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Sheffler indoor flower care and reproduction. How to make a bush

Plant sheflera (lat. Shefflera), or sheffler, or umbrella tree, belongs to the largest genus of plants of the Araliaceae family, numbering about 200 species. Sheffler's flower got its name either in honor of the German botanist Jacob Christian Scheffler, who lived in the 18th century, or in honor of the Polish scientist Peter Ernest Jan Scheffler. In nature, representatives of this genus are lianas, shrubs or trees, reaching a height of two and a half meters and growing in the tropics of Australia, Southeast Asia and on the islands. Pacific Ocean. In culture, some garden forms of cheflers with variegated foliage are in demand; cheflera has been grown relatively recently in the house. This is an exotic relaxant plant that absorbs negative energy like a sponge, saturates the air with oxygen and increases its humidity.

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Planting and caring for a sheflera (in short)

Bloom: the plant is grown as an ornamental deciduous plant.
Lighting: bright light in the first half of the day, bright diffused light or light partial shade in the second (eastern and western window sills). You can keep the chefler near the south window, but behind a light curtain. Variegated varieties are more photophilous than forms with single-color leaves.
Temperature: during the growing season - usual for residential premises, in winter - 16-18 ˚C, lower temperature threshold - 12 ˚C.
Watering: regular, moderate, with cool wintering - rare.
Air humidity: above average. It is recommended to spray the leaves with warm soft water, especially in the heat and during the winter in a warm room.
Top dressing: from March to August 2-3 times a month with complex fertilizer for decorative and deciduous crops. The rest of the time they do not feed.
rest period: from September to February.
Transfer: young plants are transplanted annually, adults - as needed. Transplantation is carried out in the spring, at the beginning of active growth.
Reproduction: seeds, air layers and cuttings.
Pests: aphids, thrips, scale insects, spider mites.
Diseases: from chronic waterlogging of the soil - root rot, due to poor care - loss of decorative qualities.

Shefler flower - description

Shefler's home flower - decorative deciduous plant with palmately dissected leaves with 4-12 lobes, which look like a palm with spread fingers, uniformly green or variegated colors with yellow or white spots and stains. Sheflera's inflorescences are elongated, racemose, similar to tentacles, but you are unlikely to be lucky to see them, since the plant blooms only in nature or in botanical garden. Typically, a room chefler is shaped like a tree, like Benjamin's ficus, or in the shape of a bush. The shoots of the plant are thin, so when grown in one trunk, it has to be attached to a support. Schefflera is relatively unpretentious, so it will not be difficult to grow it even for a beginner grower, however, it should be remembered that the plant contains substances that irritate the skin and mucous membranes, so care must be taken when caring for it.

Care for a chefler at home

How to care for a chef

Sheflera is a light-loving plant, so it is placed on the southern, western or eastern windowsill, but during the period of too strong sun activity, the plant is covered from direct rays with a light curtain. If you already got an adult large shefler, install it near the south window in the immediate vicinity of the curtains. In an apartment where there is little light, you should not grow variegated varieties, since they are more photophilous than a shefler with green leaves: from a lack of lighting, variegated leaves become monochromatic. In the summer, the chefler takes vacations well on fresh air in light partial shade, protected from wind and drafts.

The humidity in the room where the chefler is located should be above average, and although the plant easily adapts to room conditions, daily spraying with settled water will have a beneficial effect on it. When dust accumulates on sheflera leaves, it is advisable to arrange a shower for it or wipe the leaves with a damp sponge. AT winter time when heating devices are working in the apartment, the shefler is installed on a pallet with wet expanded clay or pebbles, but in such a way that the roots of the plant do not touch the water. As for the temperature, in the summer the chefler feels fine at the usual temperature for this time, but in winter she is more comfortable at 16-18 ºC, lower limit winter temperature for the plant is 12 ºC.

Water the chefler with settled water, preventing the earthen clod from drying out. However, one should refrain from too frequent and abundant watering, which can lead to acidification of the soil and rotting of the roots. The water temperature for watering the sheflera should be the same as the temperature in the room, or a couple of degrees warmer.

