Recommendations for home care for the plant "Schefflera arborescens. Location and lighting for the plant

Scheffler - evergreen Arali family. Depending on the species, it can be a tree, liana, or shrub. For unusually shaped leaves, where oval or slightly elongated leaf lobes depart from long petioles, similar to knitting needles from an umbrella, sheffler was called an umbrella tree.

Features of growing sheffler - a brief description.

The plant does not tolerate direct sunlight. In winter, the sheffler is placed in a bright place, but protected from direct rays (this is especially important in warm rooms). Only variegated forms suffer from a lack of light.

Planting a sheffler indoor plant

The main reason for the rapid spread indoor views shefflers - decorative and unpretentious. Even novice growers, with a minimum of time and effort, can quickly grow this beautiful flower on their windowsill.

In addition, there is a second explanation for the popularity of shefflers. Nowadays, it is rare for a house (not to mention offices) to do without a computer, TV and other equipment that makes indoor air dead and harmful. Schefflera is deservedly credited with properties to improve the environment. Like a sponge, it absorbs all the negativity, filling the space with phytoncides, humidifying the air and ionizing it.

A positive effect on nervous system: Shefler's presence soothes, relieves irritation, enhances concentration and memory.

Landing methods

To start a sheffler, you can buy it in a store, or you can try to grow a whole plant from a shoot, cuttings or seeds.

Optimal landing time

Planting and transplanting a sheffler is best in early spring. then it will be easier to take root and have time to get stronger before the onset of the winter rest period.

soil for the plant

The soil for shefflera can be bought ready-made. AT flower shop you are recommended the right formulations. Most often these are mixtures for ficuses or palm trees.

But you can prepare the soil yourself. To do this, you need to take one part of pure river sand, add there three more parts of leafy land and two parts of sod. You can replace two parts of leafy soil with one part of humus.

IMPORTANT! According to the structure, the soil should be fairly soft, loose and permeable, but not acidic.

Growing an umbrella tree is fairly easy. Subject to certain sheffler rules in the interior, it will look surprisingly attractive, and it will remain beautiful and not capricious in care for many years.

Location and lighting for the plant

Schefflera loves light, but is afraid of direct sunlight. Therefore, ideally, you need to put pots on the south side, slightly shading the plant. The western and east-oriented windows are also favorable.

An exception are the shefflera species with variegated leaves. Only places with high illumination are suitable for their cultivation.

Air humidity

The only difficulty in caring for an umbrella tree is maintaining high humidity in the summer.

In nature, the plant was formed in the conditions of tropical forests, where there is no dryness at all. Therefore, at home, it is advisable for a houseplant not only to water the sheffler with warm and necessarily settled water, but also to spray its leaves up to two times a day.

Temperature regime for the plant

From spring to late autumn, the sheffler is in a period of activity. The temperature for its cultivation is recommended to be maintained at 18-22 degrees. Small differences in day and night temperatures benefit the sheffler, but it must be protected from drafts and sudden changes in conditions.

How to water correctly

The subtlety of watering the umbrella beauty is to capture the correct watering time. You can determine this time by the following signs: upper layer the soil is already dry, but the clod of earth is still wet, which will show the weight of the pot.

In the conditions of an ordinary city apartment with its dryness, you can put the sheffler in a tray filled with expanded clay and add soft and warm water right into that tray.

In summer, water 2-3 times a week. Much less so in winter.

Healthy mature plant requires feeding. Due to the similarity of the conditions for shefflers with the conditions for palms and ficuses, fertilizer can also be borrowed from these plant species or pamper the flower with universal fertilizer with mineral additives.

It is necessary to fertilize the plant during its active growth phase (excluding winter). If the plant has not fully taken root after transplantation or propagation, it is necessary to wait for the first young leaves, and then apply nutrients.

The frequency of feeding is once a month. You can help the plant with foliar top dressing by spraying it with bioregulators, for example, Zircon or Epin. This is also done approximately once every 4 weeks.

Trimming shefflers (For what purpose, complexity of the process, availability)

While the plant is young, it pleases lush greenery, but now the trunk begins to stretch and the leaves are only on top of the bush. In order to prevent a decrease in decorativeness, pruning is used. With its help, you can form a beautiful and compact home flower.

