The best tips for caring for a chefler at home. Scheffler home care

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.

Read more about growing cheflers below.

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, monotonously 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. Usually room cheflera It is formed in the form of a tree, like Benjamin's ficus, or in the form 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 chefler.

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 summer, sheflera takes well outdoor vacations 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. In winter, when heating devices are working in the apartment, the chefler 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 normal 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.

Chefler 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 general-purpose commercial or palm soil will work. In a new pot with a drainage layer, the chefler is carefully transferred along with an earthen clod, the required amount of soil mixture is added, lightly tamping it. After transplanting, the plant is watered.

Cheflery 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 leafy 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.

Scheffler 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 cuttings, it is necessary to cut off the most developed semi-lignified shoots, sharp knife cut cuttings from them with two internodes, treat them with a growth stimulator - hold for 6-8 hours in a solution of Heteroauxin, and immediately before planting, dip them in Kornevin. 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 segments of 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 bowl bigger size and keep at a temperature of 14-16 ºC until full rooting.

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 in sterile substrate from sheet, 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 turf, leaf ground 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 of the tree is cut off under the area where the roots 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.

In case of incorrect 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 chefler, and when the first pests appear, remove them from the plant with a rag or cotton swab dipped in soapy water. 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 sheds 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 one on the plant plastic bag, removing it sometimes for airing and moistening the soil. 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 - a 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 fold, this is a scandal with households or work colleagues - it depends on where the plant is located;
• - if the chefler is 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 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 the fire signs of the zodiac - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

Types and varieties of cheflers

- a 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 the leaves are young, they are olive green in color, when they age, they become lighter, and the veins become lighter than the leaf 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 looks like a palm tree. Its leaves are green in 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.

Sheflera radiant,

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 - a variety with olive-yellow leaves, reminiscent of oak.

Of all the wide variety of exotic species that exist on the planet, it is especially worth highlighting a potted small tree, which is named "sheflera" - in honor of the famous German botanist. There are more than 500 species of this plant, among which a little more than a dozen species can be called indoor, so a chefler in a house is a rather rare occurrence.

Brief description of the plant

The most famous potted varieties include the following:

• dusty sheflera;
• eight-leaf chefler;
• woody;
• radiant.

Sheflera is a tree or shrub up to 2.5 meters high. The plant has beautiful large leaves, very similar to a palm with spread fingers. Thin and long shoots need support. Flower growers often plant several plants in one pot and form one interlaced one from numerous stems.

Some notice that their hands are covered with an unpleasant rash when a chefler appears in the house. The sign is not at all connected with superstitions. The plant is really poisonous and can irritate the mucous membranes and skin. Therefore, it should be handled with care.

Easy plant care

If a chefler appeared in the house, why talk about difficulties? Caring for this plant is very simple. The most important point in caring for is right choice places and ensuring sufficient air humidity during hot periods.

The ideal temperature for keeping cheflers in the house is from 16 to 22 degrees Celsius. It should also be taken into account that the variegated types of cheflers need not only moisture in the summer, but also good temperatures in winter - not lower than 18 degrees Celsius. If we are talking about a chefler with green leaves, then it will winter well even at 14-16 degrees.

From April to September, during the period of active growth, the plant needs additional top dressing. Fertilize with complex fertilizers, sometimes replacing complex fertilizer with organic. It must be applied three times a month at regular intervals.

Southern plant loves moisture

Sheflera is very sensitive to a large number moisture, so it must be watered abundantly, the earth should not be allowed to dry out. Watering should be reduced only in winter, and if the temperature in winter for sheflera is minimal, then it is completely stopped or the humidification of the air is simply canceled.

In summer, in addition to watering the plant, caring for it also includes wiping the leaves from dust with a moistened sponge. Also, in the summer, you should periodically ventilate the plant in the fresh air. But the chefler should be placed so that the sun's rays do not fall on it. Let it be diffused light or partial shade. Very beautiful well-groomed cheflera in the house. A photo of such a flower will decorate any gardening magazine.

One flower is good, but two is better. Breeding rules

Shefler is transplanted once every two years. Required for transplant good drainage from expanded clay or ceramic fragments. It is best to take a special soil for the plant, and transplantation should be done either in autumn or summer.

