The newer Amate variety of the Schefflera, which is grown from a tissue culture, has larger glossier leaves. A Schefflera Amate requires less light, is more resistant to spider mites, has a better developed root system, and is very symmetrical and full. A Schefflera Amate is a little more expensive than a regular Schefflera, but well worth the extra cost.
Schefflera plants do well in medium light, but grow faster and develop more leaves in bright indirect light. The schefflera amate variety needs less light than regular schefflera houseplants.
Allow the top 25-30% of the soil to dry out before watering a schefflera. Green leaves drop off and new growth turns black when schefflera plants are over-watered. Yellow leaves indicate a schefflera needs more water.
Schefflera plants prefer temperatures between 65°-80°F ( 18.3°-26.7°C). They do not do well in temperatures below 55°F (12.8°C). Keep scheffleras away from cold drafts and heaters
Basic household humidity or higher is fine for Schefflera houseplants. If the air is very dry, place your Schefflera Plant on a tray of pebbles and water. Be sure the plant is sitting on the pebbles and not in the water.
If a schefflera loses its bottom leaves or becomes leggy, don’t be afraid to aggressively prune the plant. When cutting back the thick stems or trunks of a schefflera, make the cut a little above a plant node. New growth develops from the node.