Schefflera transplant

It is advisable to transplant young plants annually in the spring, and adults - once every few years, as the pot is filled with roots. The container is taken 5-6 centimeters in diameter more than the previous pot. Before transplanting a shefler, place a thick layer of drainage in the pot, which will prevent stagnation of water in the roots. Soil for sheflera requires light, permeable, but at the same time fertile. Cheflera tastes best with a soil mixture of three parts compost soil, one part fibrous peat and one and a half parts coarse sand, although a universal one will do. purchased soil or soil for palm trees. In a new pot with a drainage layer, carefully transfer the shefler along with earthy clod, add the required amount of soil mixture, lightly tamping it. After transplanting, the plant is watered.

Sheflera fertilizer

Caring for a sheflera at home provides for mandatory fertilization of the soil in which it grows. Shefler is fed two to three times a month from March to August with complex mineral fertilizers for decorative and deciduous plants in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, alternating them with powder from crushed eggshell in the amount of one tablespoon. In winter, the chefler does not need additional feeding.

Sheflera in winter

When the dormant period begins, the chefler is placed in a bright room with a temperature not higher than 16-18 ºC, where she will stay until spring. Sheflera in winter does not need such frequent and abundant moisture as in summer, but the principle of watering remains the same: as the top layer of soil in the pot dries. We remind you: in winter, the chefler does not need fertilizers.

Home chefler - reproduction

How to propagate sheflera

Sheflera is propagated at home by seeds, air layering and cuttings. by the most in a simple way propagation is cuttings, especially since the indoor sheflera does not bloom and, therefore, does not produce seeds.

Propagation of a chefler by cuttings

For grafting, it is necessary to cut off the most developed semi-lignified shoots, cut cuttings with two internodes from them with a sharp knife, treat them with a growth stimulator - hold for 6-8 hours in a solution of Heteroauxin, and dip them in Kornevin immediately before planting. Shefler cuttings are planted in pots filled with a mixture of peat and sand in equal proportions, covered with a transparent cap and, keeping the temperature under it within 22 ºC, place the cuttings under bright diffused light. From time to time, the soil is moistened from the sprayer and the cap is removed briefly to ventilate the cuttings. When the shoots take root, they are moved to a temperature of 18-20 ºC, and when the roots fill the entire pot, they are transplanted into a larger container and kept at a temperature of 14-16 ºC until rooting is complete.

Propagation of cheflers by seeds

If you purchased sheflera seeds, sow them in January or February in a disinfected peat-sand mixture in equal parts or into a sterile sheet substrate, sod land and sand. Seeds are also subject to processing before sowing: they are soaked in a solution of Epin or Zircon. Close up the seeds to a depth equal to three times the size of the seed, after which the sowing is watered, covered with a film and placed in a warm place, maintaining the temperature under the film within 20-24 ºC. From time to time, the film is slightly opened to ventilate and moisten the substrate. If you have the opportunity, arrange bottom heating for the crops - this will speed up the germination of seedlings. At the stage of development, seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, they are dived into separate containers with a diameter of 7-9 cm and kept at a temperature of 14-16 ºC. With normal development, by autumn, the seedlings are transplanted into pots with a diameter of 10-12 cm with a substrate consisting of soddy, leafy soil and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1.

Reproduction of cheflers by layering

Large plants propagate by air layering. To do this, the cheflers cut the trunk vertically, wrap the cut site with wet sphagnum moss, which is moistened with a nutrient solution of 1 g of complex fertilizer in a liter of water or phytohormone, and from above this part of the trunk with moss is hermetically wrapped with polyethylene. The moss should be wet all the time, so you will have to remove or lift the film from time to time. After a while, roots form at the site of damage to the trunk, and two months after their appearance, the entire upper part the trees are cut under the area where the roots have formed, and transplanted into a separate pot. lower part cut almost to the root and continue to water the remaining stump. It is possible that he will give young shoots.

