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Poorly Scheffler

rk572hdnhn47195rk572hdnhn47195 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hi there!  Desperate for some help.  I bought a beautiful scheffler in mid September from a local plant shop.  The plant began to leaf drop from the second I got it home.  The leaf drop was so worrying that after a few weeks I went back to the shop and showed them pictures of the amount of leaves it had dropped.  They reassured me that scheffler can be very emotional and can take a good month or so to settle down.  The leaf drop has continued for the last 3 months and has not slowed.  I am watering the plant on average every 2+ weeks and using the method where I place its pot in water for about an hour then pop it back in the big ceramic pot.  I’ve been checking there’s no standing water etc.  the plant is in my bedroom next to en suite where I shower every day so gets good humidity and the bedroom is south facing with a big double window so I think the plant is getting enough light (albeit it’s winter so not much light now)  I am so sad to see this plant looking so poorly and have no idea what to do.  Entire hess as ohhhhh branches and leaves drop daily as well as leaves that have brown spots or have completely browned.   Help!!

Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    It sounds as though you are doing every thing right for your Schefflera. Have you put a finger into the compost to feel how damp it is? All I can think of is that it may be too dry. When too wet the leaves tend to yellow and fall off. When too dry they get brown patches and fall off.

    They do like to dry between waterings but  think 2 weeks + may not be enough. Try every 10 days. The top of the soil should feel dry before watering. Also 1 hour may not be long enough for it to suck up the water. They prefer to be watered from below but is enough water actually getting up into the pot?

    Is the room temperature stable? Scheffleras don't like the cold.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    From my experience variegated Scheffleras are much more fussy. Unlike my all green one that keeps going and looks great despite the house being a usual draughty early Victorian built. Tried a couple of times with small variegated ones and both failed. One other thought is to offer some supplemental light with a grow light but this does look like more of watering/feeding issue.  
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
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