Trimming methods

Depending on the shape you want to give the sheffler, you can use top pruning or pruning of the lower leaves.

The plant withstands both types of pruning quite calmly.

Sheffler transplant

A young plant requires a mandatory transplant in the first year of life, since its growth is very active and it may not have enough space to live in a cramped pot. When the sheffler reaches 3-5 years, the growth rate slows down and it can be transplanted less often: once every 2-3 years.

Transplant methods

The transplant process can be of two types:

• transplant with cleansing of the former soil
• transshipment, in which the flower is carefully removed from its former pot and placed with a clod of earth in a larger dish.

The substrate in which you plant the sheffler must be loose and fertile. The mixture of sand and earth must be thoroughly mixed, subjected to a disinfecting treatment. After transplanting, the soil must be compacted and watered without fail so that there are no voids left and the soil is tightly adjacent to the roots.

If you are planning to make two, three, or even a whole greenhouse out of one plant, then get ready for much more difficulties than usual. daily care behind the sheffler.

Whichever of three ways breeding (by seeds, cuttings or layering) you choose, you will have to pay increased attention to the humidity and temperature of the new plant, since it takes root quite difficult.

Reproduction methods

You can grow a copy of your pet in the following ways:

• cuttings;
• layering;
• seeds.

The easiest way to give life to a new plant is cuttings. The trunk is chosen not young, but already lignified. cut sharp short knife so that the stalk has at least 5 leaves. Before landing in the ground, they are kept for several hours in a bio-solution (Heteroauxin).

It will help the engraftment of the process and powdering with Kornevin or coal dust.

Pay special attention to the conditions of germination: soil, temperature, humidity.

In small and well-drained pots with a mixture of sand and earth, heated to 22 degrees, cuttings are planted with a slight depth and covered with a glass or plastic jar.

From time to time, the sprouts are ventilated; stagnation of air during propagation by cuttings can also be fatal. It is recommended to spray them.

A more complex and costly method is reproduction by layering. To do this, roots are germinated on the stem, without cutting the cutting, but only cutting it. After that, the incision site is wrapped in moss or bandage, moistened and covered with a film.

Note: if the incision site is not allowed to dry out, after one and a half to two months you will receive a ready-made process with roots for cutting and planting in a separate container!

Reproduction by seeds- the rarest way for shefflers. They do this in January-February. The requirements for breeding with seeds are the same: compliance with the temperature and humidity conditions, ventilation, a similar composition of the substrate.

The seeds pre-treated with stimulants are planted to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. Then they are placed in greenhouse conditions. When the roots form a visible lump at the base, you can transplant them in separate places.

Does the chefler bloom?

Schefflera flowering can be observed much more often in street forms than in domestic ones. Flowers small, white or color pink, are collected in inflorescences and resemble the shape of octopus tentacles. Because of this, you can sometimes hear the nickname "octopus tree". But even without sheffler flowering, the tree is so beautiful that this feature will not upset you much.

Any violation natural conditions shefflers will affect its appearance: insufficient lighting will be indicated by pale and dull leaves or twisting of trunks, incorrect temperature regime- will give itself away by falling leaves. Slow growth means a lack of nutrients.

Pests can also interfere with a weakened sheffler: aphids, spider mites and scale insects.

In the case when you notice that the leaves have become sticky, as if covered with a sweet film, know: this is an aphid.

Plant disease is treated with sprays of soapy water or commercially available herbicides.

A spider mite attack is easy to spot by the thin cobwebs on and around the leaves. Karbofos - will help get rid of this scourge. But remember that the tick is ubiquitous and cunning. He can hide in hard-to-reach places, for example, in the axils of the leaves or under them.

Main rule: the infected individual must be isolated from the rest!!

Aphids and mites are afraid of common mustard infusions. Recipe: take 50 g of dry mustard, insist in 6 liters of warm water for 3 days. Then dilute to two buckets and wipe, as well as spray the plant 2-3 times a day.

