Question
I had a large schefflera that was sent to me as a gift.  It was doing very well then the leaves started to look wilted and turned black, then fell off.  I tried to cut off infected area to no avail. This was in the container from the nursery.  I transfered it outside to avoid effecting any other plants in the house. It has died.

Then I was given a small bonzi style schefflera - it was doing well for a couple of months.  Now it is having the same symptoms.  It is in a small container with one drain hole, it has small rocks all around the root ball.

Please offer suggestions.  I would like to save the smaller plant and resolve this issue.  I have never had this problem with this type of plant. Please help.

Answer
Hi there,

There are several possible causes of these Schefflera symptoms. The most common cause is root rot. The upper quarter of the soil must dry out in between thorough waterings. If the upper soil area is kept constantly moist, then the roots will rot and the plant will die. If your plants are potted in a heavy, dense soil that does not dry out within a week or so of watering, then the dense soil could be the cause of the root rot.

Exposure to cold (below 55 degrees F.), damp weather can also cause the leaves to turn black.

Finally, soil contaminated with bacterial or fungal diseases can also cause these symptoms. The only way to know for sure is to have the soil tested at a lab, something that is usually prohibitively expensive.

In general, Scheffleras should get lots of bright, but indirect light - in front of a north or erasst window, for example. Proper watering is usually the key to success with Scheffleras.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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

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