Ask Gerry
House Plants : Types
See more questions on Types
Umbrella Plant
I have a 20 year old umbrella plant that has taken over an entire side of a bedroom! The top has now hit ceiling and bent over by about three feet. It has seven branches already coming out from the base. The main stem looks like the bark of a tree as it has turned brown. I need to prune it and wonder can this be done. I would also like to know if this plant could grown safely outdoors?
p4g4, Lusk, Co Dublin Posted: 31/07/2011
Umbrella plant or schefflera can grow quite large, and can be cut back hard. But this is best done at the start of the growing season.
Just cut away as much as needed and keep it watered and liquid fed.
It is killed by frost outdoors.