get it on your own, since the umbrella tree does not bloom in room conditions.

Before planting, the seeds are soaked for several hours in a solution of Epin, Zircon or any other stimulant. Landing tanks should be deep. A layer of drainage is laid in them, covered with a mixture of peat and sand, moistened. Seeds are planted in holes 0.5 cm deep. The containers are placed in greenhouse conditions. Preferably with underfloor heating.

After the emergence of seedlings, greenhouses begin to air daily. After the appearance of 2-3 leaves, the seedlings dive into separate containers using the same soil mixture that was used during planting. The seedlings are kept in greenhouse conditions, spraying and airing daily until they are strong and ready to be transplanted into permanent pots.

Transfer

Young plants are transplanted annually, as they grow intensively. Adult shefflers do not tolerate this procedure well, so they are transferred to large containers only as needed, that is, once every 2-3 years.

The optimal soil for sheflera should contain 2 parts of sod land and 1 part of peat and sand. You can purchase the appropriate mixture in flower shops. The first pot is selected so that 3-4 cm remain from the trunk to the sides. Each next container should be 2-3 cm larger.

Sheflera transplantation is carried out as follows:

a layer of drainage and fresh soil is laid in a new container;
the plant is removed along with an earthen clod, trying not to violate its integrity;
set in a prepared pot so that the trunk does not have to be buried;
pour soil on the sides, lightly tamping it;
watered abundantly.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to transplant the chefler "out of time", for example, if she began to rot. In this case, the root system is completely freed from the soil. Rotted areas are cut off, sprinkling slices with crushed wood or activated carbon; you can withstand the roots in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or Fundazole.

The plant is planted in a container that is closer than the previous one. In the composition of the soil, the proportion of sand is increased. After planting, be sure to place the sheffler in a greenhouse, treating her like a cutting.

Growing problems

Schefflera can be affected by scale insects, mealybugs and spider mites. The scale insect is easy to recognize at the initial stage of infection by sticky spots on the leaves. Soon the foliage begins to turn yellow, and only then adult females appear on the plant - small brownish tubercles. Shchitovka is a dangerous and "tenacious" pest that can quickly occupy not only the infected, but also neighboring plants. Do not start the fight by washing the leaves with soap, alcohol - these tips are only good as a concomitant remedy. The main one should be repeated spraying with systemic insecticides.

A tick infestation can be judged by a thin cobweb on the leaves. The upper leaves begin to lag behind in development, the growth point is oppressed. When the first signs appear, treat the sheffler several times with any acaricide, for example, Neoron. It is important to observe an interval of 7 days between sprayings.

Common sheflera diseases are stem and root rot. They appear with excessive watering, especially in the cool season. Transplantation will help to reanimate the plant with the removal of all rotten parts. It is important to treat sections with crushed coal or fungicides. In advanced cases, they try to save at least upper part by re-rooting it.

Sometimes the condition of shefflera worsens due to violations of agricultural technology.

External manifestations	Likely Causes	Solutions
Sheflers darken and leaves fall	the plant sheds its leaves when it is cold or hot	Keep your sheffler at the right temperature
Leaves turn pale and yellow	Most often this indicates a lack of nutrition.	Do not forget to regularly feed the sheffler
Leaves fade, lose their variegated color	Scheffler little light	Move the pot to a more lit area.
Dark spots appear on the leaves	This symptom indicates excessive watering in the cool season.	Water moderately: in winter, waterlogging the earthy coma can lead to the death of the plant
Leaves dry, brown at the edges	There may be several reasons: insufficient watering, dry air or drafts	Observe agricultural technology, do not forget to spray the plant daily in the summer

Expert opinion

Color Expert

Ask an expert

Schefflera, despite its exotic appearance and tropical origin, takes root perfectly on our windowsills. This is what makes it one of the most popular ornamental foliage plants.