Schefflera Chop?

f1pt4

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I chopped and chopped my Schefflera, and the thing grows like wild fire. No vaseline needed. Just sharp scissors and light.
 

f1pt4

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I chopped to no foliage, except for the very new growth that was pushing out, and in a couple places that were weaker. I did that 4 times this year. A conservative estimate, about 85-90% of the foliage gone. But it later received a lot of light. I won't be touching mine again this year, as it's getting cold quick and it will be sitting indoors under flourescents.
 

JoeR

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I chopped to no foliage, except for the very new growth that was pushing out, and in a couple places that were weaker. I did that 4 times this year. A conservative estimate, about 85-90% of the foliage gone. But it later received a lot of light. I won't be touching mine again this year, as it's getting cold quick and it will be sitting indoors under flourescents.
Mine will be in a large south facing window with two growlights after the chop. Need to find or make a greenhouse setup thing for humidity.
 

f1pt4

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Mine will be in a large south facing window with two growlights after the chop. Need to find or make a greenhouse setup thing for humidity.
It should be fine. From what I gather schef's are pretty tolerant plants when it comes to abuse.
 

f1pt4

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Check out Nigel Saunders' vid's on You Tube. He has a progression series on one of his Schefflera's.

This is the latest one.

 

JoeR

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Well I did the deed.

I sawed the four trunks down with a heated sawblade and then sealed them with a dab of woodglue.

I plan on keeping it inside from here on out because its cold outside and hasn't stopped raining for legitimately 3 weeks. Never had this much rain before. The ground can't absorb it fast enough and so all the roads, yards, creeks, etc. are flooding bad.
 

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You can't do something like this and not post up some photo's!!

If not for the rest of us, at least for yourself, bro!!

Good luck! :cool::D
 

JoeR

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I was about to but my sister called and wanted to go somewhere so I didn't get to it.

It really isn't anything special. I want as many aerial roots as possible to consume the trunk and form a classic banyan style schefflera.

I am going to give rooting the trunks a shot. Not really sure how to treat them but they're in a bucket of soil right now.

1003151450-1.jpg 1003151458-1.jpg 1003151458a-1.jpg
 
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JoeR

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Are the pictures gigantic? I am pretty sure they are but I don't know how to resize them on my phone.
 

Redwood Ryan

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With the trunks being braided, I'm not sure you'll have much luck creating taper. They're just kinda there.
 

JoeR

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With the trunks being braided, I'm not sure you'll have much luck creating taper. They're just kinda there.
Most banyan style tropicals dont have much in the taper department. Or at least don't need it.

I want the branches that form to have aerial roots too which will help disguise the lack of taper.
 

Redwood Ryan

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Most banyan style tropicals dont have much in the taper department. Or at least don't need it.

I want the branches that form to have aerial roots too which will help disguise the lack of taper.

True, but they also don't have twisting trunks like this one does. You want to use aerial roots to cover that, but remember that you will run into issues with aerial roots creating reverse taper, etc.
 

Gaitano

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I find that the cutting root VERY easily. My schefflera collection grows each time I chop. I leave a few leaves at the top and cut everything else below off. Make sure you don't let the soil stay too wet. The aerial roots won't start until summer when the humidity is high.
 

JoeR

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I find that the cutting root VERY easily. My schefflera collection grows each time I chop. I leave a few leaves at the top and cut everything else below off. Make sure you don't let the soil stay too wet. The aerial roots won't start until summer when the humidity is high.
Well there's four 1"+ cuttings sitting in soil in my house now so we shall see! I cut most of the leaves off but I May cut more off later.
 

JoeR

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I think there's already buds swelling dramatically on the trunks.

That's a good sign!
 

JoeR

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Just an update:

Buds are popping on all four of the trunks. Mostly the buds are popping lower down but they all have at least one up high. I have some that have distinct leaves already.

I would not bother sealing the trunk when you chop these. The water flowing from the roots washed it all off anyway.
 

JoeR

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Yet another update:

1024151140-1.jpg

As you can see, growth all over. I wish I had more buds higher up but I suppose it's sufficient. There's still some popping now do maybe I'll get more. All the leaves are mutated; Instead of the normal seven or so leaves they have two to four.


Can anyone please tell me why some of the leaves are tinged with a little red? Is it because of too much light or..?
 
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