A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum Pruning a Schefflera

I have a schefflera that is about four feet high. It is so top heavy that it has begun to lean. I want to cut it back and start new plants from the cuttings. Help!

Welcome Sequoia. A schefflera can take almost as much pruning as you want to give it. The branch tips with a couple of leaves left on usually root fairly easily given enough, even soil moisture. They take a little longer to root than, say, a geranium does. But they do root fairly easily.
I'm glad you found us with your question.

Just chop and sit the in water...it'll start to show new roots...then you can replant it.

I chop mine and put it directly in the soil. So, either way you want to do it (water or soil) should work.
Welcome to the forum!

I just thought I'd add, use some really sharp scizzors or pruners. I don't know the size of your schif but some can get pretty thick stems. you want a good clean cut. and if you plant what you pruned and put in soil keep it moist (not soaked) until it roots. schif's do take a bit longer than some to root, but are still easy to root.

Thanks for your quick response. Would a root stimulant be necessary if I placed the cut pieces directly into the soil?

Thanks for the info on using sharp pruners. My stems are pretty thick.

The root hormone wouldn't hurt it any. I really haven't seen much difference but I usually forget to dip my cuttings anyway.

I haven't noticed any difference in using root hormone either, but since I'd already bought some I use it.

Did you find a solution yet?

Good morning, I have a Hawaiian Umbrella tree. It is small and considered to be a bonsai. I snip off the leaves from the top to prune it and keep it small looking. It looks like a miniature tree right now. I, too, want to try to root the leaves that I prune, so I will try it. Am I in the correct forum for a bonsai discussion? If not, perhaps you can direct me to the correct place. I noticed the questions on the Shefflera and I believe that is the correct name for my little Umbrella tree. Thanks for any help you can give me. I'm enjoying this forum and my little tree immensely.
Liz

liz, this isn't the wrong place. and when you go to root the cuttings, you have to have at least 2 leaves on the piece you are rooting. good luck and let us know!