Question
Hi
I have an umbrella plant which is approx 12 yrs old, its 6ft tall and looks great apart from the bottom 2 ft (near the soil) is bald.  What I have done? its happened gradually over the years and new shoots grow at the top regularly.  I am useless at keeping plants alive (apart from this one) and have no knowledge of what your gardening or house plant skills.  Is they anyway I could get new leaves to grow at the bottom?  Many Thanks.

Answer
Hi Olive,

You are far more useful and successful with houseplants than you realize. Few people are able to keep plants alive and healthy for as long as 12 years. So you must be doing a lot right!

Your Schefflera is growing exactly as Nature designed it. Take a look a trees that are growing outside. The taller they get, the higher the bare portion of the main trunk. I is the nature of most plants to put out new growth at the ends of branches. So they quite naturally grow taller with new growth higher and higher and more bare stem showing at the bottom.

The only way to counter this is to cut a stem all the way back to the lower region where you want new growth. However, I do not recommend this because it does not always work and it will mean pruning off a substantial part of your tree, spoiling its symmetry.

Pat yourself on your back and be happy with the tree that you have. It is doing exactly what it should be doing, although maybe not what you expect it to do.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

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

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]