Okay, first I should start with I have no idea what this thing is. This got left in a divorce (with the dogs, so a win-win!) and I’ve just kinda been watering it for years and picking up leaves as they die and fall off.
What is this? And is it supposed to have more green things? Anything I should be doing to make it grow?
Thanks for any input. I am not a plant person but this one has lingered lol
by ZookeepergameBig7281
5 Comments
Idk but it reminds me of this guy from Beetlejuice
https://preview.redd.it/3qq63c94etug1.jpeg?width=509&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ad10bc32c0f89ddaddd290e3bb4cb8ef9fb0ed00
It needs more light. No plant should be in the dark corner. So move it somewhere closer to a window.
I think that is a spectacularly etiolated umbrella tree (Schefflera).
You can try pruning it to encourage branching. I would cut the top third off, but leave the lower branches on so it can photosynthesize. Often, cutting the top has an effect called “breaking apical dominance”, which means the plant goes “oh, crud, a big animal ate the top of me off, so I better make a bunch of branches in case it comes back” (ok, actually, the hormone that tells it to get taller moves top down through the plant normally, and lopping off the top means it comes from the side growths more strongly than the cut stem where the top used to be, so the plant puts growth energy into the sides instead). This will often result in multiple branches suddenly growing much faster, as well as new side shoots forming.
After giving it a trim, scoot it closer to the glass door for a little more light. I also suggest buying some basic houseplant slow release fertilizer spikes next time you do an Amazon order or run to Walmart. They’re only a couple bucks, but will make a difference when it is growing back.
Also, in the bottom of the pot, it looks like you also have a little tradescantia of some kind.
I think it’s perfect!
Suffered 😖🥺 Undone all the cords and let the plant breathing. Imagine if someone do that to us