Sheffler caster care. beautiful sheflera

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 you will find these miniature trees or shrubs below in this material.

At home, sheffler blooms extremely rarely. But some decorative leafy varieties bloom quite regularly in greenhouses. Small white flowers are 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, Schefflera 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 in spring- summer period. In autumn and winter, it is advisable to place phyto-lamps next to the room chefler for artificial lighting, to save decorative look leaves.

Temperature regime.

In autumn and winter, a comfortable temperature for shefflera is 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 heating appliances.

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 earth mixture can be made independently by mixing humus, soddy soil and clean sand in 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 layering 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. The optimal time for sowing is 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, it is necessary to cut off a slightly stiffened cutting with a sharp knife and hold it in a solution with a root formation stimulator. Root in a mixture of peat and sand. The container must be covered with a translucent plastic bag.

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 time- 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 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. When transplanting, good drainage from expanded clay or ceramic fragments is required. 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 " 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.

Sheflera is credited with the ability to increase family wealth and attract customers if the plant is in 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.

Sheffler's indoor plant came to us from distant countries with a heavenly climate. Australia, New Guinea and Taiwan can be considered its homeland. It can grow as a bush or tree, but all of its species are remembered for their rich greenery and luxurious fan-shaped leaves. To enhance the beauty of the plant, liquid wax is applied to the leaves. Flowers on it at home are rare, but in nature they do not represent anything interesting and look like a white inflorescence of umbrellas.

Schefflera can be shaped like a mini-tree and will be quite tall and spreading, which is why it is often grown in greenhouses or large rooms. carried out by cuttings or air layering. This amazing flower can be planted in ordinary apartment where its presence will enrich home design with its exotic beauty.

The flower got its name thanks to the 18th century scientist J. H. Scheffler. The Schefflera genus belongs to the Araliaceae family and includes about 200 species. Some varieties are bred as indoor flowers, the description of which we will consider in this article. Species differ from each other in color, shape, whimsicality, but have many common characteristics.

Radiant (star-shaped)

One of the most common types. The tree grows quite quickly, the trunk can reach a height of 2.5-3 m. Umbrellas have 16 oblong leaves, their color is light green or bright green. The trunk is gray-brown, thickened below. Young leaves are ovoid at first, and then elongate, acquiring blunt tips.

palmate

This species is not so tall. He received the name for the elongated leaves, which are dissected into 7-10 lobes, pointed at the ends. The color can be both uniform green and mixed, but bright streaks always stand out, and the edges are wavy.

treelike

This plant is low, a little over 1 m. Its trunk is straight. The branches are green at first, but over time they coarsen, change color, becoming brownish. tree shefflera- This is an indoor mini-tree. The leaves of its bright green saturated color, strong and shiny, but there are also variegated. The tree-like shefflera is less susceptible than others, all of its species do not require a lot of light, so you can keep them in partial shade.

Gerda

Sheffler Gerda is a kind of tree-like breed, so its description is similar to its "brothers". It also has luxurious greenery, the leaves are bright green or yellow-green. This species needs a lot of diffused light, and if you put it in partial shade, the color of the leaves will be lost and will no longer be so saturated.

Variegata

The variegated sheffler also belongs to the tree. It is distinguished by dark green leaves with light yellow or cream spots. This color is not common, and if you form a plant with a bush, it will look like a lush motley slide.

Octal leaf (eight leaf)

If the tree-like and radiant shefflers are quite common, then the eight-leaved one is a rarer guest. She received the name by the number of leaves on the petiole - 8. The color of young leaves is pale olive, old ones are just green. All leaves are brightly veined, shiny above and dull below.

Conditions for caring for a shefflera

Caring for a shefflera can not be called difficult, but at the same time growing it is not so easy. Under natural conditions, a tender plant is used to an ideal climate. To recreate such conditions at home, you need to try. Room shefflera can not stand either heat or cold; excessive watering is dangerous for her, but drought is also fatal. Drafts, scorching sunlight or the usual rearrangement of the pot from one place to another - you can significantly harm the plant or even destroy exotic flower. No extremes and rudeness, only moderation and softness - these are the main principles by which you should grow room shefflers. If you follow all the rules and find mutual language with a plant, it will generously reward you with luxurious greenery that any other green pet can envy.

Lighting

When the sheffler houseplant is mentioned, home care starts with the right place. She needs a lot of light, but not direct, but diffused. Therefore, it is better to place a flower pot on the western or eastern side. It should be borne in mind that species with uniform greenery are less whimsical, they can grow even in partial shade, but varieties with a variegated color love more lighted places. At proper lighting the trunk and leaves of any plant will be healthy and full of life.

