How Do You Care For A Schefflera Elegantissima?

How do you care for a schefflera Elegantissima?

Schefflera Elegantissima, (formerly Dizygotheca Elegantissima), commonly known as False Aralia, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in its native habitat of New Caldonia or Polynesia.

However, it is grown as an unusual houseplant on Staten Island.

The term False Aralia or Aralia Elegantissima is likely to appear on a label identifying this plant, which has finely textured, dark green leaves with saw-tooth edges, a white midrib, and a brownish green metallic underside.

The False Aralia is a beautiful plant that may be grown inside. Its leaves feature exquisite serrated edges that resemble lace, making it a one-of-a-kind addition to any indoor garden.

Schefflera Elegantissima is a unique pick that will brighten up your house or business. They do need a little more attention and care than other plants.

Light requirements

False aralia thrives in indirect, bright light. The colour of the mature leaves is controlled by general light levels—the more light there is, the darker the mature leaves will seem.

However, avoid exposing the plant to any strong direct sunshine rays.

They have the potential to harm the thin, fragile leaves, causing them to brown.

A location that receives morning sun, such as an east-facing window, should suffice. However, avoid the hot midday sun.

Soil requirements

False aralia prefers wet but well-draining soil with a pH that ranges from slightly acidic to neutral.

It performs poorly in sponge-like potting materials, therefore use a peat-based mix instead.

Make sure your selected blend contains a good amount of coarse material—you want something that holds moisture but drains rapidly and does not become soggy.

Water requirements

False aralia prefers consistent soil moisture, although it will suffer in wet conditions.

A reasonable rule of thumb is to water again when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry to the touch.

Temperature requirements

False aralia despises being chilly. The optimal temperature range for fake aralia is between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

While it can tolerate brief temperature drops to roughly 45 degrees. Prolonged cold temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, on the other hand, will cause the plant to shed its leaves and finally die.

Humidity requirements

Furthermore, fake aralia prefers humidity and requires at least 50% humidity to grow.

To increase humidity, spray your plant with water or place its pot in a shallow tray filled with water and stones, ensuring sure the pot’s bottom isn’t directly in the water.

Fertilizer requirements

False aralia, in general, does not require a lot of fertilizer. You may, however, give your plant a boost with a liquid houseplant fertilizer throughout its growing season (spring and summer), as directed on the package.

How do you prune a schefflera Elegantissima?

False Aralia grows slowly and does not require pruning unless you wish to regulate its height.

It will eventually shed its lower leaves, revealing a single tree-like trunk. You may keep it short and shrubby by trimming it back each year if you choose.

Don’t be scared to trim it back to 6″ from the earth. The optimal time to prune is in the spring. New offsets will sprout from the plant’s base.

It generally keeps a lovely form on its own. If the plant begins to shed leaves and become thin, you may vigorously prune it in the spring to make it bushier.

Is schefflera Elegantissima toxic to cats?

False aralia and Schefflera are in the same pool for some reason. They are two quite distinct houseplants.

The first is a False aralia, which is a non-poisonous houseplant that is more difficult to locate. The word to search for is Dizygotheca Elegantissima — these plants have slim leaves that appear like fingers and come in little 6′′ plants or 6′ trees.

Calathea care is likewise similar; they prefer medium light, lots of humidity, and must be kept wet.

How do you propagate schefflera Elegantissima?

Schefflera Elegantissima is a delicate indoor foliage plant that grows to a height of 4 to 6 feet and thrives in bright, indirect sunshine.

Seed propagation

This plant is often grown by seed, cuttings, or air layering.

If your plant develops seed, spread it on the surface of moist, sandy soil, exposed by soil, in a warm setting (65 to 75° F) throughout the summer. Regrettably, they will not consistently yield vigorous, healthy plants.

Cuttings propagation

Stem cuttings can be used to grow false aralia. This is not only a cheap technique to propagate new plants, but it also lets you to utilize whatever stems you wish to trim from the parent plant to shape it. Spring is the finest time to take a stem cutting. Here’s how it works:

Remove a healthy piece of stem about 6 inches long. Remove any leaves from the lowest portion of the plant.

