A dying umbrella plant could be caused by improper watering, lack of sunlight, or even root rot. Check the soil moisture, move the plant to a brighter area, and look for signs of pests and fungal diseases to rule out and diagnose the issue.
Schefflera, or umbrella plants, make great houseplants because they are easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions.
But even with the best care, your Schefflera may sometimes look unhealthy.
If your umbrella plant is dying, it could be due to several issues.
The most common problems include incorrect watering, poor drainage, nutrient deficiencies, pests, and diseases.
This article will discuss 11 possible reasons why your umbrella plant is dying and how you can revive it.
Why Is My Umbrella Plant Dying?
The first step in reviving a dying umbrella plant is to figure out what is causing the problem.
Here are some of the most common reasons for unhealthy Schefflera plants:
1. Overwatering
One of the most common reasons an umbrella plant dies is overwatering.
Schefflera plants are native to tropical regions and do not like to be waterlogged.
If the soil is constantly wet, the roots cannot get the oxygen they need and will start to suffocate and rot.
Overwatering can happen if you water your plant too often or if the pot does not have adequate drainage.
How To Tell If You Are Overwatering Your Umbrella Plant
There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if you are overwatering your Schefflera plant:
- Yellow leaves
- Wilting
- Soft or mushy stems
- Mold or mildew on the soil
- Leaves falling off
- Brown edges or spots on the leaves
If you see any of these signs, it is essential to take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
How To Fix Overwatering
If you think you are overwatering your umbrella plant, the first thing you need to do is stop watering it so often.
Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again.
It is also a good idea to check the drainage of your pot.
Make sure that there are holes in the bottom so water can drain.
If the pot does not have adequate drainage, you may need to repot the plant into a pot with holes.
You also need to check your plant’s roots to see if they are rotted.
If the roots are rotted, you will need to trim them back until you reach healthy tissue.
After trimming the roots, you should repot the plant into a fresh, well-draining potting mix.
2. Poor Drainage
In addition to overwatering, poor drainage can also cause an umbrella plant to die.
When the pot does not have adequate drainage, water can pool at the bottom and start to rot the roots.
This will prevent the roots from getting the oxygen they need, and the plant will start to decline.
How To Tell If You Have Poor Drainage
There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if your pot has poor drainage:
- The soil is constantly wet or soggy
- There is water pooled at the bottom of the pot
- The plant is wilting
- The leaves are yellowing
- The leaves are drooping
If you see any of these signs, it is essential to take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
How To Fix Poor Drainage
If you think you have poor drainage, you first need to check the bottom of the pot for holes.
If there are no holes, you will need to repot the plant into a pot with holes or add some holes to the bottom of the pot yourself.
You also need to ensure that you are using a well-draining potting mix.
If the potting mix is too dense, it will hold water and prevent drainage.
Use a potting mix that is light and airy, such as a cactus mix or a mix that contains perlite or vermiculite.
3. Underwatering
Underwatering is another common reason for an umbrella plant to die.
Schefflera plants are native to tropical regions and need a lot of water to thrive.
If you do not water your plant enough, the plant won’t be able to get the moisture it needs and will start to wilt and decline.
How To Tell If You Are Underwatering Your Umbrella Plant
There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if you are underwatering your Schefflera:
- The leaves are wilting
- The leaves are dry or crispy
- The leaves are drooping
- The leaves are falling off
If you see any of these signs, it is essential to take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
How To Fix Underwatering
If you think you are underwatering your umbrella plant, you first need to give the plant a good watering.
Water the plant until the soil is saturated and water starts running out of the pot’s bottom.
Do not water again until the soil has dried out completely.
Schefflera plants must be watered at least once a week and more often in hot weather.
Always check the soil before watering to make sure that it is dry.
4. Nutrient Deficiencies
Nutrient deficiencies are another common reason for an umbrella plant to die.
Schefflera plants need nutrients to thrive, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
If the plant is not getting enough of these nutrients, it will start to decline.
The leaves may turn yellow or brown and fall off, and the plant may stop growing.