Temperature and humidity

Schefflera comes from tropical areas, so it is not surprising that all of its species love warm and humid air. To avoid rotting, the roots should also be warm. An exotic plant should be grown at a temperature of +16 to +22 degrees. If the air in the house is dry, the flower needs constant spraying, which is done much more often than watering. Therefore, caring for this plant will be difficult for those who do not have free time. The microclimate of the house should also be very mild - no drafts or hot air flows, so the sheffler should be placed in places far from the air conditioner, front door, open windows.

Watering

Proper care of the sheffler also involves competent watering. The soil should be moist, but not wet. When the earth is too flooded, the roots begin to rot, the leaves change color - they become stained, turn black, and then the whole plant dies. To avoid stagnation of water in the soil and acidification, the earth must be loosened more often. You can water any kind of shefflera as needed, in winter - much less than in summer and spring. Water should be clean, settled, warm. In summer, it is recommended to use additional bottom watering. It is very simple to implement it: put a flower pot in a tray containing water or wet moss.

top dressing

Shefflera is much easier to care for when the plant is provided with the necessary nutrition. In winter, top dressing is optional, since the growth of the shefflera slows down at this time, but during the active growth time - the spring-summer period - it is necessary. All types of shefflers are fertilized with complex or organic fertilizers(a description of the process and dosages is attached to each drug). Young plants can be fed with special means, from which new roots grow intensively. Fertilizers should be applied regularly - 3 times a month at regular intervals. Watering and fertilizing are often combined.

pruning

Sheffler can be formed in different ways. It depends on what form you prefer - in the form of a tree or a lush bush. If a tree, then the trunk should be one. The formation of a bush is achieved by cutting cuttings and planting several roots in one pot. Pruning of old obsolete leaves is needed to give the plant an aesthetic well-groomed appearance, but you should not remove too many branches, otherwise the sheffler will not be so lush. It is not difficult to form any varieties and even a novice grower can do it.

Soil and transplant

Shefflera in the house needs a regular transplant. The first "bell" to start transplanting is the appearance of roots through the bottom of the pot and pale leaves.

Properly planting a plant is the basis for its successful development. All varieties of shefflers can be transplanted in the spring, at the beginning of the active growth period, or in the fall, when it ends. It is undesirable to do this in winter.

The soil is taken ready (for example, for palm trees) or a mixture is made: turf and leaf ground, humus, sand. The plant is transplanted into larger pot, while it would be nice to make sure that the roots are not damaged. Drainage (expanded clay) is necessarily laid at the bottom of the pot, and soil is poured on top, which it is desirable to update with each transplant.

After transplanting, abundant watering is necessary to compact the earth. With the right transplant, caring for a shefflera is much easier, and decorative exotic plant compensates for all the effort spent on its cultivation. Sheffler will be a wonderful decoration not only for lovers of the flower world, but also for owners of large office space.

An evergreen shrub, liana or small Schefflera tree (Schéfflera) of the Araliaceae family, native to tropical countries. There are other names for the culture - an umbrella tree, an umbrella plant, a sheffler, and also a shefler. In the wild, it sometimes grows on other trees as an epiphyte. Glossy, palmate, evergreen leaves are connected on vertical stems.

Scheffler, grown at home.

The sheffler flower is popular due to its small size and unpretentiousness. The optimal growing environment is a warm and evenly humid microclimate with bright, indirect light. Schaeffler will fit perfectly into the interior of your home, office or garden.

Lighting

Schaeffler comes from regions with large quantity sunlight. Care houseplant at home provides for the creation of dimmed or indirect lighting. You can protect the sheffler on the windowsills with the help of adjustable blinds or roller blinds. Using safety measures will limit the flower from the effects of extreme heat and direct sunlight, which can cause foliage burns and dry the soil excessively.

High indoor temperatures do not affect schaeffler as these plants are native to warm temperate and tropical areas. However, extreme swings or exposure to cold drafts can cause a number of illnesses. Sheflera at home retains its decorative effect best in warm greenhouses or closed loggias.

Watering and humidity

Schaeffler prefers uniform humid environment. During active growth, the plant should be watered regularly. AT winter period it is necessary to prevent the drainage of the earthen coma and moisten the soil as necessary.

If there is too much liquid in the flowerpot without drainage, it is urgent to take action - drain the remaining water from the pan. If this does not help, you need to change the soil. Otherwise, inaction will lead to many pathogenic diseases and problems with the vegetative growth of the flower. Leaves that turn black and fall off are the first sign of overwatering. Insufficient amount of liquid leads to twisting of the tips of the leaves.

Prolonged exposure to indoors with cool temperatures or drafts causes rapid drying of the soil. If the temperature cannot be adjusted for the schaeffler, for example in an office, more frequent watering needs to be taken care of.

