Schefflera Species, False Aralia

So I've had my false aralia for a few months now. I transplanted it to a bigger pot and the leaves on two of the stems began to wilt. I w...Read Moreas watering regularly but not over watering. Any suggestions?

I am in zone 5 Massachusetts. I purchased a 2' sad False Aralia Schefflera Elegantissima from Home Depot 3 years ago for $12. In 3 years ...Read Moretime, it has become a massive 7' tall plant x 4' wide- almost to my ceiling. In the summer I keep it outside on my deck in dappled sun. In the winter it's under a grow light in a west window. I recently had it cut it back this summer because it was becoming so massive I would not be able to bring it in the house this Fall. I cut all the tall stocks (about 6 tall ones) back to around 5' tall. They have all putting forth massively full new growth areas and the tree will be nice and full again, while keeping the woody thick stems. I water it daily year 'round, and give it a systemic drench 2x a year to make sure it stays healthy and lush. I fertilize it 2x a year with MiracleGrow, and turn the plant daily so it grows evenly all around. I also shake the branches to drop out any old leaves. It is shiny and happy.

It is interesting to me that this is one of the most commonly found plant for sale at big box stores, yet I know/hear of NO ONE that has ...Read Moregrown it successfully for more than a few months, if at all. Personally, I've had zero success at growing it.

Name change:
From Brittonia 2013 'A Revsion of Plerandra ... - Lowry, et al.
Plerandra elegantissima (Veitch ex Mast...Read More.) Lowry, G. M. Plunkett & Frodin, comb. nov.

I find this plant to be very susceptible to spider mites.

I started with a 3 foot many-twigged specimen but I think I overwatered it. It lost most leaves. I also moved it from a 8-inch pot to a 1...Read More0-inch pot a month ago. I just pulled it out to see if the roots rotted. There are no new roots. The root ball is dense and compact. Air and light are good. At first the plant put out lots of new growth, then just started dropping leaves. Any clues or hints would be appreciated.

I'm reading one of my bonsai books, first time I've ever read not to use systemics on the Araliaceae family.

bought a small mass planting dizygotheca e. from home depot almost 2 years ago. there were 4 of them in a 4 inch pot, and they were about...Read More 4-6 inches tall. i found this plant to be very beautiful and wanted to "give it a whirl." in almost 2 years, i've promoted it to a 6 inch pot and it's doubled in size! it has filled out very nicely, and loves the filtered morning sun it receives on my back porch. i plan to repot it again this year before the end of the growing season, and look forward to watching it's beauty continue to unfold before my eyes. it's very easy to care for, not nearly as finicky as true aralias. (i had an aralia "dinner plate" once, and it didn't last long) i'd say it's a good plant for beginners.. it was one of my starter plants, and almost 2 years later, it's still doing wonderfully! =)

I don't give this plant a negative experience because I dislike it. I actually love it but have had a terrible time growing it. In the pa...Read Morest few years I have managed to kill about three of them but am able to grow other sort of finicky plants (violets, maidenhair ferns, etc) I like this plant but do not advise it for beginners.

I had no idea that this species is "false" but I love it! So nice to look at and feel. Looking foward to the many different ways that I can grow it.

I bought one about 1 ft. tall about two years ago and planted it in my garden. It's now almost 5 feet tall and looks beautiful.

I found this dizygotheca e. in a Target store, surprisingly.
Altho only a 4-inch pot to start, it has made a nice transition
...Read More to a 6" pot in the 8 months as a house plant. It lives in my
kitchen window, over the sink, thus enjoying humidity and
a bright but not direct west light exposure. So far it is not
dropping any lower leaves and is making new top growth.
I would not try it as an outdoor plant here, in West Texas,
as our summers are very dry and winters are zone 7. I like
the dark, exotic look of this plant and seldom find one in the
local plant sources. It does somewhat resemble marijuana
at a casual glance, which I find rather charming - ha.

I am in zone 8a. I keep a pair of these on either side of the front door. They get very little direct sun, but bright light. When the ...Read Moretemp is going to drop under 36 degrees, I set them in the garage, and when the weather warms up again (lows higher than 36) out they come again. They are now four years old and are beautiful. They require a good bit of water. If they wilt once, they never fully recover.

I am trying to grow False Aralia in a greenhouse environment in central Arkansas.
The plant is hanging on but not thriving.
...Read More I do believe the challange will be worth it when I find the right conditions. I used to have very good luck growing these as house plants in the San Juaquin Valley.

An easy to grow plant hardy to a zone 9b. It grows outdoors all over Sou Cal and protected,sheltered spots in the Bay Area. A fast grower...Read More once it is established. It needs plenty of water since it is shallow rooted and hates being moved or dug up.
EDIT:..Young plants had no trouble with the freeze of Jan 07. ..no protection and still not a spot of damage. 9b plants for sure..

Native to the New Hebrides, the false aralia makes an elegant houseplant; but it is nowadays an uncommon find in the high-volume stores. ...Read MoreWhile it may be "false," this species shares the delicate fussiness of its "true" aralia cousins, and will promptly drop its lower leaves whenever its needs are ignored. It is probably most sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and shouldn't be left outside if temperatures will fall below 15 C (60 F). For the same reason, be sure to keep it away from cold drafts and window panes.

False aralias will also benefit from increased humidity in the form of a wet pebble tray on which it can sit. They have a fairly compact and columnar habit, not growing much wider than their container. Because they seldom branch, false aralias are always sold in closely-packed clumps. When purchasing, choose a pot with as many vigorous shoots as possible. The individual plants tend to lose their lower leaves as they mature, so a higher number of stems will help maintain a fuller appearance.

This is aka dizygotheca elegantissima, also looks a bit like marijuana. We had one on our front porch when some police stopped by and my...Read More little white haired mother had a time explaining this was NOT what he thought it was. This is a standard houseplant here, wouldn't be without our Dizzy.