Overview
Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai (Schefflera arboricola) is a tropical houseplant bonsai with umbrella-like leaflets and strong tolerance of indoor conditions. It is best suited to beginners, indoor bonsai, banyan styles and forest plantings. For UK growers, treat it as: Indoor in the UK, warm outdoor summer only.
Placement
bright indirect light; tolerates lower light better than many bonsai but grows best near a window
Watering
water when the top of the soil is slightly dry; do not keep constantly wet
Feeding and fertilising
feed during active growth, lightly in winter
Pruning and wiring
clip back to reduce leaf size and build branch structure; wiring is possible but clip-and-grow works well
Repotting
repot every 2-3 years in spring or summer
Propagation
cuttings and air layers
Pests, diseases and common issues
large leaves in low light, scale, spider mites and root rot if overwatered