The plant reproduces mainly by seeds and cuttings, but propagation by seeds is the exception rather than the rule. They should be planted in a pot either in February or March, and until the first sprouts appear, it is necessary to maintain the optimum temperature in the room (22 degrees). After the appearance of the first sprouts, you can slightly lower the temperature - up to 18 degrees.

But as mentioned above, sheflera is most often propagated by cuttings. What do I need to do? It is necessary to take cut cuttings, carefully treat them with a hormonal mixture and plant them in a mixture of peat and sand (in a ratio of one to one). After that, the cuttings should be covered glass jar and leave them like this at a temperature of 20 to 22 degrees. Until the cuttings are fully rooted and hardened, they should not be given access to air.

green decoration winter garden- chefler in the house. The signs associated with this plant have always surprised experienced gardeners. For example, there is an opinion that the appearance of roots on the trunk of a plant portends a big profit for the owner. However, skeptics argue that this is just another way of reproduction - with the help of air layering. This method is suitable only for those who already have extensive experience as a grower: an incision is made on the trunk of the plant, the incision is wrapped with moss and covered with a film. The film, like the soil, must be moistened periodically. A little later, roots will begin to appear on the trunk. Then it is necessary to cut off the top along with the roots and land in the ground.

So that the beauty does not get sick

An exotic chefler in the house is pleasing to the eye. The signs associated with it are interpreted in different ways. Some amateur flower growers say that while the leaves are juicy and green, everything will be fine with the owners, but if they suddenly darken, expect financial disasters. However, the leaves of the flower turn brown due to insufficient moisture. In order to cure the plant, it is necessary to eliminate the cause, that is, to give more moisture and protect it from drafts.

Not proper care behind the plant can lead to other complications and diseases. Sheflera root rot can be observed. Very often this happens due to abundant watering. In order to save the roots and the plant itself from decay, it is necessary to transplant it into a new pot, while removing all the affected areas.

Lower temperatures can cause leaf drop. If this happens, you need to urgently drag the flower pot to a warm place.

Sheflera can be attacked by various pests, such as scale insects, thrips, or If the plant has been damaged by pests, it should be urgently isolated from all other plants, raised and treated with insecticides.

Is it possible to keep a chefler at home?

The plant itself is juicy and beautiful, easy to care for. For the subtlety, grace of the stems and the beauty of the palm-leaves, it is called a ballerina among flowers. It looks very picturesque on the windowsill of the shefler in the house. The signs associated with this plant are quite contradictory. The negative is primarily associated with the fall or darkening of the leaves. If the chefler throws off his “clothes”, then the owners are waiting for illness or a financial crisis. And if the plant begins to fold its "palms" - wait for a quarrel with a friend or displeasure of the boss.

And if the chefler suddenly stopped growing, then failures in business or theft are possible. Where do these superstitions come from? They came to us from ancient times, when people carefully listened to mother nature, when they tried to live in unity with the world and not violate the laws of the integrity of the universe. According to the beliefs of the ancients, each flower has its own magic, its energy is capable of exerting an effective influence on a person's life, warning him of future events. Therefore, if you are careful, you can avoid many misfortunes.

There are certain beliefs about what flowers can be given, what can be grown in the garden, and what to keep indoors. What does monstera, azalea or shefler mean in the house? A sign, probably, is not always a stupid superstition. It often has some subtext. For example, chefler - poisonous plant. Work with it should be in gloves, otherwise unpleasant dermatitis cannot be avoided. Perhaps some of the negativity associated with the plant is just an attempt to protect people from unnecessary trouble.

What is this plant?

Some definitely want a chefler to grow in the house. The energy of this plant is very positive. He is even jokingly called " good vampire". Because the green beauty is able to calm and stabilize the emotional background in the house. It is best to put the shefler in the bedroom so that she takes away all the negativity and contributes to a pleasant, sound sleep. Vampirism is complemented by the excellent ability of the plant to humidify the air, thereby creating a pleasant microclimate.

