Question
hello there.
I have a very old sheflera.  It was always a big plant and when I inherited it from my brother and placed it in our tall living room, it rose to a height of 12 feet!  however... recently the stems have started to look wrinkled, and new growth of the leaves began to instantly die.  I cut back 4 of its five stems, and the final one is now looking like death.  All stems are tilting down, and the main stem is getting that crackly look.  I have not repotted it, but moved it recently about 8 feet from its normal spot..though the withering and leaf loss was already well on its way.  I water VERY sparingly...always have... but have used systemic spider mite stuff on it in the past...  HELP!!  

Answer
Jeanette,

The only thing that I have ever seen kill a schefflera is not enough sun or too much water. If you want to e-mail me your phone # privately to [email protected] I will call you and discuss the amount of sun it is receiving with you. It is a plant that likes lots of sun and must dry out totally between waterings. You cannot leave it sit in a pot with water in the drain tray. It must have a drain hole in the pot and a drain tray under it. Without that it is sitting in a swamp even if you don't give it much water. If it doesn't have a drain hole repot it immediately into a smaller pot  with a drain hole because when you unpot it you will find that at least half of the roots have rotted away and what is left are water logged. If it does have a drain hole then give me your phone # and I will call so we can discuss lighting because that is probably your problem. Tell me the best time to call. My best.

Darlene