Common types

The sheffler plant has almost three dozen species:

• Scheffler mix- it's not so much separate view shefflers, how much is a mixture of several species in one pot or tray. It looks very impressive and attractive.
• Sheffler Janine this is one of the varieties of shefflers, characterized by smaller, but beautiful leaves. Their color resembles stains of white-yellow-green paints. The leaves are pinnate at the edges.
• Sheffler Nora It has small light green leaves.
• Sheffler Gerd- a variety of a plant in which the middle is light yellow in color, and the edges are green, a very rich dense shade.
• Sheffler Louisiana- perhaps the most beautiful and elegant version of the sheffler. Leaves resemble glossy leather in texture. The color is green, juicy, with light spots.
• Sheflera Janine
• Sheffler Louisiana
• Sheffler Nora
• Sheffler Gerd

By adjusting humidity, temperature and light, you can achieve a wonderful look and quality of your particular shefflera. Listen and look closely at your green pet, especially during the first time he stays in your house, and he will repay you handsomely.

Answers to questions from readers

At proper care, timely transplantation and pruning of a sheffler can live up to 20 years.

If you allow strong growth (up to 2 meters in height), then it will simply no longer fit in your house.

Is this flower poisonous?

By rubbing the leaves, the owners of the plant achieve a beautiful glossy sheen and a magnificent view of the shefflers. But care must be taken, because the flower is poisonous. Particular attention should be paid to this fact when pruning the plant.

Do not forget! Shefflera juice contains substances that can irritate human skin and mucous membranes!

Why darken, dry and fall leaves

If the shefflera leaves begin to darken, starting from the tips, urgently pay attention to humidity and watering. Most likely, the plant dries up.

If the leaves fall off, then it is likely that you went too far with the temperature, or vice versa, the flower froze.

Sheffler went in spots? Keep it away from the bright and scorching rays of the sun.

But due to lack of light, the leaves will fade.

How does the plant overwinter?

Like any tropical plant, shefflera needs to rest. This state of dormancy, when growth and basic functions slow down, usually occurs in winter time. The air temperature is reduced to 15 degrees. Fluctuations of plus or minus 3 degrees are allowed. The best place for wintering - a warmed loggia or balcony. Shefflers sharply limit watering and observe her behavior. Excessive moisture can lead to flower diseases: dropping leaves or infection with viral infections.

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 active growth, the plant needs additional top dressing. They feed with complex fertilizers, sometimes replacing complex fertilizer to organic. It must be applied three times a month at regular intervals.

Southern plant loves moisture

Sheflera is very sensitive to a large amount of 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 air the plant on 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 optimum temperature indoors (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.

Improper plant care 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 the "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 information, given 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. chief decisive factor there should be a desire to provide the flower with proper care, so that the plant affably stretches its wonderful leaves-palms to everyone.

A tall shrub with remarkable leaves turned out to be an unexpected drinker.

Schefflera bush (Schefflera) or umbrella tree - indoor ornamental deciduous plant, which is an evergreen shrub. She has long thin stems, at the ends of which are finger-shaped leaves, somewhat reminiscent of a leaf. horse chestnut. In the greenhouse, it can reach a height of 2 - 2.5 meters, and in the nature of Scheffler it even blooms, delighting others with its unusual flowers.

The Scheffler palm is distinguished by its elegant foliage. The leathery dark green leaf is, as it were, divided into oval lobes, pointed towards the end.

Its useful to note a large number of information resources using the name of this plant with grammatical error and describing the care of Sheflera (with one letter f) at home

It belongs to the Araliaceae family (Latin Araliaceae), in which there are more than 600 species of beautiful evergreens.

Our home flower owes its name to the German botanist Jacob Christian Scheffler (Jacob Christian Scheffler - German), who made many discoveries for science.

Africa can be considered the birthplace of the Scheffler plant, South East Asia and South America, in wild nature Scheffler lives for decades, but how long the tree will develop in your home depends only on your efforts. Sheffler grows quite quickly, like other palm plants. Such growth rates are determined by the area of ​​​​origin, since in the tropics there is, one might say, a war for a “place under the sun”.

Now let's figure out how to care for a Scheffler flower.

Lighting

The level of care for Schefflera can be considered basic, because this plant is boldly suitable for a beginner grower. Each plant plays an important role natural light without which full development is not possible. The umbrella tree should be placed in the brightest place in the apartment. An east or west window sill is ideal. On the north side, the foliage of the plant will be faded, and the motley pattern will completely disappear. In winter, Schefflera will need artificial lighting, which must be thought out and prepared in advance. But in the summer it is better to refuse from the south window, the abundance of sun on the leaves may appear brown spots – sunburn. Tropical plants prefer light, but not scorching sunlight.

