The genus of plants of Scheffler (Scheffler) belongs to the Araliaceae family. The culture bears the name of the Polish botanist J. Scheffler, who lived in the 18th century. Florists appreciate the plant for its amazing variety of species and varieties, as well as the unusual shape of carved leaves. For all its merits, the shefler is unpretentious in leaving. The article discusses what constitutes a sheflera flower, home care, types and varieties, propagation of culture, etc.
Origin and appearance
The culture is found in tropical areas, as well as in areas with a temperate climate, especially prevalent in Australia, Japan, China, South America, New Guinea. In the wild, shefler is found in the form of low trees, as well as shrubs and vines. Proper plant care will provide him with active growth and development in the conditions of home maintenance.
Schefflera tree in the wild
A striking feature of the flower is its complex, dissected into 5-15 parts of the tabular leaves. In appearance, they resemble umbrellas that are located on 30-centimeter petioles. Over time, the leaves in the lower part of the trunk begin to fall off, exposing the trunk of the bush.
Scheffler - a plant that can bloom only in natural conditions or in greenhouses and botanical gardens.
Flower description
Shifflera leaf shape is very similar to a human palm. All lobes of the plate grow from one base. Sheffler’s flower is popularly called an umbrella tree or an umbrella of the gnomes.
The shoots are high, but not too thick, which allows you to grow several copies at once in one pot. As a result, one common stem can be formed, consisting of interwoven branches of young shefler. For a single escape, support is needed, otherwise the flower risks breaking under the weight of its own foliage.
Indoor plant
Important! The composition of the flower tissue contains components that can cause irritation of the skin and mucous membranes if they appear on their surface. Therefore, any actions with the plant must be performed with caution.
Shefler, like ficus, can be grown as a large indoor solitary plant.
Types and varieties of sheflera
The genus of this plant includes about 600 species, which also have a large number of different varieties. For growing a house, only a few types of culture are suitable. They differ from each other by the surface of the foliage (for example, the presence or absence of denticles along the edges of the plate) and its color (plain green, saturated yellow, etc.).
It is interesting! For beginner gardeners, sheflera mix is popular, that is, a mixture of different varieties.
Scheffler tree or wood
The trunk of a small tree can be either branching or upright. Young stems have a green color, which eventually turns brown. Dissected into numerous parts, leaf plates can grow up to 20 cm in length. Some varieties have yellow, beige or white spots on the foliage.
Tree-like
Scheffler Custer
A miniature shrub that is appreciated for its compact size. This option is suitable for small offices and apartments.
Scheffler Gold Capella
This variety has a rich green color of glossy leaves covered with yellow and white stains. The plant feels good in partial shade, but still prefers bright lighting.
Scheffler's Gold Capella
Sheflera radiant
Green or yellow leaves with an olive or golden hue are located on long reddish-brown petioles. The plates have a shiny surface.
Scheffler's eight-leafed
It features a non-standard arrangement of leaves. Beige petioles end with lanceolate leaves of 8-12 pieces. The length of the plates with pointed tips is about 40 cm, the width is about 10 cm. The surface of the olive-green plates is leathery with a glossy tint. Light veins on plates clearly pronounced. In adult plants, the color of the leaves turns green.
Shefler's most elegant
There are not so many shoots of this plant as in other species. The height of the shoots can reach 2 meters. On each petiole, up to 12 leaflets are formed with denticles along the edges.
Shefler Veitch
The shape of the foliage is oval, elongated, the surface has ribbed edges. The color of the leaves of young specimens is reddish, adults - dark green.
Schefflera palmate
The stems are not very tall. The foliage surface has wavy edges and is divided into 7-10 lobes. Varieties with variegated coloring have the greatest decorative properties. The height of the trees varies from 3 to 8 meters. The length of leaf plates, very similar to palm leaves, varies from 15 to 30 cm. Petioles can grow up to 7-20 cm in length. White inflorescences resemble umbrellas in appearance.
Palmate
Shefler's business
Grows in the forests of Western China. Wild culture reaches a height of 2-3 meters. The leaves are very similar to oak. The room version of the culture has compact dimensions (shoot height not more than 50 cm). Feels good in shaded rooms.
Transplant sheflers after purchase
The plant is sold both in small pots and in large flowerpots. If the capacity is not large enough, the flower needs to be transplanted into a more spacious pot. To understand whether this is really necessary, you should carefully examine the root system of the flower. If there is no ball of earth in the middle of the rhizome, then the shrub needs a new, larger container. If there is an earthen lump, transplantation is not required.
It is further recommended that a regular transplant be performed once a year in early spring.
Recommendation! When buying sheflers, you should pay attention to the color of the leaves: the bush should have a rich color and smooth surface.
Landing is as follows:
- A drainage layer (2-4 cm) is placed in a new container, and a few centimeters thick earth is poured on top.
- The roots are distributed on the substrate.
- Fill the pot with earth and compact so that there are no voids in the container.
On a note! If the shrub has reached adult size, in the spring you need to sprinkle fresh soil in a pot.
