MINIATURE GARDEN

THEME: JAPANESE
PLANTS USED:
1. SCHEFFLERA
Common Name: Umbrella Tree
Scientific Name: Schefflera antinophylla
Origin: Australia
Growing Conditions
Temperature: Grows well in average room temperatures between 60 - 75 F (15 - 24C) but
no lower than 55F (13C) or higher than 75F (24C). Avoid sudden temperature drops and
cold drafts.
Light: Basic light condition of bright without direct sunlight is best suited, although lower
lighting conditions only really affects it's growth rate rather than causing any harm.
Water: The best advice is to water once the top soil becomes dry. Over-watering is more of a
problem than lack of water.
Soil: A peat moss based potting mix with 2 parts peat moss and 1 part perlite is suggested.
Fertilizer: I would not go over the top with feeding this plant and just use a diluted fertilizer
once a month from spring - fall.
Air Humidity: Average humidity levels indoors are usually fine. If the air is dry in the room,
improve humidity levels.
Re-potting: You will need to re-pot the plant once every 2 years and provide new potting
mix, during spring. To be on the safe side - hold of feeding for one month because enough
nutrients should be present in the new potting mix. A good solid and heavy container is
needed to prevent tall and mature trees from toppling over.
Propagation: These are quite tricky to propagate, which is done by taking 4 - 6 inch stem
cuttings, during spring. Do the usual stem cutting process and remove all leaves apart from
one set and make sure a node is available which new growth will sprout from. You'll need to
use rooting hormone on the cut to be placed in the soil and pot the cutting in a container that
can have a plastic sheet placed over the top (usually with elastic bands holding the plastic on)
or use a propagator. These need to be kept at temperatures between 65 - 75 F (18 - 24C and
be provided with bottom heat to improve your chances of success. Make sure you do not
over-water the soil, which can begin rotting the cutting and wait until you see plenty of new
growth before beginning to provide basic care conditions.

Pests and Problems

When grown in proper conditions, schefflera rarely develops pest or disease problems. Spider
mites and scale can occasionally become an issue for indoor schefflera plants, but insecticides
are available for these pests. Outdoor plants tend to be fairly pest-free, although excessive
water can cause root rot and make schefflera more susceptible to infestations. The Schefflera
does have one enemy that can be pretty common: Spider Mites.
Considerations
Schefflera is toxic if ingested, and its leaves and plant sap can cause minor skin irritation on
contact. Toxicity is generally low and skin irritation rarely lasts longer than a few minutes,
but Schefflera may be a plant to avoid if you have children.
2. SYNGONIUM
Common Name: Arrowhead plant or White Butterfly
Scientific Name: Syngonium podophyllum
Origin: South America
General Consideration
Light and Temperature: medium to high light. Regular indoor temperatures between 55-80
degrees work well.
Water: Syngonium must be allowed to dry out. If you keep watering them before the soil has
a chance to thoroughly dry out, root rot will occur.
Fertilizer: use a good all-purpose fertilizer like miracle gro every other week in the spring
and summer and every six weeks in the fall and winter. Over fertilizing when the plants are
not in a growing phase will burn the roots.
Pests: scale, mearly bugs, and spider mites attack syngoniums, with spider mites causing the
worst damage. If the leaves start to loose their colour and the plant is not in too much sun,
check the underside of the leaves for webbing. You can also use a professional insecticidal
soap like Safer.
Propagation: Take 3-4 in (7.5-10cm) step cuttings early in summer. For best results, dip the
cut end in rooting hormone powder then stand the cutting in a pot of perlite or a half-half mix
of vermiculite and pest moss.
3. HAWORTHIA
Common Name: Zebra plant
Scientific Name: Hawaorthia
Origin: Southern Africa

General Consideration
Light: Bright light, but not direct sunlight. These grow in similar conditions to other
succulents. White or yellow leaves usually signify too much sun.
Water: Water evenly and generously in the summer, letting the soil media dry out between
watering. In the winter, reduce watering to every other month. Never allow water to collect in
the rosette.
Temperature: Warmer summers but cool in the winter (down to 50F).
Soil: Use a cactus mix or very fast-draining potting soil mixed with sand.
Fertilizer: Fertilize during the summer growing season with a cactus fertilizer. Don't feed
during the winter.
Propagation: Haworthia can be propagated at repotting time using offsets from the mother
plant. When taking offsets, use a sharp knife or snippers and cut as close to the mother stem
as possible to including as many roots as possible, then allow the offset to dry briefly before
repotting it (similar to cuttings from other succulents). Pot the offsets in a small pot, using the
same soil as the mother plant, put it a warm, bright spot, and make sure to adequately water.
Repotting: Haworthia is small (usually remaining between 3" and 5" in height) and relatively
slow-growing. They are often grown in small clusters in wide, shallow dishes. Over time,
clusters will naturally enlarge as the mother plant sends off small plantlets. When the cluster
has outgrown its dish, repot in the spring or early summer into a new wide and shallow dish
with fresh potting soil. This is also the time to take offsets for propagation.
Pests and diseases. Haworthias are generally free of most pests. The one exception is mealy
bugs, which can be a common problem but easily resolved by physical removal or with
standard houseplant insecticides. The most significant disease problems are root rots caused
by poor soil or too much moisture. Occasionally such root rots can move into the plant stem
resulting in the death of the plant.