How to Grow Schefflera
Schefflera arboricola
Schefflera grows best in bright indirect light and tolerates some shade, making it a good choice for larger indoor spaces. Water when the top 3 cm of soil dries out and feed monthly during the growing season. It can be pruned hard in spring to control height and encourage bushier growth. Variegated forms need more light than the plain green variety to keep their colour.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser during the growing season (spring to early autumn). Stop feeding in winter when growth slows.
Watch For
- Scale insects on stems and leaf undersides
- Mealybugs in leaf axils
- Glasshouse red spider mite in dry conditions
- Root rot from overwatering
- Leaf drop from cold draughts or low light
Track your Schefflera care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Bright indirect light; variegated forms need more
Place in bright indirect light for best growth. Plain green forms tolerate lower light but grow slowly. Variegated forms need bright light to retain their markings. Direct sun scorches leaves.
💧 Watering
Water when top 3 cm of soil dries out
Allow the top 3 cm of compost to dry between waterings. Reduce frequency in winter to every 10–14 days. Never leave the plant sitting in a saucer of water — root rot develops quickly.
🌱 Fertilizing
Monthly feed spring to early autumn
Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly from March to September. Stop feeding from October to February when growth is minimal.
✂️ Pruning
Prune in spring to control size and shape
Schefflera tolerates hard pruning and will branch vigorously from cut points. Prune in spring to keep height manageable and encourage a bushy multi-stemmed form.
🌿 Humidity
Moderate to high humidity preferred
Schefflera appreciates moderate humidity. Mist foliage occasionally or place on a pebble tray with water. Keep away from dry radiator heat which causes leaf tip browning and increases spider mite risk.
Growing Tips
Variegated forms need more light
Plain green schefflera tolerates lower light well, but variegated (gold or white-marked) forms need bright indirect light to keep their colour. In dim conditions they revert to plain green and grow more slowly.
Prune hard to keep it bushy
Schefflera naturally grows as a single-stemmed tree indoors. Cut back the main stem in spring to encourage multiple side shoots and a bushier habit. It responds vigorously to hard pruning and will branch from below the cut.
Wipe leaves to keep them glossy
The large umbrella-like leaf clusters collect dust quickly. Wipe each leaf with a damp cloth every few weeks to keep the plant photosynthesising efficiently and looking its best.
Rotate for even growth
Plants always grow toward the light source. Give the pot a quarter turn every 2–3 weeks to keep the growth even and prevent the plant leaning permanently toward the window.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Scale Insects
Identification: Brown or tan oval bumps fixed to stems and leaf undersides; sticky honeydew on lower leaves; sooty black mould may follow.
- Wipe off with a cotton bud or cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol; repeat weekly for a month.
- Spray with insecticidal soap, covering all stem surfaces and leaf undersides thoroughly.
- Apply a systemic houseplant insecticide containing acetamiprid or imidacloprid.
Pest Mealybugs
Identification: White cottony deposits in leaf axils and along stems; leaves become sticky and may yellow and drop.
- Dab individual colonies with a cotton bud soaked in methylated spirits.
- Spray the whole plant with insecticidal soap solution every 5–7 days for 3–4 weeks.
- Use a systemic insecticide labelled for houseplants containing acetamiprid.
Pest Glasshouse Red Spider Mite
Identification: Fine pale stippling across upper leaf surfaces; fine webbing under leaves and in leaf axils; leaves may drop in severe cases.
- Mist foliage regularly — spider mites thrive in dry air and struggle in humid conditions.
- Introduce predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis for persistent infestations.
- Spray with miticide or insecticidal soap, repeating every 7 days for three consecutive applications.
Disease Root Rot Pythium spp. / Phytophthora spp.
Symptoms: Lower leaves yellow and drop; plant wilts despite moist soil; roots appear brown and mushy when examined.
Treatment: Remove from pot, trim all rotted roots, allow to dry briefly, then repot in fresh free-draining compost. Reduce watering frequency significantly.
Prevention: Always use pots with drainage holes. Never allow the plant to sit in standing water. Allow the top few centimetres of compost to dry between waterings.
Disease Leaf Drop (environmental) Environmental stress
Symptoms: Sudden or gradual loss of leaves, particularly lower leaves; plant otherwise appears healthy.
Treatment: Identify the environmental stressor — most commonly a draught, cold windowsill, sudden temperature drop, or relocation. Remove the cause.
Prevention: Keep away from doors, cold windows, and radiator draughts. Avoid moving the plant unnecessarily.
Log Schefflera in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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