Scheffler is credited with the ability to increase family wealth and attract customers if the plant is in an office space. It contributes to the performance of children in school and has a positive effect on the activity, attentiveness and concentration of the child.

If we talk about serious mysticism, then, according to some reports, this plant is a "forecaster". This means that it is able to predict certain events. For example, if the plant has grown especially quickly, wait for the addition of the family.

Instead of an epilogue

The chefler looks very nice in the house. Signs should not be a decisive moment for the grower when deciding whether to grow this delicate plant at home or not. The main decisive factor should be the desire to provide the flower with proper care, so that the plant affably stretches its wonderful palm leaves to everyone.

The sheffler plant (Schéfflera), which is suitable for beginner gardeners because of its unpretentiousness, is a real southerner. Her homeland is the Australian continent and New Zealand. The German botanist Jacob Christian Scheffler (XVIII century) shared his name with her.

Schefflera is a genus of plants of the Araliaceae family, which is represented by shrubs, vines, trees. They can reach a height of 20 meters, undersized representatives - 10 meters. The species is characterized by complex leaves dissected into 4–12 lobes, resembling umbrellas. As they grow older, the trunk becomes bare, and the leaves remain only at the top. Periodically, inflorescences appear on the branches of shefflers different sizes- umbrella, paniculate, capitate. In some species they are blood-red, but in the bulk they are whitish, greenish. Both flowers and fruits attract insects, birds, give them food. They "thank" the plant by spreading its seeds.

Photo selection in which the most common varieties of sheffler plants are presented

This genus of plants has almost six hundred species. Some of them are grown as pot crops and are very fond of flower growers. One of the reasons is ease of care and beautiful leaves.

The indoor sheffler is predominantly represented by trees. Some grow quite tall, others barely reach half a meter in height.

Schefflera treelike, or woody (Schefflera arboricol)

This type of shefflera is most common among flower growers.

It is the most popular among flower growers. It has a different name - Heptapleurum tree-like (Heptapleurum arboricola). This shefflera comes from Australia and New Guinea. Although the name indicates its similarity with a tree, but in fact we are talking about a tree-like vine, on which there are no branches at all. She sprouts from the root. To get a lush flowerpot, several plants are planted in a pot at the same time on a support and give it the desired shape.

Common forms wooden shefflers with variegated leaves:

• Gold Capella - dark green leaves with yellow and light green spots;
• Variegata - dark green leaves with yellow spots;
• Janine - dark green leaves with cream stripes and spots. It has original shape lobes - rounded and forked at the ends.

Schefflera radiant (Schefflera actinophylla)

Schefflera radiant (star-leaved, stellate) is independent view kind. An early classification even placed it in a separate genus Brassaya, the plant was called brassaya radiant. Her homeland is tropical Australia, and she is found throughout the tropical belt.

The tree grows up to 12 meters in height. It has a powerful erect trunk, which has thickenings at the base and a gray-brown color. The leaves are planted on long petioles of a reddish-brown hue. They are green, with a glossy surface, slightly wavy along the edges, palmately dissected into 15–16 lobes, reaching a length of 30 cm. The middle part is quite wide, so the lobes overlap one another.

Periodically, inflorescences with red flowers appear on the tops of the shoots, from which the fruit subsequently develops - a round, fleshy drupe up to 7 mm in diameter.

Schefflera octophylla (Schefflera octophylla)

Shefflera eight-leaf got its name because of the 8 leaves, but as a rule they are usually from 5 to 8

She has a second name - an octopus tree. It arose due to the similarity of eight-lobed leaves with a marine life - it has the same number of tentacles. But in fact, the leaves do not always have 8 lobes - they are less (from 5) in young plants or more (up to 16) in old ones. Oval lobes 30 cm long and 15 cm wide are planted on an individual spine (up to 2 cm). Young leaves may be sparsely toothed or pinnate at the margins. This species blooms in November-early December, and by the end of December the tree bears fruit.

Schefflera graceful (Schefflera elegantissima)

This is the second most popular type of plant cultivated at home. It grows up to 2 m in length. Its dark green leaves are planted on a thin grey-brown trunk and are dissected into 8–12 lanceolate lobes, up to 15 cm long. This type of shefflera also does not branch, which many flower growers impute to her as a disadvantage. More early name this form is dizygoteka.

