Question
I got a Variegated Umbrella Plant on sale and I love it.  Although it got spider mites.  Almost all of the leaves have fallen off.  It was full and beautiful and it is dieing!!!  Do I cut off the stems that lost all of its leaves??  I was told to use 1:3 Alcohol and Water to spray it down 2 times a week for a month.  I wanted to know what to do to save my once beautiful plant.  I am very short money wise so anything that I could use that was in the house would be wonderful!!

Here are some pictures of the plant.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Creation_in_Hope/100_0710.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Creation_in_Hope/100_0712.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g139/Creation_in_Hope/100_0711.jpg

Answer
Jan,

If it were mine I would spray it with rubbing alcohol straight out of the bottle and not diluted, 3 times the first week then twice a week for 2 more weeks. Spray it very thoroughly, making sure you get the fronts and backs of all leaves. Also move it over in front of the window and open the blinds or even move the schefflera outside in full sun and it will get much healthier much faster. No do not cut it back. The more sun it gets the faster it will recuperate and the healthier it will stay in the future. Scheffleras that get lots of sun are more capable of fighting off any insect attacks in the future. Good luck!

Darlene