Question
QUESTION: I have a 5 foot schefflera which I repotted this spring because it was root bound,hadnt grown any new leaves in a while and seemed to be droopy looking.  After repotting,  the plant  almost immediately perked up, no more drooping, however I still havent seen any growth in the plant. Other than that there are no issues as leaf dropping or yellowing, plant looks healthy.  Why isnt it growing?

ANSWER: Hi Elizabeth,

Lots of good light is the most important factor in promoting plant growth. It is possible your Schefflera is not getting adequate light for new growth. It should be right in front of an uncovered window.

Contrary to popular wisdom, a pot that is too large will actually discourage new growth. Many people misunderstand what root bound actually is, so it is possible that yours did not need a larger pot and now the plants energy is going into filling the larger pot with roots at the expense of new top growth.

A photo of your Schefflera would help me ID just which type of Schefflera you have and determine if the pot size is appropriate. But as I mentioned first, it may be a simple question of improving the light.

I have written an article on Schefflera care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


plant   QUESTION: Thank you for your reply.  Here ia a picture of the plant.  I repotted it from a 9" dia pot to a 10".  The plant is not sitting near a window, it is actually across the room from a wall of 3 floor to ceiling windows (about 18 feet) but it does get lots of light, there is always shadows on the wall beside the plant so the light does reach the plant.  One of the reasons I bought this type of plant was because of what I read about not requiring too much light, I needed something in that spot in the room that would soften all the wood. I water this plant every 2-3 weeks or so.  I check with a moisture meter to see when it requires water. I fertilize every other watering between March and October.  It would not bother me if the plant grew slower than normal as long as it is healthy.

Answer
Hi Elizabeth,

Thanks for the additional information; it is very helpful.

The pot size is appropriate and it is good that you used a pot only one size larger. The light, however, is not nearly as good for the plant as you think. Light intensity drops off dramatically with each foot of distance from the windows. Ideally, yours should be within 3 to 4 feet of the windows. Although the light you have it in now may be minimally adequate, that means it will survive, but not thrive or grow very much.

It would be better if it were closer to the windows. However, I understand you want to keep it there. Be very careful that the top two inches of soil are dry in between waterings. Do NOT use the water meter because they are notoriously inaccurate. Use your finger to determine how dry the top two inches of soil are. In minimum light you must be very careful not to over water.

In minimal light, it is not a good idea to use fertilizer because the growth rate and use of mineral nutrients is greatly reduced. In low light everything slows down and you have to be mindful of that.

For future reference, a better plant choice for that location would be a Dracaena Janet Craig or Dracaena Lisa.

I have written an articles on Schefflera care and on low light plants that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com