Schefflera is Dying - Advice?

[AZJ0SH]

I have had my Schefflera since I first got Ziggy back in May, and it's starting to die. I read that they do not like to sit in wet soil, so I have been working extra hard to keep the soil nice and dry, but the plant is still loosing all it's branches and I already lost 1 of the 3 plants I had in the main pot.

I want to either replace these, or switch to a different type of plant. I need something at least 2-2.5ft tall from the roots, if not taller.

Are there any hardier plants, or ones that are easier to keep alive?

 

[heartben]

if you havent already try replanting it using rocks (i think some people use sand as well?) at the bottom of the planter so its easier to get rid of the excess water.

you could try hanging a pothos, or maybe youd have better luck if you add in a grow light if you dont have one already? just a couple ideas.

 

[eisentrauti]

Put it in the garbage. In my opinion Scheffleras are just growing under nearly perfect conditions with much light and not much or too less water in an adequate good locking way. Buy some Ficus or Asparagus instead, they store water much better and dont die so fast

 

[AZJ0SH]

if you havent already try replanting it using rocks (i think some people use sand as well?) at the bottom of the planter so its easier to get rid of the excess water.

you could try hanging a pothos, or maybe youd have better luck if you add in a grow light if you dont have one already? just a couple ideas.

I think some of the problem is the dirt I am using, the top inch or so will stay wet but 6 inches down it's bone dry. The soil seems to compact around the roots really tight. I am going to head to Home Depot today and look for new soil as well as a new plant.

Put it in the garbage. In my opinion Scheffleras are just growing under nearly perfect conditions with much light and not much or too less water in an adequate good locking way. Buy some Ficus or Asparagus instead, they store water much better and dont die so fast

I haven't seen any ficus's here in Arizona, the only one I could find was a 6ft and was more for landscaping than an enclosure, I thought about chopping it down but they wanted $79 for it. I might have to check out some nurseries.

 

[eisentrauti]

Check out local small ads, I think craigslists has some, here in Germany we have for example from ebay a special part just with small ads on fix prices. There it's often possible to get big and healthy plants which lived under normal room conditions. They are not full of different herbicids and fungicids and they are often really cheap in comparison to big plants from DIY stores

 

[AZJ0SH]

I checked craiglist with no luck, I also checked the other online classifieds and no luck either.

The only under 6' ficus I could find was at a nursery and they were asking $79.99 for it! That's insane for a plant!

I might just replace the schleffera for now, and try to see if I can ever find a ficus down the road .

 

[rickiemillican]

if you have a Raleys store thay can order one for you.. thay have 6" pot and 10" pot ficus benjamina. the 6" is like 8.99 and the 10" is 21.95..

 

[camimom]

did you repot it when yo ugot it?

if not, i bet its root bound.