Watering

Schefflera is very demanding on watering and water quality, because she is a guest from the rainforests. Moisture is the most important for its existence. The earthen ball should always remain moist, but watering should be moderate. Water should not be allowed to stand near the roots, which can lead to their decay. It is best to use deep trays of gravel into which water is poured (so-called root watering), this method will provide the best microclimate. An overdried earth ball will slow down the growth of Schefflera and may lead to leaf fall. Water for irrigation must be defended for several days at room temperature. Favorably, the growth and development of the plant is affected by spraying the green mass or wiping the leaves with a damp cotton pad.

reproduction

The question of how Scheffler reproduces will certainly interest the owners of this plant. Reproduction of Schefflera at home can be done in several well-known ways. For a houseplant, the method with cuttings in water is best suited. Fresh branches are cut to a length of 10-15 cm, then placed in water and waiting for the roots to appear, the sections can be treated with a growth stimulator to speed up the process.

Schefflera seeds are planted at home at the end of winter under a transparent film. For their germination, it is necessary to maintain a constant temperature from +18 to +24 degrees, and when sprouts appear, put the pot in a bright place. Propagation by seeds is not the most popular method among flower growers; domestic palm very rarely provides material suitable for sowing. It is not customary to propagate this shrub with leaves.

Transfer and transshipment

Care indoor flower Scheffleroy includes a planned transplant. A useful, and less uncomfortable, way to renew the soil, or increase the space for the plant's roots, is to transship. To do this, it is worth picking up a bowl with a diameter of 2-3 centimeters more than the current one, and “rearranging” an earthen lump with roots in it. Fill the free space with new soil. To better root a young Schefflera plant, you need to use special top dressing for successful adaptation. Transplantation at home is carried out in the spring. If your pet has reached big size and the old container is small for her, you need to pick up a new pot in advance for dendritic Schefflery 5 cm more than before. suitable material there will be clay in the pot - it allows you to maintain a suitable microclimate for the roots of the tree, but it will not refuse a plastic tub with good drainage. The soil for Schefflera - exotic should be prepared with special trepidation and attention. We need leafy soil, soddy soil, sand and humus in a ratio (1:2:1:1). If there is no time and desire to think about the substrate of your own preparation, then you can already use prepared soil for Schefflera. Landing is carried out in previously prepared soil, moistened and fertilized. While the roots of the plant fall asleep, do not forget to tamp the earth with moderate effort, this will allow your beauty to take root faster.
Top dressing is carried out from spring to autumn during the period of active growth. But late autumn and winter are the dormant periods of the plant.

Crown

How to form the crown of the Scheffler palm? This question is asked not only by amateur flower growers, but also by professional designers. Young, non-lignified shoots and leaves participate in the formation of the crown. For a more fluffy and elegant crown, Schefflerr needs to be cut correctly, we pay special attention to the upper parts of the branches. It is best to cut off prominent shoots, which will serve as an impetus for the development of lateral processes. However, for greater density of the Scheffler crown, it is possible not only to prune, but also to plant young plants to older ones.

Many flower growers call the visually completed crown of Schefflera difficult - formed bole (green mass of a palm tree)

Flowering Schefflera at home is a rarity! But if your plant has bloomed, then the inflorescences will look like dill baskets strewn with small faded flowers.

Diseases

Any plant can get sick or start to wither from poor care. Every grower needs to know how to treat his Sheffler and what diseases are there?

• The leaves turn black, brown, turn yellow and fall off - all this happens in two cases, if the room is very hot and humid, or if it is too cool and also humid. Sudden temperature changes do not favorably affect the development of the plant.
• Very often we ask ourselves the question, for what reason does Scheffler shed leaves? There are many answers to this question: lack of lighting, excessive watering, strong drafts, or insufficient air humidity.
• Sheffler froze, what to do? Indeed, a plant from tropical countries is categorically contraindicated in drafts, watering cold water and being in the winter on the windowsill next to the ice glass. Frozen and dying parts of the plant should be cut, to establish proper care ( good lighting, weaken watering in the winter season, temperature + 22 ... + 24 degrees)
• If Scheffler sent to grow, it wilts, lowered the leaves and young shoots do not appear. You can try to carry out a planned top dressing of the plant or a transplant if the time of year is right. Well, in winter period, growth retardation is a completely normal plant reaction to a dormant period.

