Hi experts

Does misting leaves serve any purpose ? If not, can it cause black edges , split leaves and brown spots on a dwarf umbrella tree /schfellera like below ? Just a couple of leaves affected.

Thanks much

I don't see any bad leaves on your plant. In fact, it looks really good. The only thing misting does is ruin your furniture. If you want to raise the humidity around your plant, make a humidity tray (a saucer of pebbles with water that your plant can sit on top of). The saucer needs to be as wide as your plant. Next thought, get a humidifier.

Most house plants do fine in our homes (that's why they are popular as houseplants) without added humidity.

Thx Daisy. 1, 3 and 5 are pics of affected leaves. I am using the heater a lot and hence tried misting. Cant figure out the culprit for the black leaf.

Is it possible your over watering? The only time I mist my plants is to wash dust off them if they are to big to put in the bathtub.

Scheffs also like a bright spot indoors with a few hours of direct sun. If you are keeping it in the corner like your image shows, and misting it, you could be the cause of your own trouble.
Growing a schefflera indoors with 40, 60 or 70% humidity will not make much of a difference.
If you want to increase humidity, the tray with pebbles is a good idea. If you are using a wood stove for heat, you could leave a pot of water on top to release water vapor into the air to increase humidity.
Misting is rarely a good substitution for good soil, a good container or good light. It is just a small part of the overall health of a plant!

Thx all. Over watering could be a possibility but would it affect just one or two leaves ? I usually check for dry soil with my finger.

As for light ,it does get bright filtered light in that spot. For now, i ve pruned the problem leaves.

Bright filtered light is not enough light.

Consider that in Florida they grow them outside in full sun. Trim them like hedges. Mine put on 4-6 feet of growth per year.

Dwarf Schefflera usually refers to Schefflera arboricola. Yours is a small version of Schefflera actinophylla 'Amate,' which is a hardier plant.

An occasional discolored leave is not a cause for concern and low humidity certainly is not a problem. This is a plant that has long proved its ability to survive very dry winter air.

Overall, your Schefflera does appear to be very healthy. On one of the leaves in the fifth photo, I do see a few brown spots that might be scale insects. If they are slightly raised and scrape off easily with your fingernail, then that may be what they are. If so, wipe them away and make sure there are no others elsewhere. Otherwise, ignore them as it is unlikely to be a scale problem.

I agree with Bill that you should open up the sheers to provide better light. Water your plant only when the top half-inch of soil is dry.

Thanks all. I have opened up the sheers and will be providing more light hence. The brown spots are not insects and have not affected any other leaves. So just leave it for now I guess ?

Also, what causes holes and cracks in leaves ? Irregular watering or the fact that the leaves are very big ? A couple of leaves here have cracks. Not holes as such

Do you have your plant near a register for central heat or A/C?? That could dry your leaves out.

😀

Mindi

Hi Mindi

Yes , it is a metre away from a central heater and hence i mist .

Improper watering and inadequate light are the most common causes of leaf distortion. However, don't over-react to one or two leaves developing distortions unless they are newly emerging leaves.

A meter away from the heat source is not a problem nor is it a reason to mist. Misting does almost nothing to increase humidity and your Schefflera does just fine in low humidity anyway.

Enjoy your plant!