Germination of Schefflera Arboricola Seeds

Seed Handling

• Dwarf schefflera seeds germinate best when fresh. The small seeds are inside the 1/2-inch, orange fruit of mature plants. To maintain the seeds before sowing, store them at 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Because dwarf schefflera is a tropical plant, the seeds don't require a chilling period and will sprout as soon as conditions are right.

Potting Medium

• To prevent the fungal disease known as damping off disease, always use a sterile potting medium to germinate and grow dwarf scheffleras. Also, sterilize your pots by washing them well with hot water and soap, then dipping them in a solution of one part household bleach dissolved in nine parts water. If you use a soil-less seed-starting medium, begin fertilizing the seedlings immediately with a one-quarter strength solution of a water-soluble, foliage houseplant fertilizer.

Light

• Dwarf schefflera seeds do not need light to germinate. Place the seeds on top of the potting medium and cover with 1/4 inch of the medium. Firm the seeds in place and water well; keep the medium moist but not soggy until the seeds germinate. Once dwarf schefflera seeds have sprouted, move the seedlings to a bright spot out of direct sunlight, approximately 5,000 to 7,000 foot-candles.

Temperature

• Because it's a tropical plant, dwarf schefflera needs warm conditions to germinate. Put the planted seeds where the temperature will remain between 75 and 85 F; the top of a refrigerator is perfect. Once the seeds have germinated, the best plant growth is achieved at 65 to 90 F. Mature, established plants will tolerate temperatures between 35 and 105 F without cold or heat damage, according to a webpage on the University of Florida website.