Sheffler pests

The plant can be affected by thrips, scale insects and spider mites. These are small pests that affect all types of indoor plants, they can easily move from one flower to another. A strong soapy solution helps in the fight against them. It is necessary to wipe all the leaves and stems of the plant with a cotton pad and look at neighboring flowers for insect damage. Infected individuals must be isolated for the duration of treatment!

Signs and useful properties

Content Shefflers for the home has a special positive value. At its core, our home flower is a relaxer plant, thanks to its lush foliage and bright green color ( green color is known to have a beneficial effect on the human nervous system). Many parapsychologists note that Schefflera's energy is able to absorb negative information from the outside world. Whether it is possible to keep such a plant at home, decide for yourself, because there are two sides of the coin. Any florist will tell you that Scheffler's flower brings beauty and peace to the house, and people prone to skin allergies should always be careful when working with Scheffler, because it is poisonous.
Many signs and predictions are associated with the Scheffler palm. It is believed that she can predict the future: both good and bad. The future can be recognized by the behavior of the leaves of the tree. Rapid growth is good, wilting is bad. For success and attracting money, the plant must be bright green, if you keep it in the office, then lucrative contracts, customers and profits are guaranteed to you! It will be a worthy decoration. office space. Fire signs zodiac (Lions, Aries, Sagittarius) Sheffler will bring undoubted success, career growth.

Scheffler or Scheffler(Schefflera) from the Araliaceae family unites more than 150 species of evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Breeders have bred decorative deciduous miniature trees and lush shrubs adapted for growing at home, as well as in a greenhouse, in a winter garden and in open ground for decorating gardens or home gardens. The decorative value of the plant lies in the special beauty of large leaves, the complex plates of which are dissected into lobes, diverging in different directions from one point on a long petiole. Such a palmately dissected form of the leaf blade is very reminiscent of an open palm, and in some countries the sheffler is still called the gnome umbrella, umbrella tree or umbrella tree. Caring for an unpretentious sheflera at home is quite simple, subject to certain rules for growing indoor decorative leafy plants. Photos of popular indoor varieties these miniature trees or shrubs you will find below in this material.

At home, sheffler blooms extremely rarely. But some decorative leafy varieties bloom quite regularly in greenhouses. small flowers white color collected in elongated racemose or paniculate inflorescences.

- photo: inflorescence with small flowers

Some indoor plant lovers grow shefflera in the form lush bush or a tree similar to home topiary. With regular pruning, this solitary plant can be easily transformed, forming a trunk and crown just as easily as the popular benjamin ficus. For example, the Scheffler tree ( Schefflera arboricola, Heptapleurum arboricola) will fit perfectly into the interior modern office, as well as living quarters, as a floor (tub) or even a table plant. Bonsai is easily formed from tree shefflera. In addition, this miniature tree is not as whimsical as a bonsai from a home azalea or blooming fuchsia. Non-lignified shoots begin to form with a thin wire, then branching shoots are regularly cut so that a lush crown adorns the trunk of the tree. In order to make the bonsai trunk look thicker, it is formed from several intertwined stems. Phytodesigners often use sheffler to create home floral compositions along with such popular houseplants as Marginata dracaena, blooming Kalanchoe, Money tree (crassula), Dollar tree (zamiokulkas), tree-like yucca, hamedorea palm, monstera with pinnately dissected leaves.

- photo: shefflera bonsai

Another popular type for home growing- Schefflera octophylla (Schefflera octophylla) with luxurious palmately elliptical leaves on drooping petioles, which consist of 5-16 "finger" lobes. The color of the leaves can be either uniformly green or variegated - with yellowish or white streaks, streaks and spots. When forming floristic composition against the background of these lush bushy plants, unpretentious flowering indoor plants will look interesting - phalaenopsis or dendrobium orchid, homemade saintpaulia violets, geranium pelargonium, tuberous begonia, hibiscus Chinese rose, gerbera, hydrangea.