How To Tell If Your Umbrella Plant Has a Nutrient Deficiency
There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if your Schefflera has a nutrient deficiency:
- The leaves are yellowing or browning
- The leaves are falling off
- The leaves are small or stunted
- The plant is not growing
If you see any of these signs, it is essential to take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
How To Fix a Nutrient Deficiency
If you think your umbrella plant has a nutrient deficiency, you first need to fertilize the plant.
Use a high-quality fertilizer that is formulated for tropical plants.
Follow the directions on the package, and apply the fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season.
5. Too Much Sunlight
Too much sunlight can also cause an umbrella plant to die.
Schefflera plants are native to tropical regions and do not tolerate too much direct sunlight well.
If the plant is exposed to direct sunlight, the leaves will start to scorch and turn brown.
Umbrella plants need bright indirect light to thrive.
How To Tell If Your Umbrella Plant Is Getting Too Much Sunlight
There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if your Schefflera is getting too much sunlight:
- The leaves are scorched or brown
- The leaves are wrinkled and crispy
- The leaves are falling off
- Brown spots are appearing on the leaves
If you see any of these signs, it is vital to take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
How To Fix Too Much Sunlight
If you think your umbrella plant is getting too much sunlight, you first need to move the plant to a shady location.
Umbrella plants need bright indirect light to thrive, so find a spot in your home where the plant will get plenty of light but won’t be exposed to direct sunlight.
An east- or west-facing window is ideal. This ensures that your umbrella plant gets the light it needs without being exposed to too much direct light.
6. Not Enough Sunlight
Not enough sunlight is another common reason for an umbrella plant to die.
Schefflera plants need bright indirect light to thrive, and they will start to decline if they don’t get enough sunlight.
Light gives the plant the energy it needs to grow and produce healthy leaves.
If the plant does not get enough light, the Schefflera leaves will start to turn yellow and fall off.
The plant may also stop growing.
How To Tell If Your Umbrella Plant Is Not Getting Enough Sunlight
There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if your Schefflera is not getting enough sunlight:
- The leaves are yellow, brown, or black
- The leaves are small or stunted
- The plant is not growing
- The plant leans toward the light
If you see any of these signs, it is essential to take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
How To Fix Not Enough Sunlight
If you think your umbrella plant is not getting enough sunlight, you first need to move the plant to a brighter location.
Umbrella plants need bright indirect sunlight to thrive, so find a spot in your home where the plant will get plenty of light.
An east- or west-facing window is ideal. This ensures that your umbrella plant gets the light it needs without being exposed to too much direct sunlight.
You may also need to increase the amount of light the plant gets by using grow lights.
Grow lights come in various shapes and sizes and can give your umbrella plant the light it needs to thrive.
7. Root-bound
Root-bound is another common reason for an umbrella plant to die.
Schefflera plants are native to tropical regions and prefer to grow in loose, well-draining soil.
If the Umbrella plant is root-bound, the roots have become too crowded and cannot get the nutrients and water they need to thrive.
This can cause the plant to decline and eventually die.
How To Tell If Your Umbrella Plant Is Root-bound
There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if your Schefflera is root-bound:
- The roots are growing out of the drainage holes in the pot
- The roots are circling the inside of the pot
- The plant is not growing
- The plant is wilting, even when the soil is moist
- The leaves are curling
- The leaves are falling off
If you see any of these signs, it is essential to take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
How To Fix Root-bound
If you think your umbrella plant is root-bound, the first thing you need to do is repot the plant.
Choose a pot one or two sizes larger than the current pot and has drainage holes.
Fill the bottom of the pot with a layer of gravel to improve drainage.
Next, add a layer of well-draining potting mix.
Carefully remove the plant from its current pot and loosen the roots before placing it in the new pot.
Cut away any roots that are damaged or diseased.
Fill in around the plant with potting mix and water well.
If you have trouble removing the plant from its pot, you can try breaking it.
This will make it easier to remove the plant without damaging the roots.
8. Temperature Extremes
Temperature extremes can also cause an umbrella tree to die.
Schefflera plants are native to tropical regions and prefer warm temperatures.
They can tolerate brief periods of cold weather, but the plant will start to decline if the temperature dips too low for too long.
But too much heat can also be a problem. If the temperature gets too hot, the plant will stop growing, and the leaves may start to turn yellow and fall off.
