One of my favorite plants is the schefflera, also known as an umbrella plant. My mom had one for many years, so maybe that is why I am partial to them. The leaves are glossy and deep green in color. They radiate from a central point of a stalk like spokes on a tire. A young schellfera can have 4 to 6 leaves, where as an older plant can have 12 to 16 leaves on a single stalk. The schefflera is hardy in U.S. Department of Agricultural zone 11. In zones colder than 11, the schefflera is grown as a houseplant. There are several different types of schefflera plants and they can grow to a height of 2 feet or more feet tall. Some grow as tall as 12 feet.
You can buy a schefflera plant already growing at a nursery, but if you have a friend with a schefflera plant, you can save some money. By taking a cutting, it is possible to root your own schefflera
Prepare Pots
Gather several 4-inch pots. You will need one 4-inch pot for each cutting you want to start. Cover the drainage holes with a coffee filter, pieces of shard or small rock. Fill the pots with well-drained potting soil. The soil level should be 1/3 inch below the pot’s rim.
Find a large tub or other container and fill it with water. The tub should be large enough to contain several of the pots and the sides should be 4 inches or more high. Only pour in enough water so that when the pots are inserted into the tub, the water will not be higher than the pot’s rim. Allow the pots to soak until the soil is visibly moist. Set the pots on a drainage rack allowing the excess water to drain away while you gather the schefflera cuttings.
Get Cuttings
Only cut good healthy stems to start your new plants. The stems should be at least 6-inches long. Cut the stems with a sharp knife or razor blade. When you cut, tilt the knife so you cut the stem at a 45-degree angle. Cut some of the leaves at the top of the stem off, but keep four or five leaves. Place the cut end of the stem in a paper towel to keep the ends hydrated. This is especially necessary if you have traveled a distance to get your cuttings.
Prepare the stems for planting by dipping the cut end in a glass of water. Tap the stem to remove the excess water and then dip the wet end in rooting hormone. Again, tap the stem with your finger to remove the excess. You should have at least 1.5 inches of the stem coated with rooting hormone.
Plant in Pots
Form a hole in the moist soil with the blunt end of a pencil or a dibble. Insert the cutting into the hole and gently firm the soil around the cutting to help hold it upright.
Place three small rods or wooden sticks into the soil. The rod should be 1 inch taller than the cutting, The rods will keep the bag from touching the leaves. the Position a clear plastic bag over the pot. The bag has to be big and long enough so it does not rest on top of the leaves. Secure the bottom of the bag around the pot with a rubber band, or if it is long enough, place it under the pot.
Find a bright window to place the pot, but do not put them in direct sunlight. The atmosphere inside the plastic bag will become too hot and it will cook your plant instead of helping them to root. You want just a nice, warm, humid environment for the cutting.
Wait a Month
Check the soil once a day to make sure that the soil is moist. Never allow the soil to dry out, or remain soggy.
Check the cutting for roots after it has grown at least a month. When roots have formed, remove the plastic bag. Continue to care for your schefflera plant as you do the mature plant.
Some gardeners always use rooting hormone. They say it helps the cutting to root better and faster. Some gardeners omit the rooting hormone, saying that it makes no difference on how the plant roots. Which method do you prefer to use?
