A co-worker brought in his wife's tree for me to re-pot and prune. When I saw it, I was amazed at it's size and condition. It's severely root-bound but looks vibrant. I've never worked on one of these, so any advice on how much it can be pruned back would be very helpful. Should I just re-pot it and leave it to settle into the pot before I prune it?
At this point, I just got it this morning and haven't touched it yet.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=86b250d9.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_86b250d9.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=fba0cb3c.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_fba0cb3c.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=b09574b9.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_b09574b9.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=f5f0c334.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_f5f0c334.jpg[/img][/url]
If you repot it and it is root bound then you must trim root structure some.
If you do not take some of the upper structure away it would seem like it would suffer from a reduction of nutrients supplied by the smaller (after repotting) and what seems like already overwhelmed root structure.
It does look rather leggy IMO (for whatever that is worth in my early stages) and seems to be "in your face" with some of its' fore branches. The branches are out of scale too long before branching without much taper. Is that a characteristic of this plant species? dunno
It will be interesting to read what others say that have experience with this species.
(see,
I go to one class and now I am an expert 
)
If you do not take some of the upper structure away it would seem like it would suffer from a reduction of nutrients supplied by the smaller (after repotting) and what seems like already overwhelmed root structure.
It does look rather leggy IMO (for whatever that is worth in my early stages) and seems to be "in your face" with some of its' fore branches. The branches are out of scale too long before branching without much taper. Is that a characteristic of this plant species? dunno
It will be interesting to read what others say that have experience with this species.
(see,
I go to one class and now I am an expert )-
Gnome
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Marsman,
While I'm certainly do not have extensive experience with this species I do have some. I have the S. arboricola or Dwarf Umbrella Tree. There is a similar species with larger leaves that I don't own so keep that caveat in mind.
Since this is not your tree I would think that some communication with the actual owner would be in order. How would she feel about major changes? Would she consider purchasing a new pot?
How about this; first repot into a better mix and possibly a larger pot as well. After it has settled in, return it to the owner to allow her to become accustomed to the new watering pattern. Do no pruning at this time, but do instruct her about the new soil/watering situation. Also establish a feeding routine to ready it for round two.
Later this summer, after it is re-established, you can make a 'house call' with your tools and, at that time, prune it back to a more aesthetic outline. It may tolerate this all at once but I can't really say from personal experience. Since you can't either it would probably be best to err on the side of caution. I'm sure you would hate to kill her tree by being too aggressive.
I have (one time only so far) performed a total defoliation with good results. By defoliating the entire tree, while simultaneously removing all growing points, you force new buds to break on old wood. Apparently with only a partial defoliation there is the possibility that the tree will simply abandon a specific branch.
This would also be a good time to reduce the branches to get them back into scale as SHS mentions. I too think the branch structure needs some thought and reduction or even the removal of some branches. S. arboricola will tolerate a major reduction and back bud on old wood.
Norm
While I'm certainly do not have extensive experience with this species I do have some. I have the S. arboricola or Dwarf Umbrella Tree. There is a similar species with larger leaves that I don't own so keep that caveat in mind.
Since this is not your tree I would think that some communication with the actual owner would be in order. How would she feel about major changes? Would she consider purchasing a new pot?
How about this; first repot into a better mix and possibly a larger pot as well. After it has settled in, return it to the owner to allow her to become accustomed to the new watering pattern. Do no pruning at this time, but do instruct her about the new soil/watering situation. Also establish a feeding routine to ready it for round two.
Later this summer, after it is re-established, you can make a 'house call' with your tools and, at that time, prune it back to a more aesthetic outline. It may tolerate this all at once but I can't really say from personal experience. Since you can't either it would probably be best to err on the side of caution. I'm sure you would hate to kill her tree by being too aggressive.
I have (one time only so far) performed a total defoliation with good results. By defoliating the entire tree, while simultaneously removing all growing points, you force new buds to break on old wood. Apparently with only a partial defoliation there is the possibility that the tree will simply abandon a specific branch.
This would also be a good time to reduce the branches to get them back into scale as SHS mentions. I too think the branch structure needs some thought and reduction or even the removal of some branches. S. arboricola will tolerate a major reduction and back bud on old wood.
Norm
It's a Schef. Therefore you can do just about anything with it. 
Since it's not yours I would not do both roots and top growth at the same time however.
You can prune the top growth back anywhere you want to. It will bud back with more compact growth and smaller leaves (initially) and IMO really needs a more compact appearance.
If it were in my care I would do the top now and hold off on the roots until Spring when it will handle that part better. They grow well in Winter but become especially vigorous in Spring.
Since it's not yours I would not do both roots and top growth at the same time however.
You can prune the top growth back anywhere you want to. It will bud back with more compact growth and smaller leaves (initially) and IMO really needs a more compact appearance.
If it were in my care I would do the top now and hold off on the roots until Spring when it will handle that part better. They grow well in Winter but become especially vigorous in Spring.
Thanks for the input. I found this article, [url=https://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/ScheffleraBonsai.html]Shefflera - The Indestructable Bonsai[/url], and it's been very helpful also.
I've contacted my teacher, Todd, and asked him to look at this thread as well. I know he has a few of these trees in his nursery and will have some good points to make.
At this juncture, I think I'll go for the pruning now and do a re-potting in the Spring, as Len advised. I should get a few good cuttings out of this.
I'm still open for suggestions, so feel free to chime in.
I've contacted my teacher, Todd, and asked him to look at this thread as well. I know he has a few of these trees in his nursery and will have some good points to make.
