schefflera umbrella plant

My plant is growing well producing a stem but no leaves Can anyone explain why this is.

A photo would be helpful.

Sounds like a possible insect issue, lack of light, issue with the roots, impossible to say from the info given and, as said, lack of visual info.

Photo attached.

Yes, from the look of the photo, I would say it is too far from the window, and not getting enough light. Put it right in your best window for the winter. Light is the weak and days are short in Wales in the winter time. Give it all you have.
You could cut off that long leafless section and the plant will branch out below the cut. I would not expect much to happen until the spring. During the winter resist the urge to over-water; the plants aren't growing, and so don't use much. Best

Well said.

I agree with Vestia.

The plant was moved for the photo to be taken. Normally it is positioned in front of a large patio door in full light. Attached photo taken 10.20am 9/12/13. This is it's normal position.

Ah, good. Hope it does better in the spring.

That is bright light to you, but may not be to a plant. When the sun is not shining directly on it, it's considered to be in the shade. Outside, where it is warm enough, these plants can grow where they are in the sun all of the time.

As far as growing inside, that's probably enough light to stay alive and grow well though slowly. Seeing the new pic of where it usually sits, I'm more concerned there may be some type of pest causing the new growth to shrivel, but...

I searched pics of these in bloom and it's not out of the question that you have a flower stalk forming. The plant sure doesn't look unhealthy as if it had a pest issue. Maybe someone who has seen these bloom in person before might recognize that as a bloom stalk, I really don't know.

No, i am sure that is not a bloom. Schefflera arboricola blooms are not common here, but I have seen them bloom in many warmer places and the stalks are short, branch, and are only produced on very mature plants. I can see small arborted leaves on the stem in the first picture; I still think the (lack of) light is to blame. OTOH, it could also be due to thrips, which are sometimes an issue here.

Thanks to you all for the interest. I can't do a lot about the light (this is the UK after all!) Can't find any bugs so will see how it goes. I may try Vestia's suggestion and cut off that section.
Will keep you all informed. Once again, Ta very much.

You wouldn't be able to see thrips w/o a magnifying glass. TY for the anecdote, Vestia!!

For all those who tried to help me with my schefflera growing a stalk but no leaves.
An update. I took Vestias advice and cut off the leafless stalk. I attach pics taken this am.
As you can see it is going Bonkers!! Thanks to all especially Vestia.

YAY!

That looks great!

Congrats on your new growth...

Hi all. Thought you might like an update on my Schefflera. I am attaching a pic taken 19/5/15. Having taken Vestia's advice it has "growed" some, it stands at 7ft 4ins. Just shows, you can grow decent plants in the UK climate. (pure luck)

I'm glad your plant is growing well, but the real issue was due to a grower-imposed cultural limitation, and wouldn't/couldn't have been resolved by cutting back the stem or more light. We could see new growth had emerged, only to die back as a result of over-watering, a high level of dissolved solids in the soil, or a combination of the two. If it was lack of light causing the new growth to die back, the plant would have shed all the old growth before shedding new growth.

Al

Well done Jrob!

Hi Tapla, Thanks for your input but are we looking at the same plant?
The treatment rendered to the plant (ie watering light etc) has been the same at all times. The only treatment it has had was the cutting off of the bare stem as advised by Vestia.

She's a stunner, Jrob! Love the new pic!!

I think so - I'm talking about the picture you posted 8, December, early AM. The bare stem clearly shows dried up laterals from each node and at the apex. Something cultural caused the death of these new laterals, which left you with a bare stem. Cutting back the stem would obviously force growth proximal to the pruning cut, because the stem was simply gone after that and there was nowhere else for the plant to grow. There must have been a cultural change that allowed the new growth that occurred after the stem was truncated to retain it's viability, because in a physiological sense, topping the plant didn't 'cure' anything, this, in spite of how it appears. Removing the apical meristem does create a reduction in the polar flow of auxin, which tends to allow another growth regulator (cytokinin) to become dominant and stimulate lateral growth, but your issue didn't lie in the fact there was NO lateral growth; the issue was in the fact that something cultural was not allowing the lateral growth that did occur to retain viability ..... which is why it can rightly be said that the "cure" wasn't in topping the plant - even if it seems that way.

Al