Umbrella plant (Heptapleurum spp. syn. Schefflera spp.), generally often known as umbrella tree or schefflera, seems similar to its identify implies – a tree with shiny inexperienced umbrella-like foliage.
Rising between six to eight toes tall, this tremendous low upkeep houseplant is a (tropical) breeze to develop!
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In our information to rising umbrella timber, we cowl the best way to domesticate these crops indoors, which incorporates giving them a spot in shiny, oblique mild, and offering constantly moist soil.
These crops are usually not simply simple to develop however they’re simple to propagate too – permitting you to share your umbrellas with family and friends or preserve them for your self, making a jungle of tropical foliage.
On this information, we’ll talk about all the things you must find out about propagating your personal umbrella plant through stem cuttings.
Right here’s what I’ll cowl:
Propagating Umbrella Timber from Cuttings
Collect Your Provides
Earlier than you get began, you’ll want a number of provides.
Seize your favourite pruners or a pointy knife, and earlier than you even take into consideration making your cuts, you should definitely sterilize these in a ten % bleach answer.
You’ll additionally want some propagation pots. You may select to make use of one massive pot to accommodate a number of cuttings or a number of smaller ones.
For propagation media, you may both use your favourite seed-starting soil or a mixture of half peat moss and half perlite.
Rooting hormone will not be important, but it surely’ll improve the possibilities of your cuttings taking root.
Bonide Bontone II Rooting Hormone
In the event you want a suggestion, I exploit Bonide Bontone II, which is a powdered product, obtainable at Arbico Organics.
The pots will want plastic coverings to maintain the humidity excessive, so discover some suitably-sized zip-top baggies and elastic bands to safe them in place.
Alternatively, you can too root your cuttings in water, on this case all you’ll want is a number of glass jars.
Now you’ve gathered your provides, let’s get began!
Put together Your Pots
You may propagate schefflera cuttings in nearly any container, so long as it’s clear, has good drainage, and is no less than two inches deep.
A six- to eight-inch pot can maintain a number of, or a three-inch container might maintain only one.
In case your pots have been used earlier than, you’ll need to clear after which sterilize them with a disinfectant. The device you employ also needs to be clear and disinfected.
Fill your chosen containers with media as much as about an inch under the rim. Add some water to the media to moisten it. Use barely heat water – the media will take in it higher than chilly water.
Utilizing a pencil or dowel, make holes the place you’ll stick your cuttings.
Take the Cuttings
Since they don’t but have roots, the stem sections have a restricted capability to take up water and so will lose moisture shortly.
To reduce water loss, it is best to guarantee your plant is effectively hydrated by watering your umbrella tree the day earlier than you need to propagate.
Every stem slicing ought to have no less than one leaf and two progress nodes – these are the rings across the stem from which leaves develop.
You may select to take cuttings from the stem ideas or take an extended part of stem and minimize it into segments.
Choose a wholesome stem that’s no less than as thick as a pencil. Take a four- to six-inch-long part proper beneath a progress node. Defoliate the underside two inches of the slicing.
If you’re utilizing stem segments, make the cuts which might be going to be inserted into media angled so you may bear in mind the orientation.
Your cuttings received’t root if they’re the wrong way up within the potting media!
Plant Cuttings
Put your cuttings in soil as quickly as potential after snipping them from the dad or mum plant.
If, for some cause, you do want to attend a bit, preserve the minimize ends wrapped up in a moist paper towel and set them in a spot with low mild and funky temperatures.
While you’re prepared, begin by pouring some rooting hormone powder (if utilizing) right into a small container – not so much, simply sufficient to coat the underside.
Put the underside one to at least one and a half inch of the stem within the rooting powder, combine it round, and faucet it in opposition to the facet of the container to take away extra powder.
Within the case that the rooting powder doesn’t need to keep on with the top of the stem, you may attempt wetting the underside of the slicing, tapping to take away extra water and repeating the steps outlined above.
Subsequent, stick your cuttings into the pre-made holes within the rooting medium, being cautious to not wipe off the powder.
Keep in mind that no less than one node ought to be buried and no leaves ought to be touching the potting media. Pat down the soil across the stems and water them till the water drains out the underside of the pot.
Excessive humidity helps with rooting, however for umbrella tree crops it’s particularly very important.
To attain a moist setting to your cuttings, place a plastic bag the wrong way up excessive of the pot and safe it with an elastic band across the base of the pot.
Or, insert the pot totally right into a plastic bag and tie it with a twist tie. No matter method you go about it, be sure the leaves are usually not touching the plastic.
If you must, place chopsticks or different stakes within the pot to prop up the plastic and preserve it from touching the leaves.
Schefflera cuttings require shiny, oblique mild to root.
Place your plastic-covered pot in a heat location of round 70°F, however keep away from direct daylight. It might probably shortly change into too sizzling below the plastic and will burn the plant’s foliage.
Maintain the soil evenly moist. Schefflera takes its time rooting, so that you’ll should be affected person. Anticipate rooting after 4 to 6 weeks or so.
In the event you want to root your cuttings in water, put them in a glass jar or different appropriate vessel, with room temperature water and make sure that the underside two inches is underwater.
Set them in a shiny location, and alter the water each couple of days to forestall it turning into moldy. When the roots are about an inch lengthy, you may pot your plant in soil as mentioned under.
Potting Up
To examine in case your cuttings have rooted, give them slightly tug. In the event that they maintain agency, they’re rooted!
They can even begin to develop new shoots and leaves. You can even attempt gently lifting the slicing out with a pencil.
In the event you see inch-long roots, you may pot up your child umbrella tree crops into their everlasting containers.
Transferring your cuttings from a moist setting to a dry one will likely be a little bit of a shock to your newly rooted crops, so it is best to pay shut consideration to your new crops for the primary few weeks.
Utilizing a typical houseplant potting soil, pot up your new crops into particular person three or four-inch pots – in the event that they aren’t already in these.
Begin by placing a small quantity of potting soil within the pot. Gently place the basis ball about an inch under the container’s rim. Add potting soil and agency it across the roots.
Water the soil till liquid runs out the underside of the pot to settle your schefflera into its new residence. Maintain your umbrella tree plant in a sunny locale out of direct mild, and also you’re golden!
Good Issues Come to These Who Wait
With its palm-like leaves and low-key necessities, the umbrella tree plant creates a tropical ambiance indoors.
And what’s extra, it’s extremely simple to propagate from cuttings. Why not unfold the great vibrations and create extra schefflera crops to get pleasure from?
Have you ever propagated umbrella tree plant from cuttings earlier than? What propagation ideas would you prefer to share? We’d like to know your ideas and feedback within the part under.
And for extra details about rising umbrella timber, take a look at these guides subsequent: