Umbrella plant

[shivvy]

I have an umbrella plant which has grown to ceiling height, is beginning to bend quite seriously, and doesn't look too happy!

Someone told me that these plants only get to be so tall when they aren't pruned and that they can be much more bushy than tall.

Is that true and what should I do to my plant to make it a little happier?

Thanks.

[welshlibranr]

shivvy, just cut it back!...........be fine!....It will bush out then!................

[askyourgran]

Cut it back a bit, it's no good touching the ceiling, it will probably bush out then.
I used to have one, it just sat in it's pot like still life, no amount of TLc did anything for it until I gave it to my friend and it went crazy growing bushy and tall, she ended up putting it in her garden in a sheltered spot and it looks fine.

[shivvy]

What height should I cut it down to?

[carlton23]

Google >Umbrella Plant and cultivation<

[hammerman]

Your umbrella tree is probably one of the Shefflera species. They can be happily cut back but tend to just put out another leader rather than bush out.

[shivvy]

Carlton - I did do a google search but didn't find a recommended height to cut it down to. Maybe I missed it. Does it matter what height? Can you tell me please?

Hammerman - is a leader the same as an aerial root? Some of the websites mentioned aerial roots but my plant doesn't seem to have any.

[hammerman]

No mate...a leader is a new, single shoot that appears from where you cut it back to and then continues to grow just like before. Some shefflera have ariel roots, some don't.

cut it back to any hight you want to....they can take quite a severe haircut !!!

good luck and be brutal

[shivvy]

Right, I have chopped the leaning top off it and it looks a lot better.

The bottom part of it does look a bit threadbare now. Is there anything I could do to encourage more leaf growth or bushiness? (There are 2 stems to it if that makes a difference.)

Thanks.

[carlton23]

You can cut it down to whatever size you want it to thicken out from, and then give it a feed of Bio Indoor Plant Food.

[shivvy]

I'll give that a go carlton thanks.

[mumsie_wumsie]

I also have a very tall Umbrella Plant. I have cut it back once, and it has regrown from where I cut it. It has now reached the ceiling again, but seems to have stopped that growth and grown another branch a bit further down, which now measures about 8 inches. My plant is very healthy and has never lost any lower leaves, I have had it now for about 4-5 years. I did read that the bit you cut off can be re-rooted, but I had no luck with that. Also, I have read that these plants do not like to be moved about,and prefer a bright, out of the sun, position. I must say that my plant has thrived on this information. So,shivvy, cut yours down to a height you will be happy with and then watch it grow again.

[shivvy]

Thanks Mumsie. I have cut it down already and would love it if it sprouted a shoot a bit lower down so I will wait and watch!