Scheffler Veitch (Schefflera veitchii)

The peculiarity of this variety is that the color of the leaves changes with age. The young Schefflera Veitch is characterized by a reddish tint of leaves. But the older the tree, the greener they become. The tree loves the sun very much, so it is better to put it near the east or west window.

Schefflera digitata (Schefflera digitata)

This is a small bush, which is perfect for growing flower growers. Each leaf is formed by eight lobes (up to 10 on old leaves) of an elliptical shape with points at the ends.

What does a plant need?

Schefflera is a light-loving plant, due to lack of light, the leaves lose color

As mentioned above, sheffler does not require any complex care at home. However, it is still necessary to know about her needs in order for her to please the eye.

Lighting

Schefflera loves light both in winter and summer; from its lack, the leaves lose their brightness. But you can't leave it in direct sunlight either. For green forms, windows facing east, west and even north are perfect. The lighting requirements for variegated flower forms are somewhat different. They are placed on the windowsills on the south side, but the light should be diffused.

The opinions of experts were divided as to whether it is possible to put the plant on Fresh air during the warm season. According to some, this can be done, while others believe that "walking" can harm the plant. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the needs of the flower. But it is important not to forget that direct sunlight is the enemy of leaves.

Optimal growing temperature

The optimal temperature for growing shefflers ranges from 14 to 22 degrees Celsius.

Despite the fact that the tree grows in the tropics, it does not tolerate heat. The best temperature regime for it is + 16 ... + 22 ° C, in winter - + 14 ... + 16 ° C. For species with variegated leaves, the thermometer should not fall below +18 ° C. At lower rates, the condition of a tropical plant worsens.

Watering and humidity

Schefflera needs a high pallet, because in the summer it is watered abundantly. However, excess water is removed after a few hours or the next morning so that the roots do not rot.. The optimum water temperature is room temperature, it can be a little warmer. Watering frequency - twice a week at the rate of 300 ml per 1 liter of soil. But you need to focus on the flower - each species has its own need for moisture: variegated varieties consume less water. You also need to check the condition of the soil. The fact that the time has come for watering is indicated by a slightly dried upper layer. Schefflera will delight with its appearance only at high humidity, so you need to spray it or wipe the leaves with a damp sponge.

Ground Requirements

Soil needed for palm trees.

The soil should be fertile and slightly acidic. Therefore, the following composition is recommended:

• sand - 10%;
• humus - 20%;
• leaf land - 30%;
• sod land - 40%.

You can mix in equal proportions soddy, leafy soil, as well as humus, peat sand. If it is not possible to prepare such a mixture on your own, buy ready ground for palm trees. Be sure to arrange drainage that will not allow stagnant water. Suitable for growing hydroponically.

Fertilizer and top dressing

To activate the growth of the shefflera and ensure its normal development, they are fed. They do this in the warm season - from March to September with a frequency of once a month. With the same frequency, it is useful to spray the leaves of the plant with epin, zircon, and other bioregulators. Fertilizer is taken universal or intended for decorative and deciduous crops. Bring it after watering, while the soil is damp.

Sheffler houseplant pruning

Shefflera pruning is carried out in order to slow down growth

Sheffler pruning is carried out by cutting off the tops. This is done in order to stop excessive growth. So you can even add splendor to the flower: some types of shefflers are allowed side shoots, but most often she does it reluctantly. Pruning is carried out for 5-6 buds or more - usually in the spring. It is especially useful to prune a tree sheffler, since with this procedure it is possible to form beautiful crown which is especially appreciated by lovers of the art of bonsai.

Sheffler's dormant period

From November to February, the plant is dormant. Then it is fed with fertilizer with a frequency of once a month - just like in summer. But the concentration of the agent used should be half as much. The watering regime also undergoes changes - once every 5–7 days, 100 ml per 1 liter of soil. Watering is necessary only after the top layer dries.

Plant transplant

Young plants are transplanted annually, older ones - every two to three years in a pot that is slightly larger than the previous one. It is recommended to do this in the spring. Then until winter, when the plant is at rest, the root system will be able to develop and strengthen. If shefflera is not possible to transplant - for example, when it is already in a large pot, the topsoil is replaced.

