For a plant lover, it is a frightening sight when the Schefflera sheds its leaves. At first only a few leaves, but soon there are more than 1/3 of all leaves that have fallen off. What's wrong and can you still save the houseplant?
Why is my Schefflera dropping leaves and how can I save it?
Schefflera sheds leaves when it suffers from root rot, drought, pest infestation or other stress factors such as temperature, lack of light or lack of nutrients. To save the plant, the cause should be identified and appropriate measures should be taken, such as repotting, water bathing, pest control or relocation.
Reason 1: Root Rot
In many cases, root rot is behind the leaf drop. It occurs when the Schefflera is in a substrate that is too wet. First their leaves turn yellow. Then they fall off and at the same time you can smell a putrid smell coming from the earth.
Reason 2: Drought
The opposite, drought, can also lead to leaf drop. This plant, native to rainforests, needs a moist substrate. Dryness is alien to her. However, it generally takes a while for the leaves to fall off in dry conditions. If the soil is dry for 2 weeks, the leaves begin to fall gradually
Reason 3: Pest Infestation
Pests can also be the cause of the Schefflera dropping its leaves. You can track down the pests by carefully inspecting the underside of the leaves. The Schefflera is susceptible to, among other things:
- Spider mites
- Mealybugs
- Scale insects
- Thrips
- Aphids
More reasons
But there can also be other reasons. You know your radiant aralia best! Also consider the following possible causes:
- temperatures too low
- Signs of aging
- Lack of light
- significant nutrient deficiency
- Heat
- direct sunlight
- Disease infestation
Rescue measures
To prevent the leaves from turning yellow or brown and eventually falling off, prevention is the best measure. This means: Choose an ideal location (no direct sun, but bright) and don't overdo or underdo it when it comes to care.
If the first leaves have already fallen off, you have to find out the cause in order to help the Schefflera:
- for dry substrate: water bath
- if the substrate is wet and has root rot: repot
- if there is a pest infestation: combat the pests e.g. B. with soft soap solution (€4.00 on Amazon)
- in heat, too much light or low temperature: change location
Tip
If there is no disease behind the falling leaves, but the radiant aralia has already dropped almost all of its leaves, you can quickly cut cuttings. This means that at least part of this plant will remain with you if it dies.
