Umbrella Plant Care Guide (Schefflera Arboricola)

The umbrella plant, or dwarf umbrella tree (scientific name Schefflera arboricola) is a popular houseplant known for its long oval leaves that fan out like an umbrella. 

Umbrella plants can adapt to a variety of indoor conditions, making them suitable for most homes or offices. 

Schefflera plants are fast-growing, easy to care for, and have air-purifying qualities. They can adapt to different light conditions, making them suitable for most homes or offices.

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Umbrella Plants

Scientific name: Schefflera arboricola. Common names: Umbrella plant, or Dwarf Umbrella tree.

The Schefflera plant is native to Taiwan and South China. There it grows in the understory of forests and mountain slopes, reaching heights of up to 15 to 20 feet. It thrives in warm, humid conditions with plenty of shade and well-drained soil.

This plant guide has care tips on watering, light, humidity, propagation, and more.

Related reading: House Plant Care for Beginners.

Light Requirements

Indoor umbrella plants prefer bright, indirect light. They can tolerate lower light conditions, which is common in many indoor settings. As for the best window direction, a north or east-facing window would be ideal.

Too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, while too little light can cause the plant to become leggy and its variegation (if it has any) to fade.

Variegated umbrella plants grow better with higher light levels compared to their all-green counterparts. Not enough light can make the leaves revert to green and lose their beautiful variegation.

Recently moved your plant? The leaves may be drooping and dropping off because of a sudden difference in light if your plant is in a darker spot, lower humidity, or there was a drop in temperature.

Watering

Indoors, water your umbrella tree regularly to keep the soil slightly moist. The soil should feel like a wrung-out sponge.   

If the soil feels wet, wait for one to two days and recheck the soil. If the soil is dry, go ahead and water generously, to saturate the soil. Allow any excess water to drain out of the bottom of the pot. Then allow the top layer of soil to dry out before watering again.    

Overwatering can lead to yellow leaves and root rot, while underwatering can cause the leaves to wilt, droop, and dry out. If in doubt, don’t water yet. An underwatered plant is easier to revive than an overwatered plant. 

You can buy a moisture meter to help you out with when to water. And read up on the basics of watering your indoor plants. 

Fertilizer

Use a diluted liquid plant fertilizer to feed your umbrella plant once a month during the growing season in spring and summer. Be sure the soil is damp before fertilizing and don’t fertilize in winter when growth slows down.  

Also never fertilize if your plant is recently repotted or is having problems. Fertilizer gives your plant a boost of nutrients when it is actively growing, it is not plant medicine.   

Humidity

Indoor umbrella plants like moderate to high humidity. It can grow and adapt to average household humidity levels. However, they will do better if you raise the humidity.

Brown, crispy leaf tips are often a sign your plant needs more humidity. The best way to raise the humidity is by placing a small humidifier near your plant.

Pruning

Over time, umbrella plants with a single stem may become leggy or overly tall. In such cases, pruning is a helpful solution. Schefflera plants are resilient and can tolerate significant pruning.

After pruning, your Schefflera will typically sprout a new stem from the cut point. Occasionally, dormant buds receive a boost in energy post-pruning, leading to fresh growth. However, it’s important to note that indoor umbrella plants don’t always branch out after pruning.

Safety Note: Schefflera sap is mildly toxic and can cause skin irritation. Be careful while pruning, and consider wearing protective gloves.

An effective strategy is to plant the pruned cuttings alongside the original plant in the same pot. This creates multiple stems in one container, instantly resulting in a fuller, less leggy-looking plant.

Umbrella Plant Propagation

You can propagate an umbrella plant by air layering the stem, but an easier method is propagating cuttings in water or soil.

Crown cutting from the top of the main stem. Stem cuttings include part of the main stem and a few leaf clusters. Remove the leaves closest to the bottom.

For water propagation, place the cuttings in a container with water and position in bright, indirect light. Regularly change the water to keep it fresh. Then, transplant the cuttings into soil when the roots reach a length of about 1 to 2 inches.

To propagate in soil, plant the cuttings in a small pot with well-draining soil. Keep the pot in a location with bright, indirect light. Water sparingly until you see new growth.

Roots grow relatively slowly on this plant (it can take a few months). But you can use a rooting hormone powder to speed up the propagation process and help in growing stronger roots.

Related reading: 6 ways to propagate your indoor plants. 

Soil and Repotting

Transplant your umbrella tree in a pot one size up when roots have filled the pot, or when you see roots growing from the bottom of the pot.

Even if your plant still has room to grow, you want to refresh the potting soil every two to three years in spring. The soil will have lost all its nutrients and will need to be replaced with fresh well-draining soil.

Make sure the new pot has drainage holes to allow excess water to drain out of the bottom.

Need a repotting refresher? How to repot your plants.

Plant Pests

Umbrella plants are not very prone to pests, but just like any indoor plant, they can occasionally be affected. Inspect your plant regularly for signs of bugs to catch a possible infestation before it becomes severe.

Read more: Common Houseplant Pests + Effective Methods to Eliminate Them.

Are Umbrella Plants Toxic to Cats?

Unfortunately, Schefflera arboricola is considered mildly poisonous when ingested. It may irritate the lips, mouth, and tongue. Although it is uncommon for pets to get seriously hurt from eating plants, keep this one out of reach of children and pets.

Related reading: Non-toxic Plants for Your Home.

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