This plant of the Aralia family owes its exotic name to the 18th century German botanist Jacob Scheffler. It is also called an umbrella tree, since even at home the sheffler can reach 2 m in height. As for the capabilities of this plant in the wild, a height of 30, or even 40 m is quite real. In its natural habitat Schefflera is a liana, tree or shrub. It grows in the Australian tropics, in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.
At home, sheffler garden and variegated foliage began to grow quite recently. It is a good relaxator, like a sponge absorbs negative energy, and also increases the humidity of the air and saturates it with oxygen.
Optimum conditions of maintenance shefflera
Flower Schefflera will grow properly and feel good if you follow the rules for caring for her at home. They are quite simple and effective.
Where to place in the house
The best place where sheffler will feel comfortable is the window sill, which faces west or east. 
Important! Shefflere drastically contraindicated.Lighting also plays a big role in this plant. At the same time, a motley-leaved Scheffler needs more light than a garden Scheffler. But in both cases it is necessary to avoid direct sunlight so that the leaves do not get burned.
Temperature conditions
Scheffler feels great indoors with air conditioning. There it grows and develops much faster. But, in any case, do not put the plant under cold jets of air. The ideal temperature for normal life is 18-22 °.
Soil composition
To flower developed properly, take care of the composition of the earth. You can prepare the best primer for shefflera from:
- 1.5 parts of coarse sand;
- 1 part peat;
- 3 pieces of compost soil.
In addition, your soil needs good drainage. Suitable pebbles, expanded clay, crushed stone.
Features care for cheffleroi at home
Let's talk about how to care for homemade sheffleroy. It is clear that this plant requires special rules of content, given its overseas origin.
Did you know? Schefflera is a poisonous plant, but its chemical composition is not dangerous for humans. The most that can happen to you is contact inflammation of the skin.
Watering and humidity
Does home shuffler like spraying? This question is asked by every amateur gardener who decides to grow an exotic plant. Humidity is a very important fact for comfort shefflery. It should be high, for which you need to spray the plant at least 2 times a day during the warm season, and in the winter a little less. 
Water the plant should only be separated by water. Do not flood Sheffler, it may lead to her death. Regular watering should be done only after the soil dries from the previous one, but you should not wait until the ground dries. To prevent the plant from drying out, pour it into the tray, on which stands a pot with a cheffleroi, wet sand.
Fertilizer and dressing
Be sure to add fertilizer to the list of actions to take care of schefflera. This should be done 3 times a month from the beginning of spring to the end of summer. For shefflera complex mineral fertilizers are ideal, which are used for ornamental foliage plants. Alternate them with ground eggshell. In winter, shefflera does not need fertilizers.
Trimming and crown shaping room shefflers
One of the important questions asked by the owners of an umbrella tree is how to make crown shefflers at home.
An exotic plant is very plastic, it can be given almost any shape. Barrel sheffleru lumber not immediately. The young plant is green and flexible. After some time, the trunk will be covered with bark, and then it will be too late to change anything, since any action will damage it. But in the first few months of life shefflery can do anything with it. 
So, if you decide to make a bush from shefflera:
- It is necessary to plant 2-3 plants in one capacity.
- After they grow up a little, trim the tip into 6 internodes.
- To provoke the emergence of side shoots, you need to remove the growth points.
If you want to make a tree from shefflera, then the process of formation changes. You need to take an adult plant and remove all side shoots with leaves. Then pinch the tip to stimulate branching, and every spring cut the crown to the desired shape and size.
Features of care at rest
In the cold season, the growth rate of shefflera slows down, so watering should also decrease, especially if the air temperature in the room has dropped significantly. Restrictions in watering are necessary to avoid rotting of the roots. In winter, the plant does not need additional feeding.
How to transplant
The plant must be transplanted as it grows. This is about the same time as the majority of houseplants - young plants once a year, adults once every 2 years and less. 
The main rule of a successful transplant - properly selected soil. It must be easily permeable to air and water so that the sheffleers do not rot. Otherwise she will die.
How to transplant Schaeffler immediately after purchase, so that it is well caught on a new place
- Take the soil for palm trees or universal soil for this purpose.
- At the bottom of the pot, place a layer of drainage, then fill the bottom with a third of the pot.
- Carefully remove the plant from the old pot, trying not to damage the roots, and with a clod of earth, transfer it to the new pot.
- Sprinkle with soil to the top, compact the soil.
- Water the new planting so that the soil adheres well to the roots.
Schefflera in the interior
Shefflera, with proper and proper care, can be an ornament to any interior. It will help to create coziness in the room and will please the eye with pleasant greenery. Since Schefflera is a very large plant, it can be advantageously used to decorate a winter garden, living room, or other large room.
Did you know? At home, the plant rarely blooms, but if you still want to see its color, then pick a closer pot for shefflery.
Frequent diseases and pests shefflery
Like many home plants Schefflera subject to various attacks. Below we consider the main ones.
Brown spots on leaves
It happens that on the back of the sheet shefflera appear growths. This disease is called "dropsy". 
It develops as a result of waterlogging of the flower. Brown spots may appear on the leaves, which spoil the whole appearance of the plant. If you notice these symptoms on your Scheffler, immediately reduce watering.
Important! The most beautiful thing in sheffler is the leaves. If they began to turn yellow and fall off, the plant most likely lacks light.
Shchitovka and spider mite
Sometimes, due to an insufficient number of sprays in dry air, shefflera can become infected with a shield and a spider mite. If you find pests, remove them with a cotton swab soaked in soapy water. 
It looks like shieldovka 
Spider mite on shiffler
If this procedure did not help, you need to treat Scheffler with special preparations - insecticides, the assortment of which is very wide in specialized flower shops.
Leaves fall
But the most important problem that the owners of this plant most often encounter is leaf fall. This happens because of a strong overheating of the plant.. In the summer, the culprits are direct sunlight, and in winter - close proximity to plant heating devices. 
Schefflera is a beautiful plant, unpretentious care, which will gratefully accept your care and repay it with a luxurious look.
