Hawaiian umbrella Bonsai Care guidelines
The Dwarf Umbrella Bonsai can be kept inside the house all the year round. Ideal temperatures are 18° C to 22° C / 65° F to 72° F. Schefflera Bonsai can tolerate low humidity and dim light but they grow much better and produce smaller leaves if they get much light. The temperature should not fall below 10° C / 50° F. If the windows are opened for ventilation in winter, take care that the tree is not exposed to cold draught.
The Hawaiian umbrella Bonsai likes a moist soil which must not dry out. In winter it should be watered more cautiously, but if the tree is placed above a heating device, take good care that the rootball does not dry out. Continue reading about watering Bonsai trees.
Watering
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Watch Use liquid fertilizer every week from spring to autumn and once a month in winter, regarding the dosing instruction. During summer you can also use solid organic fertilizer.
Dwarf Umbrella Bonsai trees can be developed well with thoughtful pruning. A new shoot will point in the same direction like the leaf that is located directly below the cut, growing from its axil. Very healthy trees can be defoliated and at the same time the tips of the twigs shout be cut off. This results in lots of new shoots, increasing ramification and smaller leaves. The Dwarf Umbrella Tree produces no hard wood and their trunks and branches are likely to snap when you try to bend them too strongly. Younger shoots are more flexible and can be wired and shaped with less risk of breaking them. Continue reading about pruning Bonsai trees.
Repot every second year in spring. Be careful with the fleshy roots which break easily. Use a standard soil mix. Continue reading about repotting Bonsai trees.
The Dwarf Umbrella Tree can be propagated from seeds and cuttings. Cuttings will root in soil or even in a glass of water.
The tree is not often attacked by insects. Scale can occasionally occur. In that case use a specific oil-based insecticide. For more detailed information on these techniques, check out our Bonsai tree care section.
Hawaiian umbrella bonsai tree
Leaves of the Hawaiian umbrella
Schefflera bonsai
Hawaiian umbrella forest bonsai
General information about the Hawaiian umbrella Bonsai tree
The Dwarf Umbrella tree is a tropical tree which is native to Australia, but it is also very common in Southeast Asia. In nature it is an evergreen shrub with thin trunks without much ramification. A characteristic feature is the shape of the compound, radially arranged leaves which sit on long petioles. Scheffleras produce no hard wood and no rough bark. Wiring is not a promising technique for this species, but with constant pruning some taper and ramification can be achieved. Aerial roots can add to the character of the Dwarf Umbrella bonsai tree. If you need help identifying your tree, take a look at our Bonsai tree identification guide.
