Immediate Steps to Save a Dying Schefflera (Umbrella) Plant

Is your schefflera plant on the verge of dying? Are the leaves starting to wilt or get discolored? Or are they suddenly starting to fall out? There are ways to revive your schefflera plant but you will need to act quickly. First, you need to understand the main reasons for a dying schefflera plant.

Watering Issues with Schefflera Plant

Watering tends to be the most common problem that leads to the demise of houseplants. You could be watering the schefflera plant a bit too much or even a bit too little. Schefflera plants are the kind that don’t require frequent watering.

Generally-speaking, a weekly watering schedule should suffice. Wait until the soil becomes dry then thoroughly soak it with water. Make sure the water drains out well from the potted soil as you don’t want diseases like root rot to occur.

If your schefflera plant already has root rot then you will need to remove the rotting roots and re-pot the plant in well-draining soil. Root rot can be identified by the presence of weak, brown roots. Healthy roots should be firm and white.

A soil moisture meter could be a good investment if you continue to have trouble pouring the right amount of water into the houseplant container.

Clogged Soil Stopping the Plant from Breathing

Schefflera plants may also die if you prevent their roots from being able to properly absorb water and important nutrients from the soil. This can happen in a number of ways. The first-case would be the issue we described above when you over-water the soil. This can make the soil compacted and prevent the roots from doing its job.

The second case would be if you have been watering the schefflera plant with hard water. In certain places, the tap water can have a relatively high level of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals can build up an obstructive layer in the soil over time.

Last but not least, over-fertilizing the potted soil can also have a similar effect. In situations like this, you may need to flush the excess mineral buildup out by thoroughly watering the soil with distilled water. Make sure the excess water drips out for at least thirty minutes before you resume the regular plant watering schedule.

Changes in Plant Location

Houseplants like scheffleras don’t tolerate sudden changes that well. For example, the plants may look like they are dying if they have suddenly been relocated to a different part of the house. This may have caused a change in conditions, such as less sunlight or higher room temperature.

You may want to re-evaluate the location of the schefflera plant and make sure they are placed in a spot with enough sunlight, optimal room temperature, and stable humidity levels. The sooner you take action, the higher the chances of reviving your schefflera plant. Dying houseplants may also introduce other problems, like the appearance of fungus gnats, so it’s important to not turn a blind eye on this.