Question
hi there,

i purchased a healthy, three-stemmed schefflera that's about five feet tall two months ago. i immediately replanted it to a larger pot, and placed it in the corner window, which faces north and east. there is a radiator in the corner but i crack the window so it never gets too hot. there is a humidier on the floor nearby.

since i got it, leaves have kept browning and falling out. the higher-up leaves also have a wrinkled, rather than smooth, and droopy appearance. also, one of the stems has turned brown and completely died.

i think i have been fairly conservative with the watering, which i do only after putting my finger 2" into the soil and confirming that it's dry. i mist the leaves about 4-5 times a week.

i know that there's an adjustment period between any move out of the nursery, but i just wanted to see if this was normal.

thanks for any thoughts!
lian

here are some images of the plant:

http://diametrik.net/misc/schefflera01.jpg
- closeup

http://diametrik.net/misc/schefflera02.jpg
- closeup

http://diametrik.net/misc/schefflera03.jpg
- the dead stem

http://diametrik.net/misc/schefflera04.jpg
- closeup

http://diametrik.net/misc/schefflera05.jpg
- leaves near the top

http://diametrik.net/misc/schefflera06.jpg
- leaves near the top

http://diametrik.net/misc/schefflera07.jpg
- leaves near the top

http://diametrik.net/misc/schefflera08.jpg
- base / pot

http://diametrik.net/misc/schefflera09.jpg
- placement / lighting conditions

Answer
improper watering is uusually the #1 reason for killing plants in pots. for your potted plants water by weight. put a saucer under the pot. water and let the plant sit in the excess water for 5-10 minutes. after that time pour off any excess water in the saucer. pick up(or tilt) the pot. it should feel heavy. don't water again until it feels considerably lighter in weight. outdoors check the potted plants everyday(some types may only need watering every 2nd or 3rd day). indoor plants can go 3-14 days between waterings.
it's not as simple as "water everyday or once a week". each type plant has its own watering requirements. watering frequency depends on many factors(sun exposure, type of plant, wind, day temps,indoors VS outdoor location, etc.).
make sure the radiator is not touching the plant. morning sun is usually the best for indoor plants. remove brown/and or yellow leaves as they appear.

good luck.
rick
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