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Mon, Apr 2, 12 at 15:06
| I'm newer to our company so keep that in mind when giving radical ideas. I really don't want to be seen as the crazy plant lady. ;-) Only teasing.
We have a very tall Schefflera Tree that can be described simply as this: 2 inch around 7-8 foot trunk with a bunch of very large, very top heavy leaves spewing out from everywhere on top. Within that 7-8 feet of trunk the plant has swayed back and forth due to the lack of care it has received, rarely being turned and the top heavy leaves. There are actually 3 trunks in this pot, 1 is about 2 feet tall and completely dead. The other two are identical in size, shape and quality. This (should-be) beautiful tree has become the office joke and I feel desperate to fix him. I've been caring for him for the last 6 months, watering, feeding, etc. Since my continuous care and rotating, he has some new growth but the whole tree itself is in desperate help for TLC! I have permission to "fix" him and would love to repot him because I'm sure the small planter he is in also needs to go. Without knowing for sure, I believe he is in a typical black garden store cheap plastic container (the thin kind with tons of holes all throughout) then sitting on top of Styrofoam that is then sitting in this white container, with the edges jammed with mulch. It's a typical white cylinder shaped pot most likely 2.5-3 feet in diameter seen in office settings. I believe this tree is way too big for that pot and surely root bound. Additionally, since his purchase here (no one knows for sure but at least a few years) he has the same soil without it ever being rinsed or changed. My first, biggest question is: Can I hack off the top till he stands about 4-5 feet tall (leaving absolutely no leaves what-so-ever) and he will grow back? If yes, how long until some growth is seen? Or if I cut the trunk, is that the end of him? Next, if I hack the top off, can I prune off the leaves from what remains and stick that in a bucket of water and it will grow roots and plant another one for the office? Next if I cannot do the above hacking, what can I do to fix this poor thing? His weak trunks are bent all sort of funky ways and he has hit the ceiling and beginning to bend down. There is a support stick in the soil but it�s not working. My final question is how am I going to do this repotting if I can't cut off the top. I am sure this tree is going to flop on the floor as soon as I begin to pull it out. Please explain step-by-step procedures like you would to a 5 year old. I am fairly new to gardening and really need extra explanations of what I can or can't do? Thanks so much in advance! Btw, I'll try to get pictures but it's in our conference room and they're in an all-day meeting today. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 2, 12 at 15:17
| i would like to see the pix.. but the link should be a good start ... one of the statements.. says to cut it to 3 inches.. and add light ... ken |
Here is a link that might be useful: link
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| I read through that a few times and totally miss that post every time. Thanks. Anyhow, I'm a bit nervous to chop this 8 foot tree down to 3-4 inches. Boy...I'd be the talk of the office until it started growing. lol "Look what that lady did to our tree..." I can hear it now. :/ I'll try to sneak in and take a pic when I can. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 2, 12 at 16:55
| as to the office.. frankly .. i would not touch the situation.. with a ten foot pole .... it seems like a no win situation .. all around ... if you kill it.. you will never hear the end of it.. if you do it right.. they will mock you no end .. besides the fact that you are basically taking great grandpa.. and hoping you can turn it into mr studly 20 year old.. and that usually doesnt work out ... not to mention the fact that it is probably totally pot bound.. and even if you could prune it down.. it might not have the root ability to support a stud .. lol ... are you really this secure in your new job .... lol now.. if you could drag it home.. repot it... prune the heck out pf it.. grow it in the shade in the yard all summer.. you might return a nice plant in fall ... ken |
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| I've hacked down schefflera before and yes, it did sprout laterally and grow again and was better for the experience. They look really creepy until they do. You may want to take it home to convalesce if you take that route. |
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| Ken, I literally lol'ed at your post. I will say they have coined the term "Office Botonist" for me since I have saved several plants other people were (to me) killing. However, this is where professional meetings occur and to have 2 tree stumps in a pot without growth might not look very good. I wonder if I talk to the office head, if he would allow me to take it home (not sure how I'd squeeze that into my tiny gas-saving car) and replace it with one of my own like a peace lily or something that would match the setting better. Or better yet, perhaps I can talk him into me taking it home altogether and bringing in peace lilies since the lighting is insufficient altogether for this beautiful tree. I don't even want to discuss the bamboo they have piled in a pot that is a disaster in itself. No matter what...the conference room looks dreadful because we have 1 half-alive bamboo and 1 bent over schefflera... Anyhow....so, leaving it as it is now (pictures to come soon)....what can I do to improve its condition? |
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| You ought to post your questions in the Houseplant Forum. They'll want to see pictures, too...if possible. |
Here is a link that might be useful: C'mon...let's go visit the Houseplant Forum
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Tue, Apr 3, 12 at 8:51
| also.. should you decide to take it home.. i suggest you do your major cutting .. whatever it might be .. at the office ... so that transporting it home will be that much easier ... [probably late at night.. when no one else is around.. lol] ken |
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| Because I'm at work I can't access websites that allow me to post pictures freely. So I have to use shutterfly and post them on a "share" site. Here is the link... http://schefflera.shutterfly.com/ |
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