A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum Schefflera

I have a schefflera that is getting big and top heavy it seems. Can I cut it back? If it helps with anything I can take a picture of it.

Scheffleras can take a lot of cutting. I have one growing ouside cut tree-like about 15 ft tall. Another cut into a box shape so it won't block the view from a window. I would never cut below the lowest set of leaves but anything goes up to that point. They are a very forgiving plant. Indoors or out.

I cut mine back often, then set the cutting in water to grow roots then add it back to the pot.

Thanks Tina! I will definitely cut it back then! It is just getting bigger than I would like.

You can keep it the size you need it to be very easily. And the cuttings root pretty easily in soil too.

I cut mine back all the time and I refuse to re pot it, it's big enough (23 + years old) It was the plant they sent me in the hospital when I had my oldest daughter

I cut it back quite a bit today. I did stick some of the cuttings in soil to see if they would root or not. It looks so much better now! Thanks for all the advice!!!

Another question have you all kept your plant in the same sized pot.....if not how often do you repot it. Mine is big and I've cut it down and added the cuttings to the same pot too. Just wondering????

I am lucky enough to be able to grow mine outdoors. I don't know much about them in a container. I don't know how crowded they like to be.

i've had mine in the same pot for 3 years. and it will be pulled out, soil refreshed and stuck back in the same pot for another few years!

Mine has well has been in the same pot for years.

before I got rid of mine, I had it for 25 years and it was over 7 feet tall.
My DH & I got it as a wedding present. April 7, 1979---
it did not survive the move: Dec 26, 2004---

That's too bad Carol. I recieved mine from sis-in-law, she had it for years and it was tall and spindly. She was throwing it away so I took it home and chopped it down to two feet tall. It came back with a vengence.

Seems like this is a plant that some love to give away. I got my first one from my sister and it looked so terrible. I cleaned it up and replanted some of the branches I cut off and when they started gowing my sister asked for one again ...go figure.

well, see --if I had of known about this site back then and I had of found out about how to cut it back & most likley would have brought it with me--if for no other reason than it was a wedding gift.

Oh well, ya live & you learn.