What soil to choose
Before transplanting the culture, you need to prepare light soil with a slightly acidic environment. The substrate should consist of such components as:
- peat;
- humus;
- fine-grained river sand.
The ratio is 1: 3: 1.
Another variant:
- turf land;
- humus;
- sand.
The ratio is 2: 1: 1.
You can also prepare the following mixture:
- compost or greenhouse soil;
- peat;
- coarse sand.
The ratio is 3: 1: 1.5.
Breeding sheflers
A shrub can propagate in three ways:
- cuttings;
- by seeds;
- air layering.
Propagation by cuttings
The upper semi-lignified parts of the shoots are cut off, and then treated with heteroauxin. The harvested material is planted in a substrate consisting of peat and sand, with a good drainage layer. To create greenhouse conditions, the cuttings are covered with polyethylene or a glass jar, and also provide a bottom heating system.
Propagation using cuttings
Recommended temperature values for flower growing are from 20 to 22 ° C.
In order for the roots to grow and develop better, the cuttings must be provided with good lighting, timely moistening and ventilation. Once the cuttings are rooted, they can be transplanted into separate pots.
Seed cultivation
Landing is carried out at the beginning or middle of winter. The composition of the soil mixture should contain the following components in one piece:
- sand;
- turf;
- sheet earth.
Or equal shares of sand and peat. Before use, the substrate must be disinfected. Planting material is soaked in a glass of warm water. It is advisable to add a growth stimulator to it. In this form, the cuttings are left for several hours. Shallow containers are filled with soil and the seeds are buried in it by 8-10 cm. Then they are watered with plenty of water and moved to a warm (20-24 ° C) place. Seedlings need to be regularly moistened and aired.
On a note! If you grow a shefler in a mini-greenhouse, new flowers will appear much faster.
When 2-3 leaves are formed, the seedlings are distributed in separate containers. After 3 months, young specimens are transplanted into a larger container and transferred to a well-lit place with an air temperature of 14-15 ° C.
In the fall, the Scheffler flower is moved to a new pot by the transhipment method.
Seed cultivation
Sheflera Care
This plant often decorates the interior of ordinary city apartments, as well as office premises, most often spacious with high walls. Shefler is completely unpretentious, so even an inexperienced grower will be able to grow a flower. Scheffler does not require complicated care at home.
Lighting and location
It is better to keep a shefler on those window sills that are on the western or eastern side of the room. The specific place of cultivation and the degree of illumination depend on the type and variety of culture. Green shrubs do not require intense light, so they feel good on the windowsill on the north side, and variegated varieties that need a lot of light on the east or west window.
A sheffler houseplant prefers bright diffused light. In winter, in addition to natural light, it is advisable to use artificial. If the temperature in autumn and winter exceeds 18 ° C, it is recommended to use fluorescent lamps.
Attention! It must not be allowed for a long time under a scorching sun.
In summer, in fine weather, the flower can be taken out into the fresh air, for example, in the garden or on the balcony, subject to slight shading. When growing sheflera drafts are unacceptable.
Temperature mode
Sheflera feels good at ordinary room temperature. In autumn and winter, the air should warm up to 16-18 ° C. The minimum temperature limit is 12 ° C.
Important! It is not allowed to put the plant next to the heating system.
Daily indicators periodically change. Small changes will be useful for the flower.
Watering and humidification
One of the most important rules, how to care for a sheflera, comes down to competent watering. Do this procedure regularly, in moderation. Water should also be warm, settled. It should not be allowed for an earthen lump to dry up or stagnation of water and acidification of the substrate to occur. In winter, the frequency of watering is significantly reduced.
High humidity is preferable for sheflers, however a normal room level is also suitable. In the second case, you need to regularly (1-2 times a day) moisten the plant with soft, clean and warm water from a spray bottle.
On a note! For growing shrubs, you can use the hydroponic method.
Top dressing
Universal fertilizers for deciduous houseplants are suitable for this. You need to feed 2 times a month during the entire growing season (i.e. in spring and summer).
Good to know! After the transplant, sheffler's indoor flower needs only to be fed up as young leaves form.
Rest period
Continues throughout the winter season. At this time, the flower does not grow. At the beginning of wintering, the shefler needs to be transferred to a bright room with an air temperature of 14-16 ° C.
Pruning
The formation of the bush is necessary in order for it to become more magnificent. This is done as follows:
- An apical shoot is cut off from a grown tree, on which at least 4-5 internodes are present.
- After a while, new lateral stems will appear, which will give the plant a spherical shape.
Cut stalks can be used to propagate the flower.
Since pruning is a stress for the plant, it is recommended to feed the shefler during this period.
The culture is a spectacular, very beautiful decorative and deciduous plant. Sheffler’s shrubs are easy to maintain, and the variety of species and varieties allows you to choose a flower for any, even the most fastidious taste. That is why the culture is ideal for home growing. Subject to all the rules and recommendations for the contents of a shefler, it will for a long time bring others a truly aesthetic pleasure.
