A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum Schefflera problem..

I've had this plant for YEARS and today I noticed one full trunk and two of the offset branches have turned black at the base and the leaves were drooping. I cut the whole trunk off, there are a few more trunks left and they look fine.

I've never seen this before..mind you 'someone' gave the plant a few tugs and pulls when I wasn't looking. Could this be the cause or is this the starting of a disease.

Geez, I'm down to two plants and both are looking pitiful. Hoping Wal-Mart gets in a shipment of houseplants soon.

This another plant that I have in the ground outdoors. I am not sure what diseases attack it. I do know they are tough plants and can accept a lot of abuse. I don't think a little tugging by chubby baby fingers will cause that particular problem.
My umbrella plant began in a single 1 inch liner as a single tiny leaf. That liner got blown over and the baby plant fell out dozens of times. When it finally got a bit bigger, I planted it in the ground under some pine trees for a little shade. Now I have to cut that 'tree' back constantly to keep it even with my roof top. It has gotten about 20 ft tall and nearly as wide when I let it. I have taken dozens of cuttings and rooted them for others. Tough plant all around.

This plant was given to me by my sis-in-law, she had it and it was spindly. So I cut it back and re-rooted the tips that got cut off and it grew beautifully. Now it is looking like it was when I received it...maybe I should just cut it back again.

Yes, I've noticed that neglect seems to do it good. It definately likes to be under watered to grow more shoots.