Hawaiian Umbrella Tree Pruning tips

AlohaBee · New Member Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 6

My hawaiian bonsai seems a little too happy. Its sprouting new leaves very rapidly, and I'm afraid it'll grow too big, too fast to keep indoors.

I've never kept any plants before, so I don't really understand how to prune my tree. I've looked up some articles online, but I'm having a hard time understanding them.

Please if anyone could give me some tips, or point me in the right direction, they'd be very appreciated. Please keep it in simple english terms.

Also, what conditions are required to encourage this tree to bloom?

Thanks in advance.

arboricola · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 1:07 pm Post subject:

Hello Alohabee;

The simple way to prune is to snip the growing bud. That's the last new leaf on each stem. Use a small pair of scissors to do this. Just snip the little leaf off.

If you could update your profile as to where you're located and post a photo of the tree. That would help. And what kind of fertilizer you are using. This would help to determine if it's going to bloom..

Phil...

AlohaBee · New Member Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 6

Thanks Phil,

It's that easy then? Shouldn't I cut some of the branches eventually?
I live in the NorthWest, my tree is indoors as its 20 degrees outside.

I don't use any fertilizer, any suggestions?

Thanks again!

Gnome · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:18 am Post subject:

AlohaBee,

AlohaBee · New Member Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 6

Quote:

Yes you can cut off some branches and you can cut the remaining ones back hard.

I'm sorry, what do you mean? How much is cutting them back hard?

And thanks for your insight on the fertilizer, and now that I think about it, I guess I am "fertilizing" it at least a little, since I use my aquarium water to water it, but I'll try others too.

opabinia51 · Mod Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 4676 Location: Victoria, BC

Cutting back hard is a qualitative term that means cut back a lot of the tree. I would say that you could easily take out 40 percent of the foliage or more.

This is a Serissia tree is it not? If it is, I do know that your can prune Serissia really hard (in excess of 60 percent or more). But, wait on the I.D. and Norms confirmation before you go pruning to hard.

Gnome · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:03 am Post subject:

AlohaBee,

The proper name for this plant is Schefflera aboricola, as you know it is commonly called Umbrella tree. We have a member here who goes by that name "Aboricola" and is much more familiar with this species than I. I'm sure he will see this eventually and hopefully he can offer more detailed advice.

arboricola · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:35 pm Post subject:

Alohabee;

I would continue tip pruning til late spring. Scheffleras bloom late winter to early spring so you don't want to stress the tree any more than you have too. There's no guarantee your tree will bloom. Many factors come into play (age, temp, humidity etc.) Best to wait and see before you start pruning branches.

I'm a little concerned about you watering with auqarium water and using fertilizer. I don't know the makeup of your water, but I image it's fairly high in Nitrogen if you keep fish. Excess Nitrogen can be dangerous. Too much Nitrogen will produce large, dark leaves, delay the harding of wood and inhibit blooming. The 3 main elements, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are expressed as a ratio. Like 5:5:5 on the package. I would go with a 0:15:5 for now. Use every 2 weeks while the tree is active. Water first, wait 10 minutes, then water with fertilizer solution. The 15 is Phosphorus and will help the plant bloom. You can go higher with the Phosphorus as the plant will only take up what it needs to get the job done.

If you have more questions about pruning let us know, but I would wait til late spring to do any hard cutback. If your tree blooms please post a photo.

Phil...