♦ WHAT IS IMPORTANT!

Location and lighting.

The best option is to place the plant pot on the window sill on the east or west side. If the sheffler is already high enough, then you can put the pot next to the window on a wooden stand. Variegated varieties can be placed on the windows on the south side so that the pattern on the leaves is more pronounced. But be sure to protect the plant from direct sunlight and shade window glass during the spring and summer period. In autumn and winter, it is desirable to place next to room chefleroy phyto-lamps for artificial lighting, to save decorative look leaves.

Temperature regime.

Autumn and winter comfortable temperature for shefflers - 16-19 ° C, but lowering the temperature to 12 ° C will not harm the plant. In spring and summer, the plant will feel comfortable at a temperature of 17-24 ° C. Small temperature drops during the day are quite acceptable and even have a beneficial effect on the development of a houseplant. But be sure to protect the chefler from drafts, and also keep away from heated heaters.

Air humidity.

Optimum air humidity is high (50-60%). But the chefler quickly adapts to a moderate level of humidity. Spray the plant with warm settled water once every 3-4 days, and in hot summer days- every day, additionally wiping the leaves with a damp soft sponge. At the end of spring and summer, you can put a pot with a shefflera on a pallet with wet expanded clay, and next to put a container filled with water to maintain optimal level humidity.

Watering.

Water for irrigation is soft, well settled and warm. In autumn and winter, water the plant very moderately, avoiding overflow. Water regularly in spring and summer, preventing the earthen clod from drying out, but also without waterlogging the soil. Pour out all excess water flowing into the pan to prevent stagnation of moisture around the roots.

Earth mix and top dressing.

A slightly acidic earthen mixture can be made independently by mixing humus, sod land and clean sand equal parts. For variegated varieties, you can make a mixture of humus soil, fibrous peat and river sand (3: 1: 1)

Top dressing should be applied once every two weeks during the growing season. You can feed with a solution universal fertilizer for decorative indoor plants.

Transfer.

Choose a shefflera transplant pot that is spacious enough by adding a drainage layer to the bottom broken brick or expanded clay. Up to three years, transplant the shefler annually, and an adult plant - once every 2-3 years. The best time to transplant is mid-spring.

Reproduction.

Indoor varieties of shefflers can be propagated by seeds, air layers and cuttings.

For sowing seeds, use a mixture of peat and sand in a wide container. Before the procedure, you can soak the seeds in water with the dissolved Epin preparation. Optimal time for sowing - the middle of winter. We moisten the substrate from the spray gun with warm settled water and cover with a glass container or cellophane. Spray and aerate the substrate with water once a day. Picking into separate pots only after a few leaves appear on the seedlings.

For propagation by cuttings, sharp knife cut off a slightly stiff stalk and hold it in a solution with a root stimulator. Root in a mixture of peat and sand. The container must be covered with a translucent plastic bag.

This plant from the Araliaceae family owes its exotic name to the 18th century German botanist Jacob Scheffler. It is also called an umbrella tree, since even at home a sheffler can reach a height of 2 m. As for the capabilities of this plant in the wild, a height of 30 or even 40 m is quite real. In its natural habitat, the sheffler is a vine, tree, or shrub. It grows in the Australian tropics, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

At home, sheffler garden and variegated foliage began to be grown quite recently. She is a good relaxer, like a sponge absorbs negative energy, and also increases the humidity of the air and saturates it with oxygen.

Optimal conditions for keeping shefflers

The sheffler flower will grow properly and feel good if you follow the rules for caring for it at home. They are quite simple and effective.

Where to place in the house

The best place where a shefflera will feel comfortable is on the windowsill of a window that faces west or east.

Important! Scheffler is categorically contraindicated in drafts.

Lighting also plays a big role for this plant. This variegated sheffler needs more light than the garden sheffler. But in both cases, direct sunlight must be avoided so that the leaves do not get burned.

Temperature regime

Schefflera feels great in an air-conditioned room. There it grows and develops much faster. But, in no case do not put the plant under cold air jets. The ideal temperature for the normal life of sheflers is 18-22 °.

Soil composition

In order for the flower to develop correctly, take care of the composition of the earth. Most best soil for shefflera you can cook from:

• 1.5 parts of coarse sand;
• 1 part peat;
• 3 parts compost soil.

