You already own a radiant ara and can't get enough of the beautiful plant? Don't worry, a Schefflera is easy to propagate.
The propagation of the radiate ara (Schefflera) can not only happen in one way. Here we show which methods are possible and how they work.
Propagating Schefflera: what are the options?
The radiant macaw can easily be propagated vegetatively, which means that no seeds are used. This form is also called asexual reproduction, because plant parts are clones of the mother plant. Above all, the use of cuttings has proven itself, because the method is not difficult and crowned with success in most cases. Another way to multiply the Schefflera is the so-called mossing, which is a bit more complex and less promising. In nature, the Schefflera reproduces with the help of its seeds.
Why sowing is usually not worthwhile: Should you ever come into possession of Schefflera seeds, this is what it looks like Cultivation rather difficult. Seeds must be fresh to germinate, and fresh Schefflera seeds are not that easy to come by. Since propagation from cuttings is easy, sowing is more of a project for ambitious gardeners.
Growing Schefflera offshoots
By nature, the radiate aralie does not form offshoots. However, you can obtain a schefflera offshoot by removing moss: This means that the daughter plant is still attached to the mother plant during root formation, unlike with cuttings.
In autumn or spring, cut the stem of the radiate aralie from below up to form a flat tab. The cut is best ended below a sleeping eye or leaf. Insert a small rock or wet moss into the cut to make them risenot closed again. Moisten sphagnum moss and wrap the cut with it. The moss is now wrapped in foil again so that everything stays nice and moist. Tie the foil at the top and bottom. After a few weeks to months, roots should have formed. Check after a few weeks whether there are already roots and moisten the moss again if necessary. A temperature of 15 to 20 °C and a consistently high level of humidity are required for root formation. After rooting, it's time to separate the daughter plant from the mother plant and plant it in its own pot.
Taking schefflera cuttings
There are different types of cuttings that are used for Schefflera propagation. It is best to cut the cuttings in summer with a sharp and clean knife.
Head Cuttings
The Schefflera is particularly easy to propagate with top cuttings. To do this, cut off the shoot tips, i.e. the “heads”. This type of propagation is possible all year round, but temperatures of 15 to 20 °C are required for growth. Select a he althy shoot and cut it off below a leaf node. It should be about 10 cm long and have three to five leaves. The lowest of these are removed to minimize transpiration of water. Then stick the cutting with the interface in a pot with potting soil. For example, our Plantura organic herb and seed soil is suitable for this with an extra low nutrient content, which stimulates the root growth of the young plants. Our peat-free, particularly loose soil promotes the development of roots and is safe for garden and pets.
Alternatively, you can root the Schefflera cuttings in a glass of water and after rooting plant. The water should be changed two to three times a week. However, with this method, more water roots are formed, which are sensitive and not of much use in the soil. Therefore growing in pots is preferable.
Warning: If one speaks of a leaf in the case of the radiate aria, a long stalk with several leaflets is meant. The individual, small leaves together form a leaf. The main shoot from which the cuttings are taken is the thick, slightly woody central stem.
Stem Cuttings
You can also choose a larger oneCut off part of the stem from the radiate aria. This is then divided into pieces. The top part of the trunk is a head cutting that is treated as described above. The remaining part of the trunk is stripped of leaves and divided so that each section contains a "sleeping eye" in the middle. This is where the new leaves form later, and the roots emerge from the underside. The stem cuttings are placed with the eye up, i.e. horizontally, in moist potting soil. At a temperature of about
20 °C and high humidity, this type of propagation is possible all year round.
Care after propagation
Once the cuttings have rooted, it's time to transplant them into their own pot. You can also tell when the cuttings are growing new leaves. A drainage layer should definitely be created in the new vessel. Then comes the substrate. This should now be more nutritious for the young plants than the potting soil. Our Plantura organic universal soil, for example, is well suited, mixed with expanded clay for even better structural stability. It is also peat-free, organically pre-fertilized for at least three months and thus ensures balanced development. In order to prevent a plant shock, do not place the young radiant macaws too brightly at first, but gradually get used to more light. Even after repotting, continue to keep the humidity high until leaves have regrown. The substrate is always kept moist.
If more leaves have formed, pruning can ensure that the Schefflera branches better. Regular fertilization with liquid fertilizer about three months after repotting is recommended so that the young radiant aralia grow luxuriantly in the coming period. For example, our Plantura organic indoor and green plant fertilizer is ideal for this, which, in addition to being easy to use, also shines through the quick availability of the nutrients. The lion's share of this fertilizer is organic and is supplemented with potassium sulphate, which is also used in organic farming.
You can find more tips and tricks for the further care of the radiant macaw in our special article.