How to Care for an Umbrella Plant Capella
The umbrella tree, which has the botanical name of "Schefflera actinophylla," is a tropical plant that gets its name from the multi-leaf arrangement at the end of each stem that droops down like a umbrella. The Gold Capella variety is a variegated version that has both green and yellow coloring in the leaves. Caring for a Gold Capella is exactly like caring for other umbrella tree varieties, except in regards to sunlight. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Place the umbrella plant in a location that is in bright light but not direct sunlight that can burn the leaves. If planted outdoors, avoid trimming surrounding trees and vegetation to provide adequate protection from the hot summer sun.
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Water the soil thoroughly only when the top 1 to 2 inches of the soil is dry to the touch. If you have a large plant, wait until the top 3 to 4 inches of soil are dry. Never overwater because this plant is particularly susceptible to rot. Check the saucers of indoor umbrella plants after watering and empty them if water collects.
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Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer to the soil once per month year-round for indoor plants. Use only the amount of fertilizer indicated on the bottle for a single plant. Fertilize outdoor umbrella plants once per month during the growing season and cease in the winter.
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Wipe the tops and the bottoms of the leaves once per week with a damp cloth to remove any dust residue as well as insects such as spider mites.
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Examine the plant leaves regularly for small webs caused by spider mites. If you detect spider mites, move the plant outdoors and spray all leaves with an insecticidal soap that kills them without harming the plant. Be sure to spray the underside of the leaves, which is where spider mites hide.
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Prune the umbrella tree any time that one or more of the branches grows much longer than the others. Simply trace it back to the junction of a leaf and make the cut with hand pruners.
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