Pests and diseases

Sheflera turns yellow

With improper or insufficient care, sheflera is affected by scale insects, red spider mites and thrips. As a result of the vital activity of these insects, the plant loses its decorative effect: the leaves of the cheflera turn yellow, its growth slows down, and in the end it dies. To avoid the death of the plant from insects, regularly inspect the sheflera, and when the first pests appear, remove them from the plant soaked in soapy water cloth or cotton swab. If you missed their appearance, and they have already occupied the plant, treat the chefler with a solution of Karbofos or Aktellik (15-20 drops per 1 liter of water), just make sure that chemicals do not get into the ground. With a very strong pest infestation, the treatment will have to be repeated after two weeks.

Yellow spots on the chefler arise from too bright light. Move the plant further into the room or shade it with a curtain from direct sunlight.

Sheflera drops leaves

It happens that there are no pests on the plant, but, nevertheless, the shefler crumbles. Why does the chefler fall off? The cause of sheflera leaf fall may lie in uncomfortable conditions for the plant. For example, if long time the room temperature is below 14 or above 30 ºC. Or in the case when its roots rot from chronic waterlogging. How to save the chefler from death in this case? It is necessary to take it out of the pot, carefully remove the rotten parts of the roots, then lower the sheflera roots into a solution of Epin or Zircon, then treat them with Fitosporin or sprinkle with crushed coal, transplant them into a fresh wet substrate and put a transparent plastic bag on the plant, sometimes removing it for airing and soil moisture. The final package can be removed after 5-7 days.

Sometimes sheflera leaves fall due to insufficient lighting, the variegated forms of the plant are especially affected by this.

Sheflera turns black

Readers often complain that the leaves of the cheflers turn black, starting from the tips. This usually happens when the humidity in the room is low or due to poor watering. Correct these shortcomings in care, and gradually the plant will restore its shape.

Sheflera - signs

When a chefler is accused of energy vampirism, it must be admitted that there is some truth in these accusations. Sheflera really absorbs energy, but only negative, so do not panic, but, on the contrary, try to spend some time next to her, especially if you are overcome by anxious or sad thoughts. Sheflera removes negativity and brings a sense of harmony, helps to stop quarrels in the family. The best place in the house for cheflers is the bedroom. It is there that you relax during sleep, and the cheflera absorbs all your anxieties and neuroses, instilling vigor and peace. You can place the shefler in the office or next to the student's study corner, since esotericism suggests that the plant has the ability to contribute to the productive assimilation of knowledge.

It is also claimed that with the help of sheflers it is possible to predict the future. For example, the phenomena we have just explained objective reasons, in the world of superstitions are interpreted differently. For example:

if the leaves of the cheflers are darkening, this is a sign that there is a lot of negative energy in the room;
if the chefler falls, this is a harbinger that someone living in the house will fall ill, or there will be a financial collapse, the loss of a large amount of money;
when the leaves of a plant curl up, this is a scandal with households or work colleagues - it depends on where the plant is located;
if the chefler without visible reasons stopped its development, this is an omen of future failures;
unexpected intensive growth of cheflera - to replenishment in the family.

There is an opinion that a chefler growing up in the office attracts clients and good business partners, and therefore, one can expect an increase in income. By the way, most of all the plant helps people born under fire signs zodiac - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

Types and varieties of cheflers

Very spectacular view with an unusual arrangement of leaves: 8-10 elongate-lanceolate shiny leathery leaves with a pointed apex 30-40 cm long and about 10 cm wide on drooping cream petioles. When young, the leaves are olive green; when they age, they become lighter, and the veins become lighter. sheet plate. The underside of the leaves is matte, pale green.

she is Aralia Schefflera (Aralia schefflera) originally from New Zealand. This tree is 3 to 8 m high with palm-shaped leaves dissected into 7-10 lobes, 15 to 35 cm long. The lobes are lanceolate, thin, parchment-shaped, oblong-pointed, 6 to 8 long, 4 to 6 cm wide. margins serrated, young pinnate or irregularly lobed. The petioles are cylindrical in cross section, from 7 to 20 cm long. Small flowers are collected in umbellate inflorescences in an amount of 4 to 8 pieces.

- a tree with an upright branching stem. Young shoots of this species are green, old light brown. The leaves, unlike other species, are pinnately complex, up to 20 cm long. This species has several varieties:

Gold Capella - this variety appearance resembles a palm tree. Its leaves are green with small yellow spots;
Amate is a variety with bright green leaves that does not require bright lighting, is the most resistant to pests and diseases.

