Albert, Until A1 aka Tapla reads this search this forum on Schefflera. There are a few threads were A1 has assisted others with the same problem. The threads have great before, during and after pics and A1 gives specific instructions.
Hopefully the threads are not archived.
Now is not the time especially in your zone, but meanwhile you can read/learn/research on what to do while you wait a couple months.

I agree that you can get really good results if you first build up the plant's energy reserves, and then cut it back hard as you're starting into it's most robust growth period.

This is a pretty ugly tree I think someone from church brought to me to 'fix'
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So I cut it back hard
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then bare-rooted & root-pruned
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before putting it in the gritty mix
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and waiting for it to start back-budding
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A guy from Boston or NY (I forget now) contacted me through the forum while the tree was regaining it's feet & said that he had forgotten to water his fiance's scheff while she was away & he was desperate for help. He was sure it was dead, so I offered him the plant you see above. She said aye, and soon I'd shipped it to them/her. As you can see by the picture she sent, it was still recovering from all the indignity I heaped on it and filling out nicely
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If you're willing to follow some suggestions, you can probably have a pretty good start on what you're looking for by summer's end.
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Al

Okay. Another great thread I'm going to have to keep up with. And I didn't even think the plant in the first pic looked pretty ugly till I saw last one, al! This one is gonna be fun too. Amy

HEY, Amy! Actually, the last photo I posted above is a plant I tend in the showroom at work. It's a perfect example of what you can achieve under low light conditions if you understand how/when to pinch, how to provide a healthy root environment & how/when to fertilize.

The scheff in the pic is growing in front of blue tinted windows on an east exposure. The windows reflect blue light (which is why they look blue) which is the most important part of the spectrum for foliage growth/foliage plants. In addition, the tinted windows absorb 54% of all available light, meaning only 46% of available light reaches the plants, with most of the blue light missing. Still, the plant looks pretty decent - in spite of the light handicaps.

Al

Ok. Yeah I have not done any pinching on mine. Got it last fall and forgot to tell it " plants aren't supposed to grow in winter" ! Lol.
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What I plant do is leave it till spring (have installed wick) and then chop about 1/2 root ball and top -leaving middle stem taller- similar to your
second pic then repot in gritty. What do ya think, al? Btw, Albert , i dont mean to highjack your thread. Just one tiny question then I'll be gone ;0).
Amy

I think .......... don't let anyone talk you out of it. That's just what I'd do. You've been paying attention, haven't you? ;o) It's a nice plant - nice & healthy. Good job!

Al

Aawww! Thanks al for the kind words. I had just been watering it for a while, maybe some light fertilizer, plopped in sunny window and suddenly noticed it taking off.
I don't know if I've been paying attention or not, I think it has more to do with the way you describe what and how you do things. I "get it". I hear what you are saying, most of the time lol. And your patience with us newbies scared to "hack away" our beloved plants ;0). Btw, please have some patience in reserves when it comes time to prune my rubber tree. That guy scares me to death!

Amy

I have tons of patience for anyone trying to increase their knowledge or improve their skills - especially the enthusiastic. ;o) Don't fret about your rubber tree - they really are easy if you stick to an easy to follow pattern .... and you're well on the way to having it all come together for you anyway. I'm impressed.

Al