Question
I have two tropical plants I need help with. I have what I believe is a shefflera (sp?) and another tropical that had green and yellow variegated leaves.  They were both full of leaves when I bought them, and now they are bald!  The schefflera stays in my livingroom in lowish light. It's by the window, but I have an eave that shades the front of the house.  I tried taking it outside , but we had a cold snap and it's been inside since.  The other, I have put on the back porch, the kitchen, the living room...everywhere to stop the leaves from falling.  I live in Southeast Texas (zone 9).  What am I doing wrong?  The leaves that fell off are healthy, too...not dead and yellow.
Thanks for your help very much,
Angela Weaver

Answer
Hi Angela,
First of all I would say make sure you are watering enough or not overwatering.  Water problems can have a variety of symptoms and it's a common problem.  If you know that you are watering properly and there are no signs of insect or disease than I can think of two possibilities.  Some, like the fig trees grown indoors, shed their leaves periodically and it's just part of a natural cycle.  However, I've not heard that schefflera specifically does this.  The other possibility, and what I consider the most likely if you have just recently bought the plants, is this.  Plants grow leaves specifically for the amount of light they are in.  When they are moved out of that environment they are absorbing to much or to little light.  The leaves have now mechanism to change so the plant drops the leaves and regrows leaves that are adjusted for the new light level.  This happens commonly with house plants that have been grown outside in a shade house and then sold and the buyer brings them indoors.  My suggestion would be to pick a spot with appropriate light and place the plant there.  Leave the plant in that one spot and continue caring for it and see if it grows new leaves.  While I can't say 100% that that is the problem it is the most likely to me.
Good luck,
Nick Baker