Umbrella plant propagation: where to cut the plant?

Learn everything about umbrella plant propagation using cuttings in 5 minutes. We show the best ways for reproducing the umbrella plant.

The names “umbrella plant” or “dwarf umbrella tree” are commonly used for the so-called Schefflera plant.

Schefflera is a genus of tropical plant species. The primary characteristics that umbrella plants have are their long glossy oval green leaves which drop elegantly from a central stem that resembles an umbrella. They’re an easy-care plant that adds a graceful look to any room.

There exists a variety of umbrella plants. A larger version with distinct leaves is the Schefflera Amate. Another popular variant is the Moondrop Plant, which has a slightly white color in the center of their leaves.

Picture of umbrella plant. The plant is known for its leaves that remind of umbrellas.

The umbrella plant can be an impressive and appealing feature in your living room office or any other large space. The propagation of cuttings from umbrella plants is a quick and affordable method of creating an impressive collection of plants that can be used as gifts or interior decor.

As with other plants with bushy foliage, cuttings from umbrella plants will produce a perfect clone of the parent plant, with the same chance of mutations as the case with planted plants. Make sure to propagate your umbrella by cuttings, and you’ll be able to have an abundance of healthy plants and growing in one month or less.

Umbrella Plant Propagation from Cuttings

After successful plant propagation, we can start repotting the new umbrella plant cutting.

For umbrella plant propagation has to use the cutting steps; every cutting helps spread plants. If you wish, you can easily divide it, and create many young umbrella plants. It appears attractive indoors, so growing it in multiple ways can enhance your experience of cutting the plants successfully.

The stem that is the main part of an umbrella plant cannot divide; however, it is possible to propagate the plant by cuttings. These cuttings should contain a tiny portion of the main stem along with the growth node. The growth node is an area of the stem that includes buds. It’s a location where cells are active and grow, where tiny buds grow into stems, leaves, or even flowers. When pruning, it’s crucial to identify the plant’s nodes. Utilize a sharp knife like a grafting blade or bypass pruners to ensure an exact cut of the cutting. Sharp scissors that aren’t sharp could cause damage to the cutting area during this process.

How to cut the umbrella plant?

The process of rooting an umbrella cutting is relatively simple.

Cleanse your knife with an alcohol pad to stop the spreading of pathogens harmful to your plant.
Cut off a stem close to the plant’s base.
Wrap that cut side in a damp towel.
Cut each leaf horizontally to decrease the water it sheds during the rooting process.
The cut should be approximately 6-inches (ca. 15cm) in length. They also have a diameter that is similar to a pencil.
Leave one leaf set on the stem, then remove the other leaves.

Use a clean knife or another tool to cut the umbrella plant close to the stem.

Can we do the umbrella plant propagation in water or pots?

An umbrella plant propagation can be done in four ways:

Water
Soil
Seeds
Sphagnum moss

The process of propagation is also possible by using seeds from this plant as well as another method could be air layering.

However, each method has its limitations and if you decide to establish a propagation program in the cuttings of your umbrella plant, it must be free of disease and provide the proper temperatures, soil mixes, and humidity and light can aid in its growth.

Propagation in Water

Step by step guide for umbrella plant propagation in water:

Take water in the water pot.
Put the cutting stem into a glass filled with clean water right away.

Cover plant stem to till growth node in 6-inch deep water.
Umbrella plants are tolerant of the presence of up to 6 inches of water.
Umbrella Plant does best in full sunlight; however, it can tolerate shade conditions in partial shade.
If you’re not prepared to quickly transfer the plant in water then, wrap the top of your cutting with a damp towel and secure it with an elastic band. Don’t let your cutting dry. Be sure to keep your cuts out of the direct sun and in high humidity areas.
These conditions encourage the growth of roots. The plant is ready to be transplanted when new growth appears on the top.

Once the new umbrella plant formes proper roots, we can start with the potting of the plant into the soil.

How much time is required to soak the root in the water?

You should see new roots within the first 6 weeks.

