This plant is also called the umbrella tree because its leaves are shaped like an umbrella. It has a beautiful leaf structure that can add a tropical look to any room.
Found in the rainforests of Australia and New Guinea, Schefflera Amate has become a favorite indoor plant across the world. This is because of the abundance of shiny, bright green leaves in the plant.
The plant grows at a medium pace. Meaning, you don’t have to worry about keeping up with its maintenance. Indoors it can grow up from 8–10 inches tall. To control the size of the plant, you have to prune it with sharp, sterilized blades.
Because these plants are tall and lush in appearance, they are a popular choice for commercial indoor plant projects. They are also resilient and hence, last long.
Schefflera Amaterasu removes toxins from the air like benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene giving you cleaner air to breathe in. They are especially famous for removing toxins released into the air by cigarette smoke.
Note- this plant is mildly toxic to pets.
Schefflera Amate Plant Care
Light and Temperature Requirements – Bright indirect sunlight and medium-light is the best to grow your umbrella tree. However, it shouldn’t get too hot. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for the plant.
You should ideally place it in a north facing window to ensure that it gets natural light all day long.
Soil Conditions – We recommend organic potting. However, any good quality soil should do. You need to re-pot the plant every 18-24 months. Pick a pot which has a diameter 2-4 inches larger than the plant so it has room to grow. To maintain the size of the plant, you can re-pot in the same vessel.
Water Requirements – Like most indoor plants, the umbrella plant would rather be too dry than too wet. You can water it daily in the summers. Before watering, check the soil by pressing your thumb on it. If your plant is kept in low light, reduce watering.
Food Requirements – Fertilize the plant spring through fall. This is to ensure optimal growth. You can also fertilize the plant once a month. Any fertilizer should be good, if you follow the instructions. But we recommend an organic houseplant fertilizer.
