Schefflera arboricola - Dwarf Umbrella Tree

[Elias]

Love that trimming animation, tree is looking great, definitely better with the straight twigs trimmed

[craigw60]

That looks so much better Steven. My guess is you will need to do that kind of pruning pretty often and work up a complex pattern of fine curved twigs, then maybe the foliage will reduce. Even if it doesn't it is still an impressive tree.
Craigw

[Mitchell]

That trimming 360 is awesome!
There's a dwarf umbrella at work, which has been literally kicked and run over for the last few months. After seeing this, I think I'm gonna save it and try to turn it into something.
Thanks, keep us updated!

[Jamie]

no probs mate pleasure to help where I can, you know that

I think you have done the right thing trimming it back harder (I like the 360 animation too ). after reading what Graeme has said about keeping it somewhat pot bound that can definately help with leaf reduction, I think that being pot bound might also restrict water in the pot causing the tree to have somewhat smaller leaves too, you might also find the opposite will do the same ie. defoliating/cutting back hard and doing very hard root work to the point of nearly no roots, this was the case with one of my figs I have been developing and the leaf size is around a fifth of the normal smaller leaf size of the midnight beuaty figs.

jamie

[Steven]

I wish I had the time (and patience) to do the defoliation animation 1 leaf at a time

I found a great article on Schefflera as bonsai on Jeffy 'Bonsaihunk' Meislik's site. You can read it HERE. Thanks Jerry!

Regards,
Steven

[Steven]

G'day,

Here's an updated picture snapped today.

2010 Dec 7.jpg

The foliage is about one quarter of the original size - I wish it would stay this way

Regards,
Steven

[Steven]

The leaves continue to get larger despite me keeping it drier than normal and cutting out the largest leaves every few days...

2010 December.jpg

I'll defoliate again soon and see how it goes.

Regards,
Steven

[bodhidharma]

Damn sometimes you wish you could freeze them in time. Oh we can its called a camera i guess. Looks great.

[Steven]

G'day,

Brief update... I didn't get around to defoliating a second time but the leaves haven't gotten much bigger either.
I've been trimming the occasional wayward leaf but other than that it hasn't had any work since the major cut back in October last year.

2011 May 17th.jpg

Regards,
Steven

[Jerry Meislik]

Steven,
It looks wonderful. How about a shallow oval pot. I think it will really give the tree an extra visual pop!
Jerry

[craigw60]

Looking great Steven, I would agree with Jerry a slightly shallower pot would add weight to the trunk.
Craigw

[Jerry Meislik]

How about something like this?
Jerry

[Bretts]

That's looking good Steven. I had defoliated mine again last season and the leaves look similar to yours at the moment. I decided to continue much the same as you are now. Just removing the larger leaves and see how that goes as it takes some time to fill out after defoliating.
These are hardy bugger's they take almost any conditions. Wet soil, dry soil, full sun, shade and as they say probably the one true indoor bonsai.

[Steven]

Thanks for the feedback guys!
A shallower pot is definitely needed. Jerry, yours looks spot on! I've PM'd you my address so you can ship it over to me

Regards,
Steven

[mudlarkpottery]

What about this pot?

PICT0001.jpg

Or this one?

PICT0002.jpg