In addition, your soil needs good drainage. Suitable pebbles, expanded clay, crushed stone.

Features of caring for shefflera at home

Let's talk about how to care for a home shefflera. It is clear that this plant requires special rules content, given its overseas origin.

Did you know? Schefflera is a poisonous plant, but its chemical composition not dangerous for humans. The maximum that can happen to you is contact inflammation of the skin.

Watering and humidity

Does homemade shefflera like spraying? This question is asked by every amateur gardener who decides to grow exotic plant. Humidity is a very important fact for the comfort of shefflers. It should be high, for which you need to spray the plant at least 2 times a day in the warm season, and a little less often in winter.

The plant should be watered only with settled water. Do not fill the sheffler, this can lead to her death. Perform the next watering only after the soil has dried from the previous one, but you should not wait until the earth dries out. To prevent the plant from drying out, pour wet sand into the pan on which the shefflera pot stands.

Fertilizer and top dressing

Be sure to add soil fertilizer to the list of actions for caring for shefflera. This should be done 3 times a month from the beginning of spring to the end of summer. For shefflers, complex mineral fertilizers, which are used for ornamental deciduous plants. Alternate them with ground eggshell. In the winter season, the sheffler does not need fertilizers.

Pruning and shaping the crown of room shefflera

One of the important questions that the owners of an umbrella tree ask is how to form a sheffler crown at home.

An exotic plant is very plastic, it can be given almost any shape. The shefflera's trunk does not stiffen immediately. At young plant it is green and flexible. After a while, the trunk will be covered with bark, and then it will be too late to change anything, since any action will damage it. But in the first few months of a sheffler's life, you can do anything with her.

So, if you decide to make a bush out of shefflers:

1. It is necessary to plant 2-3 plants in one container.
2. After they grow a little, cut the top into 6 internodes.
3. To provoke the appearance of side shoots, you need to remove the growth points.

If you want to make a tree out of shefflers, then the formation process changes. You need to take an adult plant and remove everything side shoots with leaves. Then pinch off the top to encourage branching, and prune each spring to the desired shape and size.

Features of care at rest

In the cold season, the growth rate of shefflers slows down, so watering should also be reduced, especially if the air temperature in the room has dropped significantly. Watering restrictions are necessary to avoid root rot. In winter, the plant does not need to be fed.

How to transplant

The plant needs to be repotted as it grows. This is about the same number of times as most indoor plants - once a year, young plants, adults - once every 2 years or less.

The main rule for a successful transplant is the right soil. It must be easily permeable to air and water so that the sheffler roots do not rot. Otherwise, she will die.

How to properly transplant a sheffler immediately after purchase, so that it takes root well in a new place

1. Take palm soil or universal soil for this purpose.
2. Place a layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot, then fill a third of the pot with soil.
3. Carefully remove the plant from the old pot, being careful not to damage the roots, and transfer it to the new pot together with the clod of earth.
4. Sprinkle with soil to the top, compact the soil.
5. Pour new landing so that the soil adheres well to the roots.

Scheffler in the interior

Sheffler, with proper and proper care, can become a decoration of any interior. It will help create coziness in the room and will delight the eye with pleasant greenery. Since shefflera is a very large plant, it can be advantageously used to decorate a winter garden, living room or other large room.

Did you know? At home, the plant rarely blooms, but if you still want to see its color, then pick up a closerpot for shefflera.

Frequent diseases and pests of shefflers

Like many home plants, shefflera is subject to various attacks. Below we consider the main ones.

Brown spots on leaves

It happens that on reverse side sheet shefflera growths appear. This disease is called "dropsy".

It develops as a result of waterlogging of the flower. Brown spots may appear on the leaves, which spoil the entire appearance plants. If you notice these symptoms on your sheffler, cut back on watering immediately.

Important! The most beautiful thing about a sheffler is the leaves. If they began to turn yellow and fall off, most likely the plant is experiencing a lack of lighting.

Scale insect and spider mite

Sometimes, due to insufficient spraying in dry air, shefflera can become infected with scale insects and spider mite. If you find pests, remove them with a cotton swab soaked in soapy water.
This is what the shield looks like
Spider mite on shiffler