Breeding this culture is quite difficult. To do this, use seeds, cuttings, air layering.

For reproduction, shefflers use specially prepared soil, for which sand, leafy and soddy soil are mixed in equal parts. The soil must be disinfected before use. It is important to maintain a constant soil temperature at + 20 ... + 24 ° C, for which greenhouses can be used. After the first leaves appear or the cutting has taken root, the flower is transferred to a pot with a diameter of 7–9 cm and kept at an air temperature of +14 ... +16 ° C. By autumn, the diameter of the container is increased to 10–12 cm.

Plant diseases and pests

This can happen if the shefflers do not have enough light, or the temperature regime is violated.

As mentioned above, the shefflera loves water. If it is not watered enough, the leaves dry at the edges. But from an excess of moisture on reverse side pimples can form on the leaflets, and brown spots on the front side, sometimes it sheds leaves. Then you need to reduce watering and inspect the root system. If the roots begin to rot, the problem areas are removed, and the healthy part is placed in a solution of zircon or epin for 1-2 hours. After that, the roots are treated with a fungicide - phytosporin is suitable, after which they are sprinkled with crushed coal. Then the plant is planted, sprayed with zircon or epin, and the ground is covered with a transparent bag or film for several days. Periodically, the film is removed to ventilate the ground. Water the plant during this period very carefully.

Leaves can also fall off from a lack of light (this is especially true for variegated species), as well as in violation of the temperature regime, when the plant is cold or hot. By the way, leaf shedding is the most common problem faced by flower growers. If the flower sheds leaves due to lack of light, it must be rearranged to a brighter place, with a shortage of water, adjust the watering regime.

Another reason why the leaves fall is a tick that appears when the air is not sufficiently humidified. You can find out that the plant is affected by this pest by the thin web that entangles the sheffler. Pale dots may appear on the leaves, which gradually turn into whitish spots, the plant gradually weakens. In the early stages, it is enough to wipe the plant soapy water, at a later time, you will need to resort to the help of insecticides - Neoron, Aktellik, Sulfur, Fitoverm, etc. Excellent pest prevention is maintaining high humidity and spraying with soft water.

Schefflera is defenseless against many pests. These include scale insects, mealybugs, and aphids.

Aphids are first destroyed mechanically, and then the plant is treated with an insecticide ("Decis", "Inta-vir", "Karate").

If the flower is attacked by a scale insect, the leaves and the trunk are washed with soapy water. Insects are destroyed mechanically, since they are protected from external chemical attack by a shield. Only after such treatment should insecticides be used - Karbofos, Bankol, Aktara.

Scheffler in the interior

Sheffler beautifully decorates the interior. For greater effect, its leaves are covered with wax. It is suitable for spacious, bright rooms. The plant performs not only a decorative function: thanks to it, the ecology of the room improves, the air is saturated with oxygen, ozone, air ions, and humidity increases.

It is believed that shefflera acts as a relaxer - it perfectly absorbs negative energy. This property is useful in office space where you have to work with large quantity of people.

However, you need to be careful and wash your hands thoroughly when caring for the plant: the flower is slightly poisonous and can cause dermatitis.

A spectacular decorative culture with a memorable luxurious name of a shefler and amazing palmately dissected leaves has recently conquered Russian houses, adding notes to them. unfamiliar world equatorial tropics. 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. Kh. Scheffler, representatives of the Araliyev 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 the potted culture of the shefler, it is an ornamental leafy plant that creates warm atmosphere and pleasing with the generous beauty of exotic greenery.

Shefler blooms 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 type 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. Proximity is taken into account when choosing a location. heating appliances- place the chefler next to the batteries central heating it is impossible, 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 air humidification. special device or a spray bottle.

