Could be a chemical burn can't really tell for sure and chemicals will affect new growth more than established growth.
Aphids will also suck the life out of new growth. I've never known them to be white. I've only seen black or green.

As far as I can tell the new growth is doing very well. I threw those new growth pics in just to show that the plant is still actively growing and seemingly healthy aside from whatever it's going through. I've not seen any pest on this plant other than mealy bugs, but they're gone now. Any white you may be seeing is just reflection off the shiny leaves.

I'm really hoping someone will have an idea as to what is wrong with my plant and offer some advice. Leaves are still turning that dark color and falling off. They're not dry or brittle, but rather thin and limp. Anyone?? I hope I'm not sounding pushy - I just don't want to lose this gorgeous plant and am wondering if there's something I could be doing to help it.

Nope, you are not being pushy. I am surprised no one else has offered any help.
Perhaps take the pictures to the purchase place. Don't be embarrased. I am sure they've seen worse.
The chemical reaction can take a while for it to recover and I don't think the damage on the leaves will go back to green.
I've seen stunted growth like this on plants outside due to over fertilization or chemical burn of some type...thanks to wind and neighbors.

More than anything, it looks like chill injury to me. Was it cold when you brought it home or might the plant have been exposed to other sudden chill? Plants don't have to freeze to suffer chill injury. Plants that were growing at 70-75* and were then suddenly (within a few hours) exposed to temps as high as 45* can exhibit symptoms like your plants show.

Did you use an anti-bacterial detergent on the foliage?

Al

Oh Al, that's it! I had brought it out to the garage to spray it with the Ecosense. I wasn't even thinking about how the cooler air in there would affect it. Ugh! Is there anything I can do now to help it heal or is it doomed? As far as the dish soap, it isn't an anti-bacterial kind; however, it has a bleach alternative. Could that have affected its leaves, too?

Probably not the detergent to blame; sounding more like an affirmative for fixing blame on chill injury now.

Sudden chill causes phenolic compounds to leak from plant cells & the result is the death of those cells and the tissue they make up. Once the cells/tissue is dead, it's not reversible - you'll just have to wait for the plant to push new growth. Keeping cultural conditions as close to ideal as possible will help, and getting the plant outdoors when temperatures allow (nights reliably above 55*) will go a long way to helping the plant along the road to recovery. Good luck - wish you well.

Al

Al, you did it again! Mystery solved mommachickadee! We are so fortunate to have you here to help us solve our Plant
issues/problems. I am so glad you're back Al. I know its not my plant but, Thanks for always helping!!

You're too dear a friend to be unbiased, Nance ;o), but thank you for your usual kindness ...... and you're very welcome.

Al

Whew, I was beginning to think Garden Web didn't like me - this is the first time I've been able to log-in in a while! First, thank you so much for identifying my plant's problem, Al. Second, I'm thinking of buying a grow light for this plant mainly to help it fill out again since it's lost quite a few branches and leaves. If I were to buy a clamp light or two, could they be attached to the pot and shine upward on the plant, or does the light need to be overhead? I've read that this plant needs 200+ foot candles - can you explain what this means? Mine is about 5'6" tall and is sitting in a corner where it receives indirect light from two east-facing windows. The corner is roughly 15' from the nearest window. It also receives a bit of light from a west-facing window. What type of grow light could you recommend to best benefit this plant? And, lastly, how big of a pot should I look to get when repotting and when should this be done? It's currently in a 10" plastic pot. Please pardon all the questions, but I want to do right by this plant.

Ok, stay with me here ...... ;o) Mesophyll tissue between the upper and lower epidermis (leaf surface) contains chloroplasts, which is where photosynthesis takes place. This mesophyll tissue is divided into two distinct layers. The palisade mesophyll is just below the upper leaf surface and is composed of regular layers of elongated cells. Lying below them is the spongy mesophyll, composed of loosely arranged cells of irregular shape. This layer contains fewer chloroplasts and has many intercellular spaces for the diffusion of gases (required for respiration and photosynthesis). Because there are many more chloroplasts near the upper leaf surface, most photosynthesis occurs there.

I would recommend fluorescent bulbs that concentrate their light in the blue portion of the spectrum (cool white). They should be placed very close to the foliage. Incandescent bulbs are a poor choice, turning energy into heat and providing little light.

Pot size depends largely on soil choice. Here's a copy/paste job that sort of explains it:

"Over-potting" is a term that arises from a lack of basic knowledge about the 3-way relationship between plant material/ soil composition/ container size, which together, logically determine appropriate container size(s).

It's often parroted that you should only move up 1 size in containers when "potting-up". The reasoning is that the soil will remain wet too long and cause root rot issues. Of course, that's true if you're growing in a heavy, inappropriate soil, but it can be remedied by changing the soil to one that drains freely.

The size/mass of the material and soil type/composition determine both the upper & lower limits of appropriate container size. Plants grown in slow soils need to be grown in containers with smaller soil volumes so that the plant can use water quickly, allowing air to return to the soil. This (smaller soil volumes) will cause plants to both extend branches and gain o/a mass much more slowly. Rampant growth can be had by growing in very large containers and in very fast soils where frequent watering and fertilizing is required - so it's not that trees necessarily rebel at being potted into very large containers per se, but rather, they rebel at being potted into very large containers with a soil that is too slow.

We know that there is an inverse relationship