Summertime- fresh air, sunlight, strong healthy growth

Umbrella Tree  

Hawaiian Schefflera

Schefflera arboricola
tolerance of  neglect
sheff-LEER-ruh
ar-bore-rick-KOLE-luh

A robust tree that does well both indoors and out and can adjust to a wide range of indoor conditions; it's not winter hardy outdoors in cold climates. 

Umbrella Tree

The Schefflera develops a rough wood-like trunk and branches that make it ideal for bonsai cultivation. The roots on a mature Dwarf Umbrella Bonsai give the effect of a banyan tree – and the style is called – Banyan.

Schefflera will produce
 aerial roots

To keep Schefflera arboricola shaped, prune with attention to the latent bud. Many prefer to use the “clip and grow” technique. Above the attachment point of each leaf is a bud on the tree from which a new branch will grow. By pruning about an inch above a leaf where the bud is pointing is the direction in which the new branch will grow. The dwarf Schefflera can handle radical pruning and come back strongly. Don’t be afraid to prune the plant as needed to maintain the size and shape. As a bonsai Hawaiian Schefflera is hard to train and doesn't work in a lot of traditional Japanese forms. Many bonsai purists do not consider Scheffleras as “real bonsai”. Schefflera does make good "Pensai" and are about as tough an indoor plant as one can imagine.

2011 schefflera arboricola

1992 schefflera arboricola

Shefflera like slightly moist soil, but do not allow the soil to dry out can handle some under watering.  But overwater it and rot the roots and kill the plant. Provide even, consistent watering.  When one does water, water thoroughly.  Rinse off any dust from the leaves.  In winter water the plant sparingly as the plant requires less water because the tree is resting. Yellow, falling leaves is often the result of too much water. When kept indoors or under cool conditions, Schefflera arboricola does not like "wet feet"! Let it dry out and water less in the future. Empty that saucer! Out in the good old summertime the tree will quickly use any water in a tray, but too much direct sun may cause the leaves to yellow. 

Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai Tree
has interesting aerial banyan
roots making it ideal for
roots-over-rock styles. 

Can tolerate low light, but grows more strongly with high light but, the more light, the more compact the stronger the growth. If Shefflera gets thin, long and leggy- It is not getting enough light. Move it to a brighter spot. 

Shefflera are tropical trees and prefer to be above 55F^o  but must be kept above freezing. Shefflera appreciate being outdoors in summer. They prefer to be where it is warmer. When the AC comes on it is time for their summer vacation- fresh air, sunlight, strong healthy growth. Fertilize during this period of active growth.

schefflera arboricola 
 in suiban

Under very high humidity conditions Schefflera will produce aerial roots that, when they reach the ground, will convert to fully functional roots. Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai Tree has interesting aerial banyan roots. The roots on a mature Dwarf Umbrella Bonsai give the effect of a banyan tree.

Janine

When the low temperatures stay above 50 F^o and the highs are consistently above 90 F^o shefflera can be safely re-potted. Fertilize during this period of active growth. Give enough time for the tree to recover before temperatures begin to drop in the late summer/ early fall. There is no need to fertilize when the temperatures are low because winter is a time of less active growth.

In summer the dwarf Schefflera
can handle radical pruning
 and come back strongly

This small-leafed Schefflera develops a rough wood-like trunk and branches that make it ideal for bonsai cultivation. Robust tree that does well both indoors and out and can adjust to a wide range of indoor conditions; it's not winter hardy outdoors in cold climates.

A month after hard pruning

Most growers prefer to use the “clip and grow” technique. Above the attachment point of each leaf is a bud on the tree from which a new branch will grow. By pruning about an inch above a leaf where the bud is pointing is the direction in which the new branch will grow.