Question
What can I do to save a large sheflera that I overwatered?  All the leaves are drooping low.

Answer
Sue,

The only thing you can do is drain it as much as possible immediately, make sure it is in a pot with a large drainage hole and a drain tray under it. Do not water it again until you can insert a long bamboo skewer into the soil and it comes out dry. Get the long bamboo skewers at the grocery store that you would use for long shish kabobs. This plant needs to get dry between waterings. You should not water it just because it has been a week and you think it is time to water it again. This time of year, because the days are shorter, most of your house plants are semi dormant. Their growth has slowed and they are not using as much water as they do during the longer days of summer. An hour after you water you should empty the drain tray so the plant is not sitting with a tray full of water. They do not like sitting in swamps. If it is too large to pick it up to empty it you can empty it by suctioning it out with a turkey baster. Then do not water again until you insert a bamboo skewer and it is dry again.

Also move it to the sunniest window you have. The more sun it gets the quicker your sheflera will recuperate. As it drys out and recuperates if the tips of the branches turn black or dry out and appear dead simply trim them back using sharp pruners or scissors to green healthy tissue. I hope it recuperates fast and if you use the bamboo skewer to determine if it needs watered and make sure you empty the drain tray after each watering you will not overwater it again. Good luck.

Darlene