What is this plant? How do I look after it?
I'm feeling rather sorry for it.
Oh and can I take cuttings?
(http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RACBAi8Ufbp3bvQI3mFI!1xnnOlIvRnrysf2Wb8m8geX50xdSjqIjoYmcKJjH5VZMzszJIu7jAYf6kFcIMatCTaKTS1fvzPL7C828W7BMoM/officeplant1.JPG?dc=4675555443855370433)
(http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SACZAgkVlQ13bvQI3mFI!3S7Jyar*SLu1q1NpdHus0xX2CIHNnT83WwqWiyz63kY3e2vwsbDpRHpy42wyhhZUumWdUhzBZA6cI1hPPG5hL5QAAAAynIVAg/officeplant2.JPG?dc=4675555444001435908)
We've got one of those in our bathroom at home - I'll look tonight to see it it's still got the label.
Cheers,
Rob ;)
Umbrella plant. Schefflera. Pretty much indestructible, not sure about cuttings. Never dared do it to mine but it sure needs it!
:-)
moonbells
Looks like a schefflera (aka Umbrella tree), but don't take my word for it!
You can certainly take cuttings, if it is.
Thanks all! I knew you'd be able to tell me!
I shall bring in my secarteurs and spend some work time doing a spot of gardening! It needs pruning anyway as it keeps falling over.
You certainly can take cuttings Aqui. That is how I got mine ;D I air layered a cutting from a friends plant. Just made a little slit in the stem about 8 inches from the tip. Dipped a little rooting hormone on the end of a matchstick and prised the slit open to dab a bit inside the slit. Then I wrapped some clingfilm filled with moistened compost and moss around the area and left it for about 4 weeks. Hey presto .........new plant. Best of luck.
Got one of them in our conservatory, it survives in the excessive heat and then the frost although we have a fan heater come on if its frosty. Seems indestructable but now and then it looks a bit sorry for itself.
Umbrella Plant for sure.
my friend and I used to grow hundreds of these - my memory is pretty flaky, but think we just used to turn the leaf upside down and put in water until it rooted ??? at least thats how I remember it anyway ;)
I agree that it is an umbrella plant. I have one at work and it grew so large I had to reduce it but about 2 foot last spring. I chopped the bit I'd lopped off into six cuttings, put them in a glass of water , changed the water regularly and every one of the cuttings rooted within about 6 weeks to the delight of my colleagues. What's more, the host plant started sprouting again at the top and it has three side shoots developing. :)
G xx
My cat eats ours.
Serves you right for making him wear that santa hat!  ;)
But to get quickly back on topic, these plants are really easy to propogate - see above.
G xx
What I meant was they can take a good bashing about but they are toxic to cats. And ours was from a cutting.
Definitely Schefflera; cut back as hard as you like, it'll shoot. Watch out for red spider - I have seen them covered in it. Don't try and root it by putting the leaves upside-down in soil, though - that's Cyperus alternifolius, also known as the "Umbrella Plant" ;D
Did you know they also come in varigated form? It's very pretty. But mine is only 6" tall ... likes life in the bathroom ;)