Transplant Features

How to transplant a sheffler? The process of changing soil and container includes:

Transplanting cheflers into a larger container.

1. Careful inspection of the shefflers for the degree of need for replanting the plant. Roots on the surface of the soil - clear sign plant needs a larger pot.
2. The new container should be filled with fresh soil.
3. The houseplant must be carefully removed from flower pot and place in a large container.
4. Carefully add and level the soil around the base of the plant.
5. Water the flower generously.
6. The optimal place for growing shefflers in the house is the southeast or southwest side of the building.
7. Feeding should begin no earlier than two weeks after transplantation.

How to cut a flower correctly

To maintain the desired shape in the form of a tree, it is necessary to cut the stems directed closer to the ground. To create a shrub structure, long side branches should be removed. To do this, using sharp scissors, it is necessary to cut each stem above the leaves. To remove the entire stem, you need to make a neat side cut at the base.

Shaping the shefleur structure with regular pruning.

To thin out the plant or give the desired size, you can cut the side shoots on the main stems.

Remove dead foliage or damaged stems at any time during the year. The entire damaged area should be cut at the very base of the stem.

Prune only healthy plants. Until the condition of the flower improves, pruning of a weakened or diseased crop should be avoided.

Sheffler outdoors

Outdoor care for sheflera does not differ from the requirements of a plant indoors. The only feature in the care of the sheflera on the site is a large number of preventive measures against pests and various diseases.

For good outdoor care, you should clean the leaves of dust and debris, as well as periodically water the plant. In this way, the chefler will create a denser shape for the branches. The plant can become the main decorative decoration of the site, but only for one season as an annual.

The minimum temperature for the plant is +16 degrees. Cold air and the first frosts will destroy the flower. Therefore, it is preferable to grow a crop in tubs and take it out to an open area in the summer. With the onset of cold weather, you should move the flowerpot to the greenhouse or conservatory.

Scheffler in the natural environment.

Container Growing Basics

Soil for shefflers

Soil can be selected ready mix for palm crops or make your own. Take sand and humus in equal parts. Mix with leafy and soddy soil. Be sure to provide drainage. From improvised means, foam plastic, crushed stone and sand are suitable. You can buy expanded clay or a special filler in garden stores.

How to choose a container

To choose right flowerpot the plant needs to be examined. A sufficiently large sheffler must be landed in a container large sizes. It should be noted that with each subsequent transplant, the pot should be changed to a capacity that exceeds the size of the previous flowerpot by at least 5 cm. To maintain the integrity of the root system, it is necessary to use the technique of transshipment of a dense plant with large branches.

Feeding technique

Fertilize the plant with a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during vegetative growth. You can also choose Alternative option- apply half of the recommended portion of bioregulators when watering every 2-3 weeks.

A prerequisite for successful top dressing is moist soil. To normalize the development of the plant, you can spray fertilizer on the foliage. Zircon and Epion are used as sprayers.

Typical Sheffler Problems

Bacterial diseases

Pseudomonas aeruginosa leaf spot (pathogen - Pseudomonas aeruginosa) appears, as a rule, on the edges of the leaves of the dwarf shefflera. Initially, small water spots appear. Then they merge, turn black and lead to a sharp fall of the leaf.

Defeat shefflera fungal disease.

Black bacterial spot affects the entire surface of the leaves. Yellowish punctate lesions form dotted lines. Then they increase between the veins of the leaf and affect the entire stem. As a rule, cause the complete fall of the leaves.

fungal diseases

There are two main fungal diseases of Schefflera. The fungus Alternatia causes leaf spot in the form of large brown or black spots with yellow halos that can spread throughout the foliage in just a few days. Poor quality or infected planting material may be stale. As a result, the phytophthora fungus develops. Leaf spot caused by Phytophthora resembles Alternatia with one difference - the lower leaves are infected first.

For prevention, you can use fungicides and broad-spectrum bactericides. It should be remembered that the plant is very sensitive to chemical damage. Therefore, you must strictly follow the instructions. How to save a sheflera from bacterial and fungal infections? The disease spreads very quickly on wet leaf surfaces, so a simple preventive measure protection - keeping the foliage dry.

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are small, soft-bodied insects that feed on plant sap. They are usually white or gray in color, covered with a waxy substance. They attack the leaves, stems, and sometimes the roots of the plant. The male representatives of the mealybugs have wings, the females do not.

Small populations of mealybugs can be easily washed off the plant with soap and water. Larger colonies should be controlled with insecticides.

spider mite

Sheflera is sensitive to mites, tiny arachnids that are almost impossible to spot. These eight-legged pests attack the underside of leaves, sucking juice from healthy veins. Early symptoms of damage spider mite include tiny white dots on the underside of the leaves or small yellow-brown spotted spots. As a result, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off.