Plant the cut end in a damp soilless potting mix after dipping it in rooting hormone.

Place the cutting in a warm, humid location that receives bright, indirect light. Keep the soil wet but not waterlogged, and new growth should appear in a few weeks.

Air layering propagation

Air layering is often used on thick-stemmed plants that have grown lanky as a result of leaf loss to develop a new compact plant from a healthy branch.

Cut the external layer from a 1/2-inch portion of stem no more than 2 feet from the tip of the aralia and no more than 4 inches below a healthy leaf in the spring, then paint the cut with rooting hormone.

Pack damp sphagnum moss around the cut and wrap the wound and moss in transparent plastic to keep the moisture in, tying it above and below the cut.

Once a few months, roots will emerge in the moss, and the twig may be broken below the roots and potted up after the plastic and moss have been removed.

How big do schefflera Elegantissima plants get?

Schefflera Elegantissima may grow up to 26 feet tall in their natural habitat, however they seldom grow taller than 4-6 feet in pots or containers.

They have a solitary stem and palmate leaves that are split into 4-9 dark greenish-brown leaflets with sharply serrated edges. A related species, Schefflera veitchii, has coppery-green leaves with pale red veins.

In cultivation, False Aralia plants seldom blossom. In locations where they are not hardy, they are rather easy to cultivate as house plants.

Small plants are perfect for growing in dish gardens and terrariums.

Why is my schefflera Elegantissima has a yellow colours in the leaves?

Yellowing leaves might be an indication of root rot, which is commonly caused by overwatering or inadequate drainage in the soil.

Make sure the plant is never resting in soggy soil, and wait until the top several inches of soil have dried before watering.

While these plants perform well in regular home humidity, severely low humidity and dry soil cause the margins of the leaves to discolour and finally yellow. Mist the area, add a pebble tray, or keep a humidifier nearby.

In general, Scheffleras flourish in medium to bright indirect sunshine. When exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time, the leaves will burn.

While Scheffleras may tolerate low light conditions, their development will be slowed. Yellowing leaves can be caused by a lack of light. Take note of the amount of light reaching your Schefflera and adjust appropriately.

Weakening or stressing Scheffleras makes them more vulnerable to pest infestations. Sap-sucking insects such as spider mites can dehydrate your plant. Yellowing leaflets and fronds are the first signs of this condition.

Why is my schefflera Elegantissima leaves turning brown?

Browning leaves are frequently caused by too much or too severe sunlight. Keep an eye on your plant throughout the day to ensure that it does not receive direct afternoon sun. If it is, relocate the plant to a little shadier location.

While these plants perform well in regular home humidity, severely low humidity and dry soil cause the margins of the leaves to discolour and finally yellow. Mist the area, add a pebble tray, or keep a humidifier nearby.

Check that your plant is not in a drafty location or in the way of heating and cooling vents. If the plant is chilly or too dry due to continual airflow, the leaves will brown and drop.

Why is my schefflera Elegantissima Plant leaves falling off?

Temperature swings and humidity changes, particularly cold temperatures and low humidity, can cause fake aralia to shed some leaves.

This plant prefers a consistent, warm, and wet climate. Make sure it’s not too close to drafty doors or windows.

Also, if feasible, place your plant near a window in a bathroom where the climate will be more humid.

Wilted leaves typically indicate that the plant has been overwatered. If the soil is excessively moist or too dry, the plant loses its leaves. Allow the soil to dry up further before watering the plat throughout the winter.

Maintain a just wet but never saturated soil.

Water well until water drips from the drip holes at the bottom of the pot. Allow the top 1′′-2′′ of soil to dry out completely before watering again.

How do you make schefflera Elegantissima bushy?

Scheffleras are slow-growing plants. These plants, which can reach heights of 5 to 12 feet, grow best if they are pruned regularly to keep them bushy and full.

To get height in your schefflera, it is key to limit the number of stems you let grow. Cut out any dead or weak stems.

One way to make your plant bushy is to remove a few of the side branches, which can spread out and touch each other. Remove the outermost leaves on top of the plant, including flowers if you have them.

You’ll also want to prune off any flower stalks that connect two or more stems together, since these are prone to rot if they are not removed at this time.