How To Tell If Your Schefflera Is Affected by Temperature Extremes
There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if your Schefflera is affected by temperature extremes:
- The leaves are yellow or brown
- The leaves are falling off
- The plant is not growing
- The plant is wilting or drooping
If you see any of these signs, it is essential to take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
How To Fix Temperature Extremes
If you think your Schefflera is affected by temperature extremes, you first need to move the plant to a more suitable location.
Schefflera plants thrive in warm temperatures, so find a spot in your home that is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
You may also need to provide the plant with additional humidity if the air in your home is dry.
One way to do this is to place the pot on a tray of pebbles and water.
The water will evaporate and raise the humidity around the plant.
You can also use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
9. Overfertilization
Overfertilization is another common cause of death in umbrella plants.
Schefflera plants are native to tropical regions and prefer nutrient-rich soil.
But, too much fertilizer can harm the plant.
Fertilizer contains salts that can build up in the soil and damage the roots.
This can cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off.
It can also make the plant more susceptible to pests and diseases.
How To Tell If Your Schefflera Is Overfertilized
There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if your Schefflera is overfertilized:
- The leaves tips are brown or burnt
- The leaves turn yellow
- The leaves are falling off
- The plant is not growing
- The plant is wilting or drooping
- The roots are brown or black
If you see any of these signs, it is vital to take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
How To Fix Overfertilization
If you think your Schefflera is overfertilized, the first thing you need to do is flush the soil.
To do this, water the plant thoroughly and then wait for the water to drain.
Repeat this process a few times to remove as much of the fertilizer from the soil as possible.
Next, cut back on the amount of fertilizer you are using.
Schefflera plants only need to be fertilized every two to four weeks during the growing season.
And be sure to use a fertilizer specifically formulated for tropical plants.
10. Pests
Pests are another common cause of death in umbrella plants.
Several pests can infest Schefflera plants, including aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, and spider mites.
These pests feed on the plant sap, weakening the plant and making it more susceptible to diseases.
Pests can also cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off.
How To Tell If Your Schefflera Is Infested With Pests
There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if your Schefflera plant is infested with pests:
- The leaves are yellow or brown
- The leaves are covered in a sticky substance
- The leaves have holes
- The leaves are falling off
- The plant is wilting or drooping
- The plant is covered in webs
If you see any of these signs, it is important to take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
How To Get Rid Of Pests
If you think your Schefflera is infested with pests, you first need to isolate the plant from other plants.
This will prevent the pests from spreading.
Next, inspect the plant carefully and remove any pests you see with your hands or a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
You can also use a pesticide to get rid of the pests.
Several different pesticides are effective against pests, so be sure to choose one specifically formulated for the type of pest you are dealing with.
11. Diseases
Diseases are another common cause of death in umbrella plants.
Several different diseases can affect Schefflera plants, including bacterial leaf spot, powdery mildew, and root rot.
These diseases can cause the Schefflera leaves to turn black and fall off.
They can also weaken the plant, making it more susceptible to pests and other problems.
How To Tell If Your Schefflera Has A Disease
There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if your Schefflera has a disease:
- The leaves are yellow, brown, or black
- The leaves are covered in a powdery substance
- The leaves have brown or black spots
- The leaves are falling off
- The plant is wilting or drooping
If you see any of these signs, it is important to take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
How To Treat Diseases
If you think your Schefflera plant has a disease, you first need to isolate the plant from other plants.
This will prevent the disease from spreading.
Next, remove any infected leaves and dispose of them.
You also need to change the potting mix and sterilize the pot to prevent the disease from spreading.
Finally, you can use a fungicide to treat the disease.
Several fungicides are effective against diseases, so be sure to choose one specifically formulated for the type of disease you are dealing with.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are several reasons why an umbrella plant might die.
If you think your indoor plant is dying, it is essential to identify the problem and take corrective action immediately.
Otherwise, your plant will continue to decline and may eventually die.
The best way to prevent problems with umbrella plants is to provide them with the proper care.
By giving your Schefflera houseplant the attention it needs, you can keep it healthy and prevent many problems that can cause death.