After your cutting has been placed in its water glass we can wait for the roots to grow. The growth and new roots at the top of the plant indicate that it’s time to move the plant to stimulate an even more significant growth; propagation in water may affect the growth rate due to a shortage of soil minerals. Expect to start getting roots within 6 weeks following the commencement of spreading. After the roots start appearing the new leaves will appear over the top. In between two and three months, you’ll be able to grow the healthiest, fresh plant.

Replace the Water to prevent moldy roots

When you put the new cutting in to a glass of water make sure to refresh it regularly. Especially, if the container is small and can’t keep much water it’s very important to replace the water from time to time. Otherwise, the root will get moldy.

Drawbacks of Water propagation

Umbrella plant propagation in water can be cause of some drawbacks. Keeping these plants in water may slow or stop their growth due to a shortage of minerals. Also, even though the plants can survive in water, it’s not always the best choice. In place of just keeping them water-based, shift them into pots filled with soil once their roots have been established in the water.

Propagation in Soil

Step by step guide for umbrella plant propagation in soil:

The layering process can create new roots on the stem even though it’s still attached to the parent plant.
Take bark off ring around the flexible stem, close to the end, and below the leaves.
Fill a 6″ (15 millimeter.) pot with fresh potting soil.
Using pencil, create a 2″ (5 centimeters.) hole into the soil.
Can be bend the stem to press it into soil of another planter.
Place the cut area in the soil and leave the leafy portion higher than the soil.
Secure the stem by bending the wire.
Make sure the soil is moist, and roots will grow around the place that you have caused damage to the bark.
As soon as new growth appears, remove it from the tree you cut it from.
The soil should be watered and placed in the pot in a spot with a steady lighting source but not direct sun.
Stems will begin to develop roots in a couple of weeks.
Once the plant begins to sprout new green shoots on top, cut off the stem’s top to encourage the branching.

You can propagate an umbrella plant in soil by pressing a stem (before the leaves) into the soil. Make sure to remove the outer layer. The new roots will form at the area of the stem in the soil.

Propagation in Sphagnum Moss

If your stems aren’t enough to bend them into a new pot, cut the bark similarly and then wrap the entire area with a clump of moist sphagnum moss. Should cover the clump with baseball-sized plastic wrap, then tape fix it. The roots will develop within the moss. If you can see they clear cut the plant, below the plastic remove the plastic cover and then plant it in a new container.

You can propagate umbrella plants in moss. Similar to the previous method (propagating in soil) we remove the outer layer of the stem and instead of bending it into soil we can just wrap it into a plastic bag with moss. New roots will form.

The question arises: Normal soil can be used instead of sphagnum moss, which also works in umbrella plant propagation. This question has no authentic answer.
But generally, the answer is no.
• Soil is heavy.
• Soil is dry from time to time
But Different types of soil (silt, sand, loam) can be experimentally used to test the plant growth. Soil has better aeration but it will require more attention. Keeping the soil moist will obviously help.
The dead and living cell types of the Sphagnum Moss are able to hold huge amounts of water within their cells. They can hold as much as 25x the amount of in water than their weight when dry! This makes it an excellent soilless material to plant certain plants in your home. It isn’t possible to “blend” the material with compost in order to maintain its life.

Does the Umbrella plant need Sunlight?

Umbrella plants should be placed close to a window or a bright room. Indirect light is enough for the plants.

Umbrella plants are tolerant plants that can withstand a variety of conditions; however, the sun requirement is constant. As you begin establishing roots it is important to place your cutting to be located in an area of shade. After you transplant your rooted cuttings, they will require lighting to live however they will not need directly lit.

How Long Do Umbrella Plants Live?

Umbrella when grown in ideal conditions can live for up around 25 years. Plants kept indoors in direct, bright light and a consistent flow of water will ensure that your plant is alive for a long time. To ensure health and longevity for your plants, be sure to keep watch for any signs of illness and insects. Things to watch out for include fungus gnats, a scale infestation, and leaf spot disease as well as spider mites. Plants affected by the disease may show dying or yellowing leaves, plants with brown spots weak branches, and other indicators of decline.