This plant grows tall and thin. I have actually cut it off and repotted it successfully before but would like to know for sure what it is and how to properly care for it. It was my mom's plant and she has since passed away.
Schefflera alright. Have you ever repotted it (checked the rootball to see if it needs more room and/or soil)? The soil should be something fast-draining (with larger particle soil and lots of grit... perlite works) because they don't like sitting in peaty mixes that never dry, or in drip-water saucers (or roots can rot). They do like a lot of the soil to dry between waterings, and like sunny windows, though not necessarily south-facing.
Yes I have just repotted it. The top is growing nicely, but the lower leaves look droopy and the leaves are not fanned out. They are kind of closed up like they are dying. I also moved it to a southern facing window (it was in a western window). How come mine does not look bushy like the ones I see pictures of? Should it look like it does (tall and thin)? How do I keep it from falling over when it gets taller?
Postalczech: I think in your case "taller" is a relative term. Here in Florida, when they get to 25 or 30 feet in height, that particular stem is generally cut back to 6 feet or so in height. At the point of cut, the plant will then pop new shoots (from one to four) and keep on growing. The lopped off trunck can then be cut into chunks which can be potted to start a whole new batch. You might try potting a couple of pieces, two nodes in the soil and two nodes out.