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 sheflera is no different rapid growth, 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 correct soil. The purchased mixture for palm trees or universal primer is suitable. You can make an earthen mixture from fertile garden soil, grassroots peat and vermiculite in the ratio 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 the maintenance of containers with cuttings in a constant temperature regime at 20-22˚С. To solve this problem, you can arrange a heated greenhouse on a conventional heating radiator. Use as cover any transparent material- 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 seeding 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, and 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, the attack of a scale insect cannot be immediately recognized, and when the chefler becomes sticky, as if doused sugar syrup, insect colonies have already multiplied so that household or folk remedies the problem is no longer solved. A similar picture with 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. good action render "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 a 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 can 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.

Sheflera is a plant native to the tropics. It was named after its discoverer Jacob Christian Scheffler in the 18th century. Usually the name of the color is written with two letters F (Schaeffler, as in the name of its discoverer), but the name Shefler (with one letter F) also has a place to be.

The flower is beautiful and unusual, but not everyone dares to start it. The reason is that many folk signs are associated with it, and some of them are not very good. About what kind of plant it is, how to care for it, what is its peculiarity and will be discussed in the article.

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plant description

There are over 200 types of this tropical flower, but there are no more than ten decorative ones. The most common: radiant, eight-leafed, pulpy, woody. It can reach a height of 3 meters, in girth - 1.5 m. It grows as a bush on a small stem.

The cheflers are thin, middle length stem. The leaves are large, rather unusual, reminiscent of a palm with spread fingers. The number of leaf parts is different - from 4 to 12. It almost never blooms in captivity. But if this happens, you can see the most beautiful inflorescences in the form of panicles. Panicles consist of tiny flowers of light yellow-green color. After the flowers, poisonous berries appear.

How to properly care for a chefler at home?

Sheflera pleases the eye. But how to ensure that its leaves always have saturated color, did not dry, did not sluggish, and the root did not rot? The following points describe the proper care of the plant.

• It is better to choose a place for a pot south, near the window, so that there is more light. But direct sunlight can be harmful. Therefore, it is necessary to provide diffused light. Curtains, gauze on the window will help with this.
• The ideal temperature is +16±22 degrees Celsius in summer and +14±16 in winter. For species with variegated leaves, the thermometer should not fall below +18 degrees.
• If a humidity low or too high - the plant will hurt.
• In summer, watering is necessary abundant a couple of times a week.. But it is desirable that the pot has a high pallet. Thus, the next morning, all the water that is glass from the pot must be poured into the pan so that the roots do not rot. In winter, less water is needed, so watering is halved.
• In summer, it is often worth airing the room. But drafts should not be done. Just a few times a day the window is opened to let fresh air in.
• Again summer when there is a lot of dust and the air is dry, you need to wipe the leaves of the flower once a day with a damp cloth or sponge. You can replace this action with spraying.
• The most active growth is observed from April to September. At this time you need feed the plant to give him strength to grow. To do this, use an organic or complex fertilizer.
• Pruning is carried out in the spring. You may not do this, but pruning sheflers allows you to control growth and form a beautiful crown.

Among the people, many signs and superstitions are associated with the plant. Since ancient times, people have noticed that the state of the flower and the various stages of its development, as it were, are reflected in the life of the household.

• It is known that Shefler is an energy vampire. It absorbs the energy of the house and its inhabitants. The truth is, you shouldn't be afraid of it. The plant absorbs energy in small quantities and only negative. Therefore, when a person is tired or exhausted after work, he needs to sit next to a flower for a while to restore strength and restore morale.

• The presence of cheflers in the bedroom will lead to harmony in family relationships expressing strong feelings of love. In addition, in this way you can easily get rid of insomnia.
• By placing a flower in your study or office, you can ensure the well-being of the business or any business, as well as prosperity, improvement of financial situation and accelerate career growth.
• In the children's room, the plant must be placed so that the child develops faster and to improve his school performance.
• serious the disease awaits one of the household members if the plant loses its leaves for no reason and rapidly.
• And if the flower began to develop very quickly, then the family is expected to replenish soon or welcome guests.
• Lack of development Cheflers have it too. No matter how it grows and does not wither at the same time. And for the family, this means temporary stagnation, at work and in relationships, minor squabbles can be observed.
• When the leaves begin to darken and twist for no apparent reason, this promises great disagreements in the family or strengthening those that already exist. This happens due to the fact that too much negative energy appears in the room, which the plant cannot cope with.
• Shefleroy can even test the chosen one. If after 2 days, as he visited the house of his beloved (beloved) chefler, sheds leaves - the choice is unsuccessful, and if it starts growing, it is good.
• Recommend the plant to be purchased by those who need money. And you need to put a new "tenant" in the room where money and savings are stored. Then after a couple of days you can wait advantageous offer, deals, new job or something like that.
• If a Shefler prepared to bloom, but stopped abruptly, then trouble will occur in the house.

