Schefflera Losing Leaves? It Needs Direct Sun, Not Indirect Light

Why Your Schefflera's New Leaves Are Turning Black and Falling

Barb's 1.5-year-old schefflera (3 ft tall, original pot) suddenly has black new leaves dropping this summer. She wonders if it's water, pot size, or light—it gets plenty of indirect light.

Expert Diagnosis from Darlene

Black leaves = insufficient light. Scheffleras need direct sun, not just indirect light. Solutions:

• Move to a sunny window or outdoors in full sun until night temps drop below 50°F.
• Don't repot now—wait until spring (April 1–July 30). When repotting, increase pot diameter by only 2 inches.
• Being root-bound is fine; it doesn't need a larger pot yet.

Once in proper sun, new healthy growth should appear quickly.