my beloved schefflera
 

i am just a green greenthumb, so i am wondering what the best way to go
about encouraging my 3 yr old schefflera (umbrella houseplant) to
branch out...it only has one stem...STILL! should I do a cutting...and
if so what kind? help!

you can cut the top six inches off it and it will branch. Of course if you
do this you will sacrifice the topknot. You could also make a cut down
about a foot and put a toothpick into the wound keeping it open until it
either makes a limb or roots. I pruned one of mine that was a singular
trunk and it's rewarded me with several branches now. I also summer mine
outside. sheltering them a little at first until it gets used to direct
sunlight. They do grow outside in the tropics after all. If you put them out
in direct sunlight all at once they'll sunburn just like I do. Start out
slowly and put them in indirect sunlight outside. More sun a little at a
time until it's used to it totally. by the way, I have two that I've had
now for going on 20 years. One is the one I've cut back, the other has a
neat crook in the trunk that I have left alone. Both summer outside until
fall frost warnings. Then I clean them off and bring them inside and put
them under florescent lights until springtime again. I water enough to keep
them happy but not too much. Spindley growth is hard on them. Good luck.
It will be hard to cut it back, and if you can't, buy another one at Lowes
while their tropicals are so cheap and experiment on pruning off a piece of
that one.


madgardener
"Katiebird" wrote in message
oups.com...
i am just a green greenthumb, so i am wondering what the best way to go
about encouraging my 3 yr old schefflera (umbrella houseplant) to
branch out...it only has one stem...STILL! should I do a cutting...and
if so what kind? help!