At this juncture, I think I'll go for the pruning now and do a re-potting in the Spring, as Len advised. I should get a few good cuttings out of this.
I'm still open for suggestions, so feel free to chime in.
As has been mentioned, a healthy Schefflera can typically tolerate a fairly aggressive approach to re-potting/root-pruning/trimming. BUT, based on what we're seeing in the pics you've posted, it is obvious that nothing 'aggressive' has been done with this particular plant in a long time!
In other words, its owner doesn't seem to be in any hurry, and therefore I don't think there is any need to proceed too 'aggressively.' We need to remember that this tree likely hasn't been growing anywhere near to its potential in terms of growth rate---meaning, nowhere near the type of vigor one might see IF it had been potted-up appropriately in a proper mix and not allowed to become root-bound in a tiny pot.
Keeping this in mind, I think it's fair to say that this tree probably isn't quite ready for an 'aggressive' approach. I'm leaning instead toward Norm's idea of repotting first and then worrying about trimming later. But I would proceed even more conservatively... I'd wait until May or June to do the re-pot into a larger pot with more appropriate soil media and root prune only very conservatively. Give it until the following spring (2011) before trimming, by which time the abundance of new, healthier root growth will have it ready to EXPLODE with new growth points everywhere; in turn making the process of branch selection and trimming much MUCH easier.
BV
In other words, its owner doesn't seem to be in any hurry, and therefore I don't think there is any need to proceed too 'aggressively.' We need to remember that this tree likely hasn't been growing anywhere near to its potential in terms of growth rate---meaning, nowhere near the type of vigor one might see IF it had been potted-up appropriately in a proper mix and not allowed to become root-bound in a tiny pot.
Keeping this in mind, I think it's fair to say that this tree probably isn't quite ready for an 'aggressive' approach. I'm leaning instead toward Norm's idea of repotting first and then worrying about trimming later. But I would proceed even more conservatively... I'd wait until May or June to do the re-pot into a larger pot with more appropriate soil media and root prune only very conservatively. Give it until the following spring (2011) before trimming, by which time the abundance of new, healthier root growth will have it ready to EXPLODE with new growth points everywhere; in turn making the process of branch selection and trimming much MUCH easier.
BV
I dropped the tree of at Todd's place on Wednesday night. He has some folks coming to the nursery on Sunday, so were going to hold a workshop and see what we can do with the tree then. He has a lot of experience with this species and I trust his judgment. I also appreciate all the insight from the posts in this thread. You folks are a great resource.
I'll take pictures of the work we do and post them up Monday.
I'll take pictures of the work we do and post them up Monday.
It was a beautiful day here in Connecticut and I went over to Sanctuary Bonsai and work on the tree. It was so nice, we worked outside.
Here is the tree before we started working on it. That's my 8 year old daughter, Marlene, standing next to it for size comparison. The tree is very healthy.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0001.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0001.jpg[/img][/url]
I pruned it before removing it from the pot. Notice how you can see the shovels through the canopy now. (Yes, I should have moved the shovels. But it gives you an idea of how much it was thinned out.)
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0004.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0004.jpg[/img][/url]
I then had to use a root-knife to cut around the edge of the pot to loosen the tree. It was quite firmly stuck in the pot.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0006.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0006.jpg[/img][/url]
A shot of the root ball. We decided not to pick out the roots, but did use the knife and scissors to loosen then up a bit.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0007.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0007.jpg[/img][/url]
I chose one of my plastic pots as a training pot to give the tree some room to grow out its roots. Here is Marlene and Lilly putting the final touches on the soil. They also used toothbrushes and scrubbed a Miracle Gro solution onto the boughs to stimulate back-budding.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0011.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0011.jpg[/img][/url]
And, the final result. Linda, the tree's owner, will have to decide on a final pot after the tree is given some time to recover from the pruning and re-potting. I was also able to take quite a few cuttings to propagate.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0016.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0016.jpg[/img][/url]
Here is the tree before we started working on it. That's my 8 year old daughter, Marlene, standing next to it for size comparison. The tree is very healthy.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0001.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0001.jpg[/img][/url]
I pruned it before removing it from the pot. Notice how you can see the shovels through the canopy now. (Yes, I should have moved the shovels. But it gives you an idea of how much it was thinned out.)
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0004.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0004.jpg[/img][/url]
I then had to use a root-knife to cut around the edge of the pot to loosen the tree. It was quite firmly stuck in the pot.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0006.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0006.jpg[/img][/url]
A shot of the root ball. We decided not to pick out the roots, but did use the knife and scissors to loosen then up a bit.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0007.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0007.jpg[/img][/url]
I chose one of my plastic pots as a training pot to give the tree some room to grow out its roots. Here is Marlene and Lilly putting the final touches on the soil. They also used toothbrushes and scrubbed a Miracle Gro solution onto the boughs to stimulate back-budding.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0011.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0011.jpg[/img][/url]
And, the final result. Linda, the tree's owner, will have to decide on a final pot after the tree is given some time to recover from the pruning and re-potting. I was also able to take quite a few cuttings to propagate.
[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/?action=view¤t=DSC_0016.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Hunts%20Schefflera/th_DSC_0016.jpg[/img][/url]
I rescued a 10 inch tall Sheff from Lowes for 50 cents last year and this year I planted some cuttings. How long did it take your friend's Sheff to get that big? I haven't see such massive trunk on the Sheff and you are in Ct, it's pretty impressive for that climate. . . The only other thing I can think to improve would be air roots.