Unlike other ornamental and houseplants that are appreciated for their stable size and shape, a Schefflera plant is much more dynamic. Indeed, this beautiful plant can grow up to 3 feet each year and reach over 5 feet in height. However, some environmental and health conditions can stunt their growth.
So why is my Schefflera not growing or growing slowly? This condition often derives from:
- Improper temperature – overwatering and underwatering.
- Improper lighting – too much sun or not enough
- Humidity – too low
- Rootbound – need for re-potting.
- Pests – mealybugs, spider mites, and scale
Let’s have a look at the symptoms that can help you identify each of these conditions and how to solve them. Read on.
Temperature
Making sure that your Schefflera thrives in the right temperatures is perhaps one of the most important factors to consider. Indeed, this tropical plant is comfortable in warm climates and in temperatures that range between 65℉ (18℃) and 90℉ ( 32℃).
Moreover, Schefflera are highly susceptible to heat and frost damage, so any exposure to temperatures below 35℉ (1.5℃) or above 105℉ (40℃) can stunt the plant’s growth.
This kind of exposure represents significant environmental stress for the plant, which will also display other crucial symptoms such as:
- Wilting
- Rotting
- Falling leaves
- Drooping
- Discolorations
- Exposure to attacks and diseases.
Solution
Ultimately, it is essential to remember that adding additional stress on the plant while already under shock can cause it to stop growing altogether. Therefore, if you have noticed that your Schefflera is suffering from temperature-related stress, move it to a more comfortable spot of the house.
Additionally, do not prune, trim, transplant, re-pot, or move the plant until it is healthy again. Doing so while the plant is already losing leaves can worsen the situation. Make sure that your Shefllera receives enough light, moisture, and humidity.
Light
Light, as well as moisture and water, is the most crucial factor that could affect the growth of a Schefflera plant. In terms of lighting requirements, this plant prefers bright, indirect sunlight for six to seven hours per day. While a Schefflera can easily tolerate partial shade, it will not grow well in it.
Indeed, if you are worried about slowed or stunted growth, you should bring back your plant near a source of diffused light. The current lack of light might be preventing the plant from manufacturing the necessary food through the photosynthesis process.
Solution
Move the plant next to a window or a windowsill, especially if you are leaving behind the warm season and entering autumn or winter. Indeed, your plant might have to balance the lower intensity of the sun rays with longer exposures to light.
It is vital to bring the plant away from a source of direct light, especially during the summer months. Indeed, such intense sun rays can burn the leaves and cause your plant to turn yellow or even brown following sunscald.
Humidity
Humidity is another essential factor for the growth and wellbeing of your Schefflera. Indeed, these tropical plants thrive in highly humid climates and ecosystems. While it can be hard for you to recreate such ideal conditions within your living room, it is essential to supply enough moisture to the plant.
In the case of low humidity, the plant will be losing the nutrients in the leaves much faster than it can replace it. In turn, this can cause leaves loss and, therefore, stunt growth.
Solution
Undoubtedly, the best way to keep your plant moist and humid throughout the day is by misting the leaves with distilled water multiple times a day. Unfortunately, this solution might not be suitable for anybody that is not a full-time gardener.
However, other alternatives include a humidity tray positioned under the plant’s container or grouping several plants in the same spot of your house. These are two humidity level management systems that can be hugely helpful if you can’t attend to your plant’s needs around the clock.
Root or Stem Rot
Potentially one of the deadliest diseases that might affect your Schefflera during its lifetime is the root or stem rot. This condition is even more concerning as it originates within the root ball or system. Indeed, as the first signs become visible above the soil, it could be too late for you to save the plant.
Indeed, this condition often derives from overwatering and causes the rotting and the decay of the root system through pathogens and fungi. This disease comes with many symptoms which include:
- Rotting root system
- Falling leaves
- Stunt growth
- Death of stems and leaves
- Mold by the stem or on the soil
Solutions
Since this condition mostly derives from overwatering, it is essential to allow the soil to dry before watering the plant again. This simple step can help you eliminate the risk of root rot for the years to come.
However, if you have already noticed the first signs of rot, you:
- Remove the plant from the current container and shake off any affected soil.
- Under running water, wash off any soil still attached to the root.
- Cut off any part of the root system that is already affected by mold.
- Eliminate any affected leaves and re-pot the plant into fresh soil
Rootbound
With such a stunning growth rate the Schefflera displays, it is not surprising that sometimes it will need re-potting. However, if you have been waiting for a little too long, your plant might have become rootbound.
Ultimately, this condition can present itself when the plant’s root system overgrows the container, and the roots become crowded. Consequently, the roots won’t have access to minerals and oxygen; they need to sustain the plant’s growth.
Solutions
The most natural solution to adopt in this case is to re-pot the plant. It can be done quickly by moving the plant onto a new pot and adding new soil to the mix. The roots will spread and start absorbing the nutrients from the potting mix naturally over time.
If you are not sure whether your Schefflera is rootbound or not, you could proceed by analyzing the symptoms of this condition. The most obvious ones include roots emerging from the ground and through the container’s drainage holes. However, stunted growth is one of the worst consequences of pot bound roots.
Pests
While less common than environment-related factors, pests can be the cause of stunt growth. Indeed, Schefflera plants are highly susceptible to a series of bugs, which include mealybugs, spider mites, and scale. These types of pests often survive by sucking the essential nutrients in the body of the plant’s leaves.
Although most plants can tolerate small colonies of these insects, they tend to reproduce quickly, even laying 600 eggs at a time. It is essential to act immediately, as soon as you notice signs of this disease.
Solutions
If you have noticed a white substance on the leaves of your plant, this is honeydew, and mealybugs produce it. In this case, you know that within short time frames, the colony could take over the plant. You can prevent this from happening by killing the mealybugs with a Q-tip rubbed in alcohol.
Final Thoughts
Growing a Schefflera plant is incredibly easy, even for first-time gardeners. However, while you should expect an average growth of up to 3 feet per year, sometimes this plant can present stunted and slowed development.
ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on May 18, 2020.
In this case, there could be many reasons for your plant not to be able to grow. Most of them involve environmental factors such as moisture, humidity, water, soil composition, light, and temperature. However, it is also possible that your plant is trying to fight a pests infestation. It is wise to analyze the situation and the symptoms before attempting to treat the plant.