How to make Schefflera take root quickly by cuttings?

Schefflera, also known as Schefflera arborvitae and umbrella tree, is a common indoor foliage plant. It is loved by many gardening enthusiasts for its beautiful leaves and strong adaptability. Propagation by cuttings is one of the most commonly used methods for Schefflera. So how can you make the cuttings of Schefflera take root quickly? Let’s take a look below.

1. Cutting time

Best time: Cuttings of Schefflera can be carried out in spring and summer, when the temperature is suitable and the plants grow vigorously, which is conducive to the rooting of the cuttings.

Avoid extreme weather: Avoid taking cuttings in cold or hot seasons to avoid affecting the survival rate.

2. Choose the right cuttings

Cuttings selection: Choose healthy one-year-old branches without diseases or insect pests as cuttings. The shoots should have 3-4 internodes and be approximately 10-15 cm long.

Cutting method: Use clean and sharp scissors to cut diagonally below the node, keep the top 2-3 leaves, and remove the lower leaves to reduce water evaporation.

3. Handling cuttings

Disinfection: Soak the cut cuttings in a carbendazim solution for 10-15 minutes for disinfection to prevent bacterial infection.

Rooting agent treatment: You can use rooting powder or rooting liquid to apply to the cut of the cuttings to promote rooting. Dip about 1-2 cm of the bottom of the cutting into the rooting agent, then take it out and dry it.

4. Prepare cutting medium

Substrate selection: Choose a loose, breathable, well-drained substrate, such as perlite , vermiculite, peat soil, etc. You can also use a mixed substrate, such as perlite and peat soil mixed in a 1:1 ratio.

Substrate treatment: Moisten the substrate fully, but not too wet, keep it slightly moist.

5. Cutting operation

Insertion into the substrate: Use your fingers or a small stick to dig a small hole in the substrate and insert the processed cuttings into the hole, the depth of which is about one third to one half of the length of the cuttings.

Compact the substrate: Gently compact the substrate around the cuttings to ensure that the cuttings are stable and do not fall over.

Watering: Water thoroughly to make the substrate fully moist.

6. Management after cutting

Temperature control: Place the cutting pot in a warm and ventilated place, keep the temperature between 20-25℃, and avoid direct sunlight.

Humidity management: To maintain a high air humidity, you can use plastic film to cover the cutting pot to create a small greenhouse environment. Remove the film and ventilate for 1-2 hours every day to avoid excessive moisture and rot.

Light management: Provide diffuse light and avoid direct sunlight. If the light is insufficient, artificial light can be used to supplement the light.

Regular inspection: Check the growth of the cuttings every few days, keep the substrate slightly moist, and avoid water accumulation.

7. Rooting and transplanting

Rooting time: Generally, Schefflera cuttings begin to take root within 2-4 weeks. You can tell whether the cuttings have taken root by gently pulling them.

Transplanting: When the cuttings have new leaves and a well-developed root system, they can be transplanted into a larger pot. Choose loose, fertile, well-drained soil, and gradually increase the light to allow it to adapt to the new growing environment.

8. Notes

Avoid frequent movement: Try to avoid moving the cuttings frequently during the cutting process to avoid affecting rooting.

Avoid overwatering: Keep the substrate slightly moist to avoid waterlogging that can cause root rot.

Timely pruning: After transplanting, prune the yellow, diseased and weak leaves in time to keep the plants clean and tidy.

Through the above method, you can effectively carry out rapid rooting of Schefflera cuttings and cultivate strong new plants. I hope the introduction in this article can help you better master the cutting techniques of Schefflera occidentalis and enjoy the fun of gardening.