Schefflera arboricola - Dwarf Umbrella Tree

[Andrew F]

Love to see how this tree is going.

[emi93m]

what a tree

Regards Mick

[steve_84]

Sweet looking tree. Would love to try something like that with a mortan bay fig.

[Dario]

I would also like to see how your umbrella is going this season, and if it is now in a shallow oval pot?
I really like the 360 pruning technology too I think it could be utilised as a great teaching aid to for beginners and advanced members to show different aspects of pruning in a more specific and detailed manner...from trunk chops to branch refinement etc
You don't have the disadvantage of scrolling between pics and you can even move the cursor back and forth to view the different pruning stages again and again until it totally sinks in. I wonder if anyone will do it?
Cheers, Dario.

[Steven]

G'day,

Finally got around to repotting this one into a lovey Mudlark pot. I visited Penny late last year at her studio and this was one of the pots I came away with.

2012 February a.jpg

2012 February b.jpg

I rearranged some of the aerial roots particularly under the hanging branch. Leaf reduction has been okay but they tend to grow large quickly if it isn't regularly trimmed.

Regards,
Steven

[Jerry Meislik]

Steven,
Looks great.
Jerry

[chrisatrocky]

Steven, we have a few schefflera and this is our defoliating system. Sept. defoliate and remove all growing tips and unwanted branches and length of branches. When the new leaves and branches come through, wait for the third leaf to mature and remove the growing tip. Defoliate again in January and keep up removing the growing tips after the third leaf. The only reason the larger leaves come back is the branches are allowed to grow. Even here in the tropics, I don't defoliate any more than twice a year, because it does effect the health of the tree as you would well know.

chris

[Steven]

Thanks for the tips Chris, I'll give your routine a try.

Regards,
Steven

[Greenhorn]

thats awesome steven, i have an umbrella tree that i found in a drain at work in a grow box at the moment so hopefully one day it will look half as good as yours look forward to see more updates and learing more

[Andrew F]

Steven, we have a few schefflera and this is our defoliating system. Sept. defoliate and remove all growing tips and unwanted branches and length of branches. When the new leaves and branches come through, wait for the third leaf to mature and remove the growing tip. Defoliate again in January and keep up removing the growing tips after the third leaf. The only reason the larger leaves come back is the branches are allowed to grow. Even here in the tropics, I don't defoliate any more than twice a year, because it does effect the health of the tree as you would well know.

chris

Thanks for the tip Chris.

Steven, your umbrella is something to aspire to.

[Steven]

G'day,

I cut this one back hard again today to continue building a rugged canopy of twiggy growth. It's starting to take on a nicer shape, just need a bit more height in the apex.

I had followed Chris' routine and the leaf size seemed to stay under control

Regards,
Steven

2013 January after.jpg

[Boics]

Your photo's are almost as good as your Bonsai Steven.

Keep up the good work!

[Qitianlong]

That's the best umbrella tree bonsai I've ever seen Steven!

[Damian Bee]

Dwarf umbrella tree bonsai? What rock have I been inhabiting the underside of?
That looks superb Steven

[Steven]

Thanks for the kind words!

Here is another one I have. This one was originally a root over rock but the rock was swallowed up long ago. It was cut back very quickly before the photo. Looking at it now I think it needs to be cut back harder.

2013 January.jpg

Regards,
Steven