They grow back beautifully(G) when chainsawed an inch above the soil. The returning plant is nicer than the original. Mine has been cut down twice in the past two years due to hurricane damage, and each time it grows back rapidly.

I have never topped one, but they seem to like being severely pruned.

Yes, I would expect it to push through a greenhouse roof as it continues to grow.

Lisa

Hi
i would agree with Lisa I have one in front of my house that is cut down twice a year and each time it looks better.
In a greenhouse I'd certainly keep it away from the roof,they can get gigantic.
gary

I keep my trimmed as hedges and they don't seem to mind. I have fresh berries for the varigated schefflera if anyone wants them for a SASBE. (Please email me directly)

Thanks for the advice. I'll get out my ladder and chop the heads off now since its already pushing on the roof. Anything I can do with the tops once they're cut off? I am in Z6 & keep the temp in the greenhouse @ 55 during the winter. Couldn't cut it off at the base...too big a hole in my planter bed out there!
Carol

I'm assuming you're talking about the big upright Brassaia actinophylla, and not the smaller-leaved, more arching Schefflera arboricola. If so, I agree with the others-- whack it, and the lower the better. If you top it just under your roof level the shoots will be pushing against it again in no time, and it will look ugly being all bunchy at the top. A lower cut will give you a much more natural looking plant. If it's S. arboricola you're talking about, you can pretty much prune it to shape.

With S. arboricola it is easy to root cuttings, but B. actinophylla is another matter. Generally they wilt and shrivel quickly unless you've airlayered it. Just toss them out or use them as mulch.

It's definitely the Brassaia actinophylla. Too bad nothing can be done with the tops once they're cut...I hate to waste good plant material! I do have what I believe to be the Schefflera arboricola you mentioned. But that guy doesn't get very tall, its just very bushy with a more spreading habit. He's out there now trying to compete with a monstera deliciosa. Good luck with that!

Brassaia actinophylla grows wild all over our property. It's very aggressive.
This will give you some idea of how big they can get:
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That palm at the base is about 8-10' tall, just as a reference.

And here's some pics of S. arboricola, or Dwarf Brassaia. It comes in green or variegated leaf forms.

Here is a link that might be useful: Schefflera arboricola