Schefflera radiata

or stellate (Schefflera actinophylla) - the most common species in culture with a powerful erect gray-brown trunk, thickened at the base. Palmately compound leaves, consisting of 7 ovate lobes with a slightly wavy edge, are located on very long red-brown petioles. In the original form, the leaves are bright green, shiny. Some lobes are so wide in the middle that their edges overlap. The veins are lighter than the leaf plate. This species has many varieties:

Green Gold - a chefler with variegated golden yellow leaves;
Nova is a variety with olive-yellow leaves, reminiscent of oak.

Schefflera (Schefflera) is a low tree or shrub from the Araliev family, common in countries and regions with a tropical climate and named after the famous botanist from Germany I.Kh. Scheffler. The most popular varieties in culture are shefflera eight-point, tree-like, radiant.

AT vivo the culture reaches 40 meters in height, and with room content - 1.5-2 meters. individual feature plants are leaves of unusual shape that resemble a palm with spread fingers or an open umbrella of several dissected lobes (from 4 to 12). In nature, the tree blooms with inflorescences-umbrellas, consisting of small flowers. white shade, indoors, flowering may not occur at all. The high decorativeness of culture lies in beautiful leaves. It is used for landscaping large rooms with high ceilings, and also grown in winter gardens, subtropical parks and greenhouses.

Such a houseplant as a chefler can be found quite often in many homes and offices. This plant is the most suitable option for a novice gardener, because it is completely unpretentious.

Location and lighting

The most ideal place for a cheflera, where she will feel comfortable, are the windowsills of windows facing east and west. The place of cultivation and the level of illumination depends on the chosen variety and type of plant. For example, green-leaved varieties can grow on the windowsill on the north side, and variegated varieties on the east and west sides. The light should be bright, but diffused, without direct sunlight. AT winter period more light is needed, so it is recommended to use additional lighting(artificial). Fluorescent lamps must be used (in autumn and winter) if the temperature in the room with indoor plants is above 18 degrees Celsius.

During the warm summer months, the shefflera will do well outdoors in the garden or on the balcony, but in semi-shaded conditions, with protection from the direct rays of the sun. You should know that drafts are strictly contraindicated for this plant. If you have a variegated-leaved shefler, she will need more light than the green-leaved species.

Temperature

The temperature regime for growing tropical shefflera varies depending on the season. For example, in the spring and summer months, the optimum temperature for full growth and development is 18-20 degrees. In autumn and winter - 12-16 degrees Celsius, lower temperatures are dangerous for health and life indoor flower. It is very important that in heating season plants were not near central heating radiators or other heaters.

It has long been noticed that in rooms in which there are air conditioners, the plant grows much better and faster. But this does not mean that the plant pot should be placed under cold air jets.

Watering

It is necessary to water the sheffler regularly, in summer and spring in moderate volumes, in the cold months - in minimal volumes. For irrigation, you need to use only soft settled or purified water with a temperature close to room temperature. Overdrying the earthen clod will negatively affect the decorative qualities of the plant, and constant excessive moisture in the soil can lead to its acidification and, in the future, to the death of the entire flower. The temperature indicators of the air in the room and the soil in the flower pot should be approximately the same.

Schefflera can be grown using the hydroponic method.

Air humidity

Ornamental shefflera prefers high humidity air. Maintain such high level it is possible with the help of a special pallet with wet peat or expanded clay. Additional moisture is given to plants by regular spraying. Such water procedures are carried out by soft settled warm water with a temperature of 20-22 degrees Celsius 1-2 times a day.

The soil

The soil for growing shefflera should be light, slightly acidic. The composition of the most suitable substrate: one part of humus and fine-grained river sand and two parts of sod land. Another substrate option: 3 parts greenhouse or compost soil mixed with 1 part peat and 1.5 part coarse sand.

Top dressings and fertilizers

It is recommended to apply universal top dressing for deciduous houseplants regularly at intervals of two weeks throughout the entire growing season, starting from early spring and ending late autumn along with irrigation.

