Q&A for How to Prune a Schefflera Plant

Yes, you can take cuttings from a Schefflera. Doing this will make a duplicate plant if you care for it correctly.

You should check the soil in the pot—when the potting soil dries out, add water to keep the soil moist.

You want full or partial sun for Schefflera to bloom the best. The other important factor is the watering. Most people often overwater them, so be sure that the soil in the pot is dry to the touch before adding water.

Find a stem close to the ground and cut it. Trim the leaves of the stem in half to lower the amount of moisture it loses. Put potting soil in a small pot and make a 2-inch hole for the new plant.

No, these plants are not pet-friendly. Schefflera are poisonous to both cats and dogs.

Generally, pruning an indoor schefflera plant should occur when you notice an unhealthy looking stalk or damaged leaves.

Yes. Cuttings can simply be put straight into dirt and roots should begin to form. Rooting hormone does help speed the rooting process, though.

They are quite resilient. It does depend on your location, climate and the amount of watering per its location, but they are generally resilient.

Schefflera plants don’t go completely dormant, but do rest in winter. It’s best to trim them in the late winter, before the plant sends out new growth in the spring.

From my experience, yes, it needs to be watered a little more frequently if the leaves are curling inward. I tend to let the top quarter to half inch of soil in the pot dry until crumbly (not bone dry), and then water thoroughly. Also, if it's been in the same pot for a long time, you could check to make sure the roots haven't become root-bound. If they look like ramen noodles, like there's more root than dirt in the pot, not all of the plant is getting water or nutrients.

If this happens, your plant has most likely died. However, the other trunks may be fine if you remove the dead trunk. If the dead trunk is connected to the others, use some sterilized (use rubbing alcohol) pruning shears and snip it off.

Any houseplant, and the Schefflera is one, can be grown outdoors in the summer months. But do not put it in direct sunlight.

I have attempted this myself by sticking the cuttings in a glass of water and I have not had success propagating (growing an identical plant) from a cutting. None of them put out any roots whatsoever. On the other hand, the cuttings have not died off and it has been many many months. They are still alive and well! If you would like to try, you may have better results if you change the water often or simply stick them straight into dirt (try dipping the cut end in honey to stimulate root growth and then put it in the earth).

Yes, you may root the plants in water.

Yes, as long as they have moderate sun and shade.

As stated at the end of the article, "eating the leaves of a schefflera plant can be poisonous to dogs and cats. Make sure they are out of reach for your pet's health and safety."

Yes, I have separated two stems (trunks) by pulling the root stem apart. Placing each separate trunk in fresh soil (larger pot), and watering worked well. Both plants started growing rapidly after a short stunted period.

Yes, you can. You will get even more aggressive growth from the bottom nodes.

Trim off the tip and make sure it's getting more sunlight. It should branch out the sides and bush up.

The stickiness is probably due to scale insects. Try gently wiping them off with warm soapy water, then rising the leaves. You may need to replace the soil as well to prevent more scale infestations.

Yes, just cut the leaves off and leave the stalks as they will whither and fall off by themselves.

Yes, but you might want to try smaller sections to root it (see rooting tips above). Also, if there are still active nodes at the base of the plant, you may find that after cutting off the top, the bottom will start sending out new shoots, so don't throw it away right away!

No, you don't. You can allow many stems if you like having a full plant.

Take sterilized pruners and cut the stems one foot from the base of the stems and above a leaf node. The plant will put out new growth and become bushier. You can take the removed stems, cut it in 12 inch pieces and insert the bottom most cut. Then insert into the soil about six inches. The top piece should be stripped of its bottom leaves until you have 4 remaining leaves before inserting into the soil. The original plant will become bushier, and you'll have several new plants as well.

If they appear to be made of white styrofoam - artificial and small, they may be a drainage component of the potting mixture.

When cutting back a plant, you should always do it by 1/3 of the height at one time so the plant does not go into shock. If you cut it all the way back there is a possibility it will just die. Try cutting by 1/3, let it grow from there, and then do another 1/3. You can always start new plants from the parts you hack off.

The plant is either getting too much water, is root bound, or you have an insect problem. Check the watering directions above. Remove the plant from the pot and check the roots. If there's more root than soil, repot it in a larger pot in fresh new soil. Check answers above for insect problems.

They grow best in temperatures 66 F and above. If the plant is indoors, make sure it gets plenty of light. Outdoors, grow it in a partially shaded environment, but cover it well if temperatures drop below 66 F.

Yes! Cut the stem (trunk) back to 6 - 12" and above a leaf node. New growth will eventually appear on the new plant. See posts above for propagating new plants from the removed stems.

Yes, as long as they are not too crowded. You may want to remove any new plantlets to create the plant you desire.