Infected plants should be avoided indoors, and sheffler should be treated immediately to prevent spread. With a few treatments of insecticidal soap or acaricides on both sides of the leaves of the plant, the spider mite can be killed.

Aphid

Insects can be yellow, bright green, brown or white. They attack the delicate tissues of the plant, including leaves and stems, and suck out the juice. Causes yellowing of foliage. Inaction causes rapid reproduction of insects, which stops the further development of the plant.

Aphids leave characteristic traces on the stems, which are attracted by soot fungus. From the mold, the whole flower becomes black in color. An infected crop can be treated with an insecticidal agent.

Negative reactions to sheffler

Shefflera breeding can cause an itchy rash. Some flower growers have experienced cases of temporary swelling. The plant belongs to the poisonous representatives of the flora and can lead not only to dermatitis, but also to irritation of the mucous membranes.

Take care of the plant carefully with the help of protective equipment - gloves and a respirator. To relieve an allergic reaction, you must take an antihistamine.

reproduction

Shefflera can be propagated using seeds, layering and stem cuttings.

Sheffler from cuttings

Stem cuttings taken from a healthy plant will reproduce an exact copy of the culture. Growing a flower from cuttings is quite simple:

1. Wear protective gloves before touching the plant. Make a side cut 5 to 8 cm below the leaves of the stem. The incision should be made in such a way that two fully formed leaves remain on the branch. It is not recommended to choose old stems placed at the bottom of the plant.
2. Fill the container with new soil.
3. To moisten the soil, it is desirable to use warm water. No need to fill the pot with water. It is enough to carry out periodic watering as the top layer of the earth is drained.
4. Next, you need to make a recess in the pot to accommodate the stem.
5. Pour 1 tablespoon of growth stimulator into a plastic bag and dip the cutting.
6. Place the branch in a pot with moist soil.
7. Cover the flowerpot with transparent plastic or stick a transparent bag on the entire container. Using plastic, you can create a wet miniature greenhouse.
8. Set the planted cutting in a warm room with bright light. Direct sunlight must be avoided.
9. Every day you need to ventilate the flowerpot. Open periodically for air circulation. plastic bag one to two hours.
10. If the soil surface becomes dry it is necessary to use a water sprayer.
11. After four to six weeks, the development of the root system can be checked. Resistance means the stem has taken root.
12. After the formation of the root system, the plastic should be removed.
13. It is quite simple to continue caring for a new chefler. It is enough to water as the soil drains and keep the delicate plant from drafts and direct sunlight.

Reproduction by seeds

Germination of seeds directly depends on the conditions and terms of storage. Content planting material more than three weeks after collection in a warm room will reduce the likelihood of germination by up to 40%.

To stimulate the seeds, a mixture of vermiculite, ground limestone and liquid fertilizer can be prepared. Before planting, the seeds should be soaked in warm water at 12 o'clock. The volume of water should exceed the volume of all seeds by 4 times. Heat treatment will shorten germination time by several weeks.

Seeds are sown to a depth of no more than 2 cm. It is necessary to water the soil in sufficient- to make the soil moist but not soggy. Seedlings should be protected from direct sunlight.

How to grow a sheffler with layering

The thick stems of the plant are difficult to root using traditional methods. Therefore, for reproduction it is usually recommended:

Why does shefflera not bloom

In room conditions, the chefler does not bloom. In its natural environment, the culture produces tiny milky and red inflorescences in summer.

planting material

It is more profitable to buy a sheffler in the form of seeds. average price, for example, for a Janine sheffler is about 20 rubles. Be sure to pay attention to the date of harvest and packaging of the crop.

Schefflera in the style of bonsai.

An adult tub culture of sheflers intertwined (about 160 cm) is estimated at 11 thousand rubles.

A spectacular decorative culture with a memorable luxurious name of shefler and amazing palmately dissected leaves has recently conquered Russian homes, bringing notes of the unfamiliar world of the equatorial tropics into them. This picturesque and elegant evergreen plant with an abundance of bright foliage is in great demand today, 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 its existence, the grower will have to make an effort, although this capricious tropical beauty cannot be named. 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 shefler pot culture, 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. When choosing a place, the proximity of heating devices is taken into account - 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 beneficial not only for her appearance, but also as hygienic 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 claydite.

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 sheflers does not grow quickly, 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 root system will get stronger and develop, tightly braiding the entire earthen lump. 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 loves 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 is with the 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. A good effect is provided by Intavir-S or Iskra. If necessary, the treatment is carried out 2-3 times, maintaining a week break.

Mostly 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.