Transfer

Schefflera transplantation is recommended in early spring every two years. New flower pot should significantly exceed the volume of the previous one, because with proper care, the chefler will grow rapidly. Good drainage must be laid at the bottom with a layer of 2-4 centimeters.

pruning

Schefflera reacts negatively to pruning; its decorative qualities suffer from this procedure. To create a lush and dense shrub, it is recommended to plant several seedlings in one flower container at once.

Reproduction by seeds

Sowing seeds can be carried out at the beginning or middle of winter. Soil mixture can be prepared at home. It should contain one part of sand, leafy soil and soddy soil, or equal parts of fine sand and peat. Such a substrate must be disinfected before use. Seed material also needs to be prepared for planting. Seeds are recommended to be soaked in water room temperature with the addition of zircon or epin for 2-3 hours.

The soil is poured into deep planting boxes, the seeds are buried by 8-10 centimeters, immediately after sowing, they are abundantly watered and transferred to a warm room with a constant temperature of 20-24 degrees. Seedling care consists of regular airing and spraying. When germinating seeds in a mini-greenhouse with bottom heating, the process of emergence of young plants occurs much faster.

Seedlings with 2-3 leaves dive into individual containers and grow for three months at a temperature of about 20 degrees, after which they are transplanted into a larger pot and moved to a bright room with a temperature of 14-15 degrees. In autumn, transplanting seedlings is carried out by transshipment.

Reproduction by cuttings

For this method, semi-lignified cuttings are taken, treated with heteroauxin and planted in a sand-peat substrate in a mini-greenhouse with bottom heating (or covered with a glass jar) and an obligatory drainage layer. The optimum temperature for growing is 20-22 degrees. For the formation of a full-fledged root system, the cuttings must be moistened, ventilated and provided with sufficient lighting in a timely manner. After rooting, the cuttings can be transplanted into individual pots.

Propagation by air layering

This propagation method is well suited for large plants and is applied in early spring. It is necessary to make a small incision on the bark of the trunk, cover it on all sides with wet moss dipped in a nutrient solution and wrap it around plastic wrap. The solution is prepared from 1 liter of water and 1 gram of complex mineral fertilizer. It is important that the sphagnum moss always remains moderately moist until roots appear at the incision site.

The first roots should appear in about 2-3 months, and after the same period of time, the top with its root system can be cut off and planted in an individual container. It is recommended to cover the remaining stump with wet moss and maintain moderate humidity until young shoots appear with regular watering. The overgrown shoots will turn the stump into a new copy of the shefflers.

Possible pests are spider mites, aphids, scale insects. Spraying is used to kill them. chemicals"Aktara", "Akarin". Due to their high toxicity, it is recommended to use a respirator during the processing of plants.

Difficulties in growing

Sheffler is sick most often due to violations of the conditions of detention and improper care. It is very sensitive to stagnant water in the soil and insufficient light, and also does not like sudden changes in air temperature (from minimum to maximum) and dry indoor air.

Dropping leaves occurs at elevated indoor air temperatures in summer and low temperatures in winter. Also, leaf fall is possible with excessive soil moisture.
The surface of the leaf plates becomes faded or covered with light spots in the wrong light. The lack and excess of light equally negatively affects the plant.
Root rot appears with a constant excess of irrigation water in the soil.
Drying leaf tips Brown appear on the plant with a lack of moisture in the soil and with dry air in the room.

Schefflera eight-leaf

View with an unusual type of arrangement of sheet plates. Petioles - drooping with a creamy tint, leaves - lanceolate, with 8-12 elongated leaves, up to 40 centimeters long and about 10 centimeters wide. The surface of the leathery leaf plates is shiny with several shades of green.

Schefflera digitata

This species was introduced from New Zealand and represents trees from three to eight meters high with palm-shaped leaves 15-30 centimeters long on long petioles (7-20 centimeters in length). It blooms with white inflorescences - umbrellas.

Schefflera tree

The species is a tree of small height, consisting of a straight trunk with large quantity shoots of a green or light brown hue and odd-pinnate compound leaves 15-20 centimeters long. It consists of several varieties and varieties that differ in color and size of leaf plates, resistance to pests and diseases, as well as care requirements.