Moving a scheflarra

I am moving 800 miles via a 26' Uhaul in three weeks...an overnight hotel stay half way so two days of travel. I have a six foot scheflarra that was three feet tall three years ago...a quite healthy plant.
My question...it's too large to put in my car in tow so it would have to go in the back of the truck...I'm assuming that the temp will be around 140 back there, give or take.
If watered and the soil covered will it survive?
I would rather give it to a good home here than kill it in transit.
Thanks!!

whershey,
If you haven't already, look at the thread below yours. There are good suggestions for pruning your schefflera and even rooting some pieces from it. If you take several cuttings to root for yourself, you could offer the tree to someone before you move. And the cuttings will easily fit in your car. I hope everything goes very well for you during your move.

Thank you!
May be a good idea or at least the best idea...I hate to "top" it since it's so healthy and beautiful as is.
I haven't had any replies other than yours so I am assuming no one really knows the high temp question.
I had a couple people from nurseries tell me it will probably be ok for the two days, but I was hoping I might get a response from a person or two that has had practical experience with actually doing this...or really knows the heat tolerence of this particular plant.

Nice to hear from you, and thanks for the well wishes for the move. (hope I don't move again for a very long time!)

Root function would be severely impaired by the time the soil temp reaches 105-110*, and 120* is hot enough to kill roots, so I don't have a lot of hope that the plant will arrive in anything but a shambles if exposed to that kind of heat for that long.

Topping the tree isn't the end of the world. It will bounce back from that quite well if it is presently reasonably healthy. This hard pruning included a SEVERE root pruning, and you can see how well the plant bounced back.

Al

Thanks Al...makes sense.
I was just thinking in terms of foliage but the root system is the heart of the plant.
If I top off about a foot and a half it will fit in the car in tow which will have a bit of ventilation...hot but not like the back of an enclosed truck...I plan on putting shade barriers on the front windows as well.
Much appreciated!

Best luck - happy trails to you - I hope you enjoy your new destination.

Al

Great example Al. Really shows us just how well a healthy plant can bounce back.That thing looked like "Scheffelera Gone Wild". :) Nice rebound.

I recently did some reading of your information on severe root pruning and the benefits thereof. A few of my plants have endured it and they are looking very well. I even did this with two new plants I picked up that were horribly root bound.

I say this to let the OP know that there is hope and I'm pretty sure using your method and suggestion the beloved Scheff should be able to make the trip. I, for one, would go this route and take the Scheff with me. :)