Brassaia Actinophylla (Schefflera)
Umbrella Plant
Araliaceae
This is a very good solid houseplant. They grow quite large although they do have dwarf cultivars avaliable. They are native to Queensland in northeast Australia.
Moisture - Keep the soil evenly moist during active growth but water only enough to keep the potting mix from drying completely in the winter
Light - medium light produces the best growth but they will tolerate less light
Temperature - average home temps are best... they can tolerate hotter conditions... if used in a hot situation be sure to avoid drafts
Fertilize - 3 times during the summer and then no more the remainder of the year unless you want to push growth
Pests - mealybugs can be a real problem and hard to control just by removal. you may find scale, mites and aphids as well
Repotting - only when it outgrows its pot and then use average potting mix
Propagation - stem cuttings, air layering
Tips - prune as needed to keep plant looking nice...to keep the plant smaller than a tree pot it in a pot that is no larger than an 8inch container. replenish some soil regularly... clean the leaves with a dry, soft cloth.