Identification: Do you know the name of this plant and ABCs for taking care of it!!!?

Discussion in 'Indoor and Greenhouse Plants' started by parachuter2b, Jul 29, 2006.

  1. parachuter2b

    parachuter2b Member

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    Hi there,

    I bought this plant from an anonymous shop about 2 weeks ago, but have no clue what it is called. Do you have any idea ?

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    The store owner told me that it needs indirect light (not quite sure what that means!) and watering once a week...

    Lately, I noticed some of its leaves shedding and others not as healthy as used to be, so watered it a little more often and also pulled it in more towards the middle of the room, so that it is completely exposed to the light.
    My window faces west, so I get great afternoon 'nd evening light and as it is little apparent from the picture, the plant sits right next to the window, so it must receive quit a bit of light daily. However, I am not sure how that would work out for her, since contrary to the advise I got from the store owner, it is direct light that the plant will receive.

    Please help !

    Cheers,

    parachuter2b (one day ;)
     
  2. jimmyq

    jimmyq Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    variegated schefflera arboricola. or something like that. :)
     
  3. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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    Second the id. I would interpret 'indirect light' as bright light but not from direct sun. Even though the window is west-facing your plant is somewhat recessed in the corner. It may be all right. Those more familiar with this plant could offer their advice.
     
  4. greentree

    greentree Member

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    I own a plant similar to yours, although mine is not variegated. I keep mine by a south window that has sheer blinds on it, so that my plant gets a lot of filtered light. By the looks of your picture, you seem to be watering it correctly, as all of the leaves are erect and healthy looking.
     
  5. Rima

    Rima Active Member

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    Don't water until more than less of the soil has dried out (within reason) unless it's visibly drooping after a long period of no water, and don't water by immersion, but from above, like rain, slowly so all the roots get a drink, and don't leave the pot sitting in drain water (a few drops at the end won't matter and you need to protect furniture, but anything else will get wicked back up and rot the roots). Do try and keep up humidity. Also keep an eye out for it being rootbound - they're often sold that way, so if necessary get it into a larger pot with new fast draining, gritty soil around it.
     
  6. parachuter2b

    parachuter2b Member

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    Thank you all for your helpful replies !
    I'm heading to Canadian Tire now to get one of the fountainish watering cans Rima suggested...
    I guess I should water it once every five days...the soil is almost completely dry on the fifth/sixth day... and how much should I water it !? 2 litres? 3 litres?
    I live in Toronto, which is very humid, but in the Summer we usually have the AC on and the windows are closed, so it tends to get pretty dry inside. Do you think it would be a good idea to spray some water on its leaves once a week or something to make up for it?

    The guy who I bought the plant from, relocated it to a bigger pot already with two bags of soil ! How often should fertilize it? and how do you do that ? Would you replace the soil or just top it up?

    By the way, some of the roots are sticking out, should I pour more soil on top to cover them?

    I'm sorry about the funny questions I am asking...This is almost my first plant ever and hence needless to say I'm such a rookie when it comes to plants and gardening etc !

    Cheers,

    parachuter2b (one day ;)
     
  7. Chanticleer

    Chanticleer Member

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    You're asking good questions, and I'll try to answer based on my experience with this species:

    • Don't water according to a schedule; it's good to have a rough idea of how often you should check, however. Wait until the top few inches of soil feel dry, depending on the depth of the pot. You can use the first knuckle of your index finger as a rough guide. With experience, you may also be able to tell by how much lighter the pot is when the soil is dry.
    • Water as much as it takes to saturate the entire pot's contents, as indicated by drips emanating from the drain holes. Empty the saucer if necessary, and remember that a plant's water needs change with the seasons (or light levels). They're much thirstier in the summer (active growth) than in the winter (dormancy).
    • Current wisdom holds that misting doesn't increase humidity appreciably. On the other hand, misting is still beneficial because it keeps the leaf pores free of dust and discourages potential pests, especially spider mites. Scheffleras are actually among the more tolerant when it comes to dry air, but there are some things you can do to make yours more comfortable. See this page for tips, which include using an evaporation tray and double potting.
    • If your plant was recently repotted with so much new soil, you shouldn't worry about fertilizing it for another year. Most potting mixes come with time-release fertilizer added to it, and even those that don't have enough nutrients to keep a Schefflera going for many months. When you do need to repot it again (not any time soon), just add soil to fill the empty space, rather than replace the old soil.
    • Only fertilize when you see evidence of active growth (probably beginning around March/April in Toronto) and stop fertilizing in the fall. There are several brands and types of fertilizer, but whatever you choose, don't overdo it. Foliage houseplants aren't very heavy feeders, and it's better to give too little (resulting in slower growth) than too much (resulting in chemical burns to the roots, quickly followed by death).
    • Presuming the plant was potted correctly, those protruding roots are probably normal. To support itself, a Schefflera produces aerial roots, which grow atop the soil and any structure they come across. Think of the banyan figs that smother the ruins of Angkor Wat, seeming to grow directly from the stone. (A Schefflera's aerial roots aren't as dramatic, of course.)
    • If at all possible, consider giving your plant a summer vacation outside. This will require a shady spot and much more frequent waterings (daily in this heat). My Schefflera has nearly doubled in size since I set it out in early June; it loves the steamy air.

    The bulk of my answers above would apply to most houseplants. If you've any more questions, please do ask; but it's recommended that you start a new thread (in the appropriate subforum) for new topics. This gives your questions more exposure and likely makes the moderators' job easier. I hope I've helped. :)
     
  8. parachuter2b

    parachuter2b Member

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    Thanks a lot !

    I will start another post as you suggested !

    Cheers,

    parachuter2b (one day;)
     

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