Shefflera - genus of plants of the Araliae family, got its name thanks to the German botanist Jacob Scheffler. The homeland of this exotic beauty is the tropical rainforests of Australia and Southeast Asia.
Flower growers dubbed her "umbrella tree" for the characteristic shape of the leaves. Sheffler is also called "vestibule plant".
It can often be found in office corridors, on platforms between the floors of buildings. Plant tolerates low air temperature (but not harsh cold), so it feels quite comfortable in these places. Sheffler flower growers do not cause much trouble, it is unpretentious.
The most important thing about caring for Scheffleroy read further in the article.
Under proper conditions of maintenance, the flower is rarely sick, but it is advisable to know the symptoms of the disease in order to provide the necessary assistance in time.
A photo
The photo shows Schefflera with proper care at home:
For those who grow Sheffler, articles on plant care and breeding methods can be helpful.
Diseases
Why does Schefflera shed leaves?
There are several reasons why an umbrella tree can do this:
- Hypothermia Shefflera loves coolness, but not drafts and cold (below 13 degrees). If the leaves fall, and the trunk is still alive, you can save the flower. To do this, place it in a warmer place, protected from drafts;
- Overheat. The plant is light-requiring, but it is negative to direct sunlight;
IMPORTANT! Sunlight can cause leaf burns.
It is necessary to change its location to a more comfortable one. In the heat spray 2 times a day.
- Low humidity. In the autumn-winter period, the plant should be kept away from the batteries, otherwise leaf fall is inevitable;
- Excessive waterlogging. The frequency of irrigation shefflery depends on her place of residence. If it is standing on the sunny side, the soil dries faster and watering should be done more often with well-settled water. If the flower is in the shade, do not overfill it, it can lead to rotting of the root system and falling leaves. In this case, it is necessary to transplant it, after removing the rotten part of the roots. Before planting in another container, the root system should be treated with a fungicide or root;
IMPORTANT! Over-wetting can be the cause of death due to complete rotting of the root system.
- Lack of light;
- Sharp change of location. Shefflera loves consistency and does not tolerate sudden movement. This is stressful for her and one of the reasons for leaf dumping. It is better to pick up the most comfortable place for the “umbrella tree” right away and not to disturb it by moving further;
- Dense ground lack of drainage can also cause sudden leaf fall. It is necessary to change the soil to a more loose. At the bottom of the pot place expanded clay drainage.
Fall down and blacken
Leaves fall for the following reasons:
- Overflow. The plant should not be poured, excessive moisture can cause rotting of the root system and, as a result, blackening and falling off. Watering is needed when the top layer of the substrate is dry. If water remains in the pot after watering, it should be drained. In case of damage to the root system rot, the Schaffler can be saved only by transplanting;
- Cold. If she pours cold water on a draft or in a cold room, she can catch a cold and get sick. The leaves will begin to turn black and fall off. Watering should be done with well-settled water and change the plant to a more comfortable place of residence;
- Sunburn As a result of an overabundance of sunlight, the leaves darken and fall off.
Brown spots
Shefflera brown spots on the leaves appear for the following reasons:
- Excessive waterlogging or insufficient watering. Watering the plant should be moderate, you should not allow both waterlogging and drying of the soil (the appearance of cracks from drying on the soil surface);
- Pest infestation (shield). The disease with the shield also leads to the fact that the leaves of the flower turn brown and fall off.
Turn yellow and fall off
The leaves of the Scheffler flower are due to the natural process of yellowing and falling off of the lower leaves of an adult plant. This is normal.
This disease is associated primarily with violation of the rules of content. If you notice any signs of ill health, it means that you need to fix the problem of care.
Thus, the cause of abscission may be:
- Waterlogging. It is necessary to reduce watering;
- Lack of power. In this case, the plant should be fed with nitrogen fertilizers (bird droppings);
- Lack of light;
- Drafts.
- Pest damage. In this case, we are talking about mealybug and spider mite;
Dry ends
- Dry air. It is necessary to carry out spraying 2 times a day, especially in the summer. In winter, the frequency of sprays is reduced, the plant is placed away from the central heating radiators. Spraying saves temporarily. In the heat of the plant, it is desirable to place on a pallet with moist expanded clay;
- Draft can also cause the leaves to dry.
Why does not grow Schefflera?
- Lack of fertilizer. The plant needs feeding;
- Transfer. For healthy growth, the appearance of large leaves Scheffler needs a transplant every 2 years.
Pests
Scheffler is usually attacked by parasites:
- Mealybug. Its presence is easy to see with the naked eye. White leaves of cotton appear on the leaves and on the stem of the flower, turn yellow, fall off;
- Shchitovka. The wax bodies of this parasite firmly stick to the inner surface of the leaves, causing brown spots on them. The plant slows growth, languishes;
- Spider mite His presence is given by the threads of the web, which envelops the whole plant. Shefflera leaves turn yellow, wither and fall.
You can fight pests with the help of a usual soap solution (laundry soap) or diluted alcohol. The leaves are treated with a cotton swab dipped in one of these solutions.
If the damage is severe, Scheffler must be sprayed with any insecticidal solution. At the time of treatment, the flower is isolated.
Taking into account the advice of this article, you can easily determine the cause of the indisposition of your green beauty and help her cope with it.
