What are the cultivation methods for Schefflera arboricola?
Are you curious about the cultivation methods for Schefflera arboricola and techniques to make it more vigorous? Here is an introduction to green plant flowers by the editor for netizens.
The leaves of Schefflera arboricola are dark green and beautifully shaped, with a full tree form that has high ornamental value. It is often placed indoors, not only beautifying the home but also purifying the air. Now is a good season for planting Schefflera arboricola, so those who enjoy it can grow a pot at home for appreciation. You can also use this time to propagate more young plants through cuttings, which will soon grow into beautiful potted plants.
Cultivation Soil Preparation
Schefflera arboricola is highly adaptable to the environment. When growing it in a pot at home, you can prepare some cultivation soil by mixing decomposed leaf soil, coal slag, garden soil, or sandy soil evenly.
Avoid Overwatering
Schefflera arboricola enjoys moisture. In summer, with rapid water evaporation, keep the soil moist and water promptly when it starts to dry. When the surrounding environment is too dry, spray the plant to increase humidity, or perform foliar watering. In spring and autumn, you can reduce watering slightly, watering once every three days or so. In winter, the plant requires less water, and watering can be controlled to prevent leaf drop due to excessive watering.
Fertilization to Supplement Nutrition
Schefflera arboricola grows quickly, with spring, summer, and autumn being peak growing seasons. It needs ample nutrients to maintain growth. Fertilization for Schefflera arboricola can include more decomposed organic fertilizers like decomposed soybean cake, chicken manure, and sheep manure.
For varieties with variegated leaves, be careful when fertilizing. Do not apply only nitrogen fertilizer, as this may turn the leaves green and cause the variegation to disappear. To prevent the fade or disappearance of the patterns, frequently apply some phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, such as dilute phosphorus potassium fertilizer solution or foliar spray.
What are the cultivation methods for Schefflera arboricola?
Pruning and Shaping
Schefflera arboricola's suckering branches grow rapidly, so pruning and shaping should be done during its growing period to promote the growth of lateral branches and maintain a good tree form. For young plants, only thinning and light pruning are usually done, focusing on shaping. For older plants, which are usually large, a heavy pruning can be done when repotting, cutting off most of the branches and also some of the roots, then repotting to encourage new leaf growth and a full, shaped canopy.
Controlling Light
Schefflera arboricola prefers a semi-shaded environment. In summer, with strong sunlight, it should be placed in a cool and well-ventilated area. Outdoor care should include shade protection to prevent strong sunlight from burning the leaves and causing the leaf color to fade. In winter, when sunlight is weak, no shading is needed, and at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day can help the plant grow well.
Propagation by Cuttings
Propagation by cuttings can be done in spring and autumn, or during each pruning, using the cut branches as cuttings. First, cut 10-15 cm long healthy branches as cuttings. Then remove the lower leaves, leaving only 3-4 leaves at the top, and cut the lower end diagonally. Insert the cuttings into moist river sand or perlite, water after insertion to keep them moist, and place them in a low-light, well-ventilated area. Generally, roots will form after about 1.5 months.
Now is a good season for planting and propagating Schefflera arboricola. Everyone can use this time to plant or propagate some beautiful Schefflera arboricola for appreciation.
The above content about the cultivation methods and techniques to make Schefflera arboricola more vigorous is introduced by the Green Plant Enthusiast website. Green plant enthusiasts can refer to this aspect for guidance.