I've had this bad boy for about 20 years at least. It's currently in a big plastic tub- like what your kids might store toys in. The big toy tub was my last hope because it had outgrown the largest planter I had, or can get.
Everything I read says you can not divide this plant. Other than root stems and ditch the base and roots of this old friend, any suggestions?
I live in 7b zone of Talladega, AL. Have toted this monster in and out of our hobby greenhouse for years.
Thank you!

Scheffleras can with stand a heavy pruning. They will sprout like crazy!
Plus if you cut it way back and get a closer look at the soil level growths, you should see avenues for division.
Once you break it apart all rooted divisions should do just fine. You could end up with several more manageable divisions.

If you decide to divide her use a clean serrated knife and start from the bottom and work up, try not to rip the roots to much. I'd love to see a picture of her

To The Forum

Hi & welcome! You can absolutely trim the above-soil parts of your plant, and trim its' roots down to a more manageable size. As you've discovered, if left to its' own devices, some potted plants can become too big to manage. This is how bonsai artists are able to keep oaks & other specimens (that would be 100 feet tall if not manipulated) in cute little decorative pots. If I'd only ever given my potted trees bigger pots (potting-up) instead of trimming the roots & replace old soil periodically (repotting,) mine would also be too big to move around, and fit through doorways. A knife may not be enough to remove significant roots, you may need a saw or axe.

It's true one can't divide a woody entity with a single trunk, but I was unsure from your description if all of your plant arises from a single trunk, or if there are multiple trunks emerging from the soil.

Another option would be to donate your tree to a nursing home, church, business that has space to keep a larger plant (after you are sure some saved cuttings are growing well, of course.)

I would so love to see this giant beauty. Please add a pic to the discussion if you can.

Thanks bunches for everyone's reply. It's not a single trunk- I don't think. Wish Time had permitted a sooner check Email. Today we finished the last of the "Hothouse" move out. Then cooking Bday supper for Mom-in-Law
Due to medical commitments the next several days, it might be a while to get a good picture or two. For now, the Scheff sits comfortably under shade of some oak trees. Will be back in touch as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Bookmon

I just remembered seeing pictures that 'tapla' (potted plant guru many here know) posted of root pruning and pruning a Schef, and how fabulous it looked after growing back out.

Hi Everybody. Most sincere apologies for tardiness of desired photo of Schef plant. Kept forgetting camera or iPad when heading out to garden area. Attached is not only mom's schef (now mine) but a split leaf path that wife brought home from her school library about 10 years ago. It was half past dead but, we've loved it back. It too is in a large toy tub. It shall be divided this summer.
Thank you all!

Bigger than I had envisioned, that's going to take some time and patience. Please post pic's when your done

I would spend about 15-20 minutes trimming stems & roots, removing old soil & replacing with new soil, back into the same beautiful pot. Then there would be quite a few nice-size stems available to propagate, and to be ready to give as gifts in the near future. There are probably family members &/or friends who would love to have one. If you weren't 3+ hours away, I'd volunteer to do it for you.