It is worth noting that shefler is selective. It does not bring a lot of good luck to everyone, although it cannot bring bad luck either. And yet there are people to whom she is more supportive. So Sagittarius, Aries and Leo - fire signs horoscope, receive from it the maximum positive influence.

Reproduction of Sheflera flower at home (seeds and cuttings)

There are only two ways how a sheffler breeds:

• The first is the propagation of shefflers by cuttings. To do this, choose a process with a half-woody stem, cut it off. Then they are treated with stimulants for the formation of roots, but this is not necessary.

Cutting Sheflery And then placed in a mixture of sand and peat. As a pot it is better to choose plastic cup to see root growth. For rooting and development of the cutting, you need to maintain a temperature of 20-22 degrees all the time. When the plant is rooted, the temperature is reduced to 17-18 degrees. And when you can see that the roots have braided the ground, you can transplant the plant into a large pot (whose diameter is not more than 10 cm) for the next year.

• The second way is with seeds. They are harvested from the berries that appear after the flowers, but since the plant usually does not bloom at home, it is easier to purchase seeds in the store.

Sheflera seeds can be bought at the store. Seeds are sown in the second half of winter in a mixture of peat and sand to a depth twice as large as the size of the seed. Then the soil is moistened, covered with a film and the temperature is maintained at 22-24 degrees. From time to time, crops are ventilated and irrigated with water. When the sprouts have two leaves, they dive into separate cups and put in a room with a temperature of 19-20 degrees. And when they braid the cup with roots, you can transplant it into a permanent pot.

At home, the plant is transplanted once a year - in the spring, while it is young, and once every 3 years, when it is already large.

If the chefler is very large and difficult to transplant, you can simply replace the topsoil.
For transplanting shefflers, soil and larger pot with a deep base. The soil for the plant is selected slightly acidic and fertile. If you mix it yourself, you will need 10% sand, 20% humus, 30% leaf land and 40% sod land. If there is no desire to interfere, you can purchase ready land for cheflers in the shop. The one for palm trees will do.

Drainage is laid at the bottom of the pot. It is necessary to remove excess water. A little earth should be poured over the drainage. Next, the shefler is taken out of the old pot, the old earth is carefully stripped from the roots and placed in a new pot, sprinkled with earth. Transplanting cheflers at home After transplanting, you need to irrigate.

In order for the plant to have something to rely on, several individuals are usually planted in a pot at the same time. As they grow, they intertwine with stems. Thus, a strong, dense, rigid stem is obtained, on which a lush crown rests.

If it is not possible to purchase several trees or it is only one, it is imperative to do reliable support next to the stem so that the flower does not fall under the weight of the leaves.

Plant diseases: why does the chefler turn yellow and shed its leaves?

In most cases, problems in the appearance of a plant are associated with improper care or maintenance.

• Leaves fall off when the room temperature is below 14 degrees or vice versa is very hot.
• Spots on the leaves indicate that the plant is watered too often and the temperature in the room is too low for it.
• The dried edges of the leaves indicate insufficient watering, and if the sheets are completely dry, then this means that the humidity is lowered.
• Leaves fade when there is not enough light.
• Roots rot if watered too often. The plant is tropical, but this does not mean that it needs to be watered daily.

An interesting reaction is observed when the plant becomes ill. If it strikes, then touching the leaves or stem will cause a rash and irritation on the skin. This allows you to immediately identify the problem and begin to act immediately.

Sheflera is not only beautiful, but also allows you to control the mood in the house. She warns the household about the dangers, and also takes on all the excess negative energy. From this it can be seen that it is useful, and caring for it is not troublesome and easy.

We also suggest you watch video tips for caring for a chefler: