| Houseplant
Cultural
information: Pictured lower left is the regular green
Arboricola or Hawaiian Schefflera, center is "Capella",
with gold and green variegation, and to the right is
"Trinette", which has creamy white and green
variegation.
With today's hybridizing we now have many new varieties of "Hawaiian Schefflera"
from small bonsai like houseplants to large specimen trees with
brightly colored foliage.
Virtually all of the Hawaiian Schefflera family of houseplants will require bright
light to keep their color or fullness. Any Hawaiian
Schefflera with that is variegated will require more light than a
solid green Hawaiian Schefflera.
South, east or west facing windows that receive a three to four
hours of direct sunshine should be adequate for your plant.
Rotating your Hawaiian Schefflera once or twice a week aids in
preventing thin areas on the side of the plant not facing the
window.
While acclimating to their new home Hawaiian Scheffleras will
naturally shed some leaves to bring the foliage canopy into
balance with the available light. Don't be to alarmed it your bush
form of Hawaiian Schefflera sheds 30% of its leaves during the acclimation
process.
Each form of Hawaiian Schefflera will have a different water requirement. To care for the bush from
allow the soil to dry to the touch on the surface. Allow the soil
to dry one or two inches down from the surface before watering tree forms.
After watering there may be a small amount water in the plants
drip tray. If the Hawaiian Schefflera has not adsorbed the excess
water within 24 hours the water should to be removed to help
prevent root rot.
Feed monthly if the Hawaiian Schefflera is actively growing
with Peter's Houseplant food. During the winter months when day
lengths are short your Hawaiian Schefflera may stop growing. If
this is the case with your plant fertilize lightly every three
months.
Hawaiian Schefflera stem cuttings are difficult to
propagate.
Common houseplant pests could include: Aphids or Foliar Mealy
bug.
Arboricolas are available in nearly any container size in
bonsai, bush or tree forms. You can
find plants with braided trunks, standard trunks, grown on rocks,
big leaves, miniature leaves and several shades of green, cream,
white and gold variegation.
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