How to Propagate Umbrella Plants (Schefflera) from Cuttings

Umbrella plant (Heptapleurum spp. syn. Schefflera spp.), generally often called umbrella tree or schefflera, seems to be identical 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 bushes, we cowl find out how to domesticate these vegetation indoors, which incorporates giving them a spot in brilliant, oblique gentle, and offering persistently moist soil.

These vegetation usually are not simply straightforward to develop however they’re straightforward to propagate too – permitting you to share your umbrellas with family and friends or hold them for your self, making a jungle of tropical foliage.

On this information, we’ll focus on every part you want to learn about propagating your personal umbrella plant by way of stem cuttings.

Right here’s what I’ll cowl:

Collect Your Provides

Earlier than you get began, you’ll want just a few provides.

Seize your favourite pruners or a pointy knife, and earlier than you even take into consideration making your cuts, make sure to sterilize these in a ten % bleach answer.

You’ll additionally want some propagation pots. You may select to make use of one giant pot to accommodate a number of cuttings or just a few 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 is just not important, nevertheless it’ll improve the possibilities of your cuttings taking root.

Bonide Bontone II Rooting Hormone

Should you want a suggestion, I take advantage of 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, it’s also possible to root your cuttings in water, on this case all you’ll want is just a few glass jars.

Now you’ve gathered your provides, let’s get began!

Put together Your Pots

You may propagate schefflera cuttings in virtually any container, so long as it’s clear, has good drainage, and is at the least 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 wish to clear after which sterilize them with a disinfectant. The device you employ must also be clear and disinfected.

Fill your chosen containers with media as much as about an inch beneath the rim. Add some water to the media to moisten it. Use barely heat water – the media will take up 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 attenuate water loss, it’s best to guarantee your plant is effectively hydrated by watering your umbrella tree the day earlier than you wish to propagate.

Every stem chopping ought to have at the least 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 suggestions or take an extended part of stem and minimize it into segments.

Choose a wholesome stem that’s at the least 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 chopping.

In case you are utilizing stem segments, make the cuts which might be going to be inserted into media angled so you may keep in mind the orientation.

Your cuttings received’t root if they’re the other way up within the potting media!

Plant Cuttings

Put your cuttings in soil as quickly as doable after snipping them from the mum or dad plant.

If, for some cause, you do want to attend a bit, hold the minimize ends wrapped up in a moist paper towel and set them in a spot with low gentle and funky temperatures.

Whenever you’re prepared, begin by pouring some rooting hormone powder (if utilizing) right into a small container – not lots, simply sufficient to coat the underside.

Put the underside one to 1 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 wish to stick with the tip of the stem, you may attempt wetting the underside of the chopping, 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 at the least one node needs to be buried and no leaves needs 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 vegetation it’s particularly important.

To realize a moist setting to your cuttings, place a plastic bag the other 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 manner you go about it, be certain the leaves usually are not touching the plastic.

If you want to, place chopsticks or different stakes within the pot to prop up the plastic and hold it from touching the leaves.

Schefflera cuttings require brilliant, oblique gentle to root.

Place your plastic-covered pot in a heat location of round 70°F, however keep away from direct daylight. It could actually shortly turn out to be too sizzling below the plastic and will burn the plant’s foliage.

Preserve 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.

Should you choose to root your cuttings in water, put them in a glass jar or different appropriate vessel, with room temperature water and be sure that the underside two inches is underwater.

Set them in a brilliant 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 beneath.

Potting Up

To verify in case your cuttings have rooted, give them a little bit tug. In the event that they maintain agency, they’re rooted!

They can even begin to develop new shoots and leaves. It’s also possible to attempt gently lifting the chopping out with a pencil.

Should you see inch-long roots, you may pot up your child umbrella tree vegetation into their everlasting containers.

Transferring your cuttings from a moist setting to a dry one shall be a little bit of a shock to your newly rooted vegetation, so it’s best to pay shut consideration to your new vegetation for the primary few weeks.

Utilizing an ordinary houseplant potting soil, pot up your new vegetation 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 beneath 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 dwelling. Preserve your umbrella tree plant in a sunny locale out of direct gentle, 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 straightforward to propagate from cuttings. Why not unfold the great vibrations and create extra schefflera vegetation to take pleasure in?

Have you ever propagated umbrella tree plant from cuttings earlier than? What propagation suggestions would you wish to share? We’d like to know your ideas and feedback within the part beneath.

And for extra details about rising umbrella bushes, try these guides subsequent: