Schefflera - Dwarf Umbrella Tree

[Amanda]

I brought this old plant back home today and it stands at around 1.3 metres and the root base is 35-40cm across.
I'm really unsure of the direction to take so any advice on care or virts welcomed.
There are plenty of branches, and roots which will need to go but which ones?

100_0906.jpg

100_0926.jpg

back.jpg

[Joel]

Hi Anja!

Theres got to be a good tree in there somewhere.... Keep us updated as you find it!

P.s. the pot and plants made it back safely. Hope you like the plants i got you.

Thanks!
Joel

[MattA]

Anja,

Can we see a pic of the whole tree and from several other angles as there may be an alternative front/back to what you have chosen to show.

Thanks
Matt

[Amanda]

Joel, That's the problem - finding the tree within. I have bonsai block I've finished potting the monster into a box and into a nice quiet place in the garden for ponder. Thank you for the plants, they're ace. I love the little coffee bean husk hanging on for it's dear life

Matt, I'll grab some more photos of the plant tomorrow, the tree has a flat side 'front pic', rounded back as shown and both sides are an absolute mess.

[Amanda]

Here are a couple more photos of the left and right.

[Jake]

nice schefflera!!
i dont know what u could do with this one, it looks great though im sure itll turn out real nice

[Bretts]

I would put that one aside as a great workshop tree Anja. But if you are keen to get into it I would start with the idea that you first take off what you know you don't want and go from there.
I notice a large bow legged root heading over the top of the trunk in the first new pic. I reckon you could do without that so thats a start
I have a decent one of these and I have found they can take a fiar hamering. They do not mind the soil being on the dry side. They can be defoliated and will bud back after cutting back.
They will send arial roots when air is humid but I have not botherd with arial roots.

[Amanda]

Cheers for that Brett. I'm not in a position to attend workshops so I'm keen to get into it.

Do they back bud well after a severe pruning? I've got my pruners ready for hacking off the crossing branches and the unsightly roots.

[Bretts]

Yes they will bud back after pruning as well as you would hope. I only have the one so can't say like an expert but I am confident if you hack away it will respond well. Over three years I chopped back hard once per year letting it grow strong in between and the scars are healing well. I think I only totally defoliated once it was in a bonsai pot but I don't think the tree would have a problem if you pruned so much of now it left no leaves but some leaves left on is always good to help the development at this stage I reckon.
I should have some pics of it's progress on here some where.

[Bretts]

Here it is when I brang it inside for Winter and a couple of progression shots.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4747&p=53972
I just realised I didn't take anymore pictures over Winter which is a pity as it really filled out to a nice Shillotte for a few months. It started to lose some leaves as always towards the end of Winter from lack of light(edit and maybe the heater in the loungeroom) and is back out in the shade house now until the frost is definatly gone then it will get good sun maybe even full sun through the less hot times of the growing season.

I will see if it is still photogenic

[Bretts]

Not so Photogenic at the moment. Looking a little roughed up like after a big night out but it scrubs up ok

um.jpg

I don't think I will defoliate this year but just keep taking off the biggest leaves. Leaf size was great all through Winter!

[Jake]

hey bretts
love your umbrella tree man
do u keep yours indoors all year round or just winter?

-jake

[Bretts]

Thanks Jake just over Winter. I have heard they are about the only true indoor bonsai but it does better outside. This Winter was no lower then the usual -2 but plants seemed to dislike the cold This Winter for some reason? Maybe it was colder than the last few years. Seems as though this Winter would have burned it out in the shade house with the other tropicals.
I think it is Fuku Bonsai that has a story about a couple that drove around a country with one on the dash of thier camper

[Joel]

Thanks Jake just over Winter. I have heard they are about the only true indoor bonsai but it does better outside. This Winter was no lower then the usual -2 but plants seemed to dislike the cold This Winter for some reason? Maybe it was colder than the last few years. Seems as though this Winter would have burned it out in the shade house with the other tropicals.
I think it is Fuku Bonsai that has a story about a couple that drove around a country with one on the dash of thier camper

Hi Brett,

I have noticed the same here. I think its the combination of cold and the amount of rain we have had earlier this winter. Soils were staying too moist. Thats my thoughts anyway

Joel

[Loretta]

Hi Anja
For what it's worth, I can only comment on these trees from a tropical climate experience but up here in Townsville you cannot kill an umbrella tree. You could throw it on the ground bare rooted and it would survive...and they love a good hard prune. I don't know how they perform in a colder climate but from my experience they are as tough as nails. Treat it like you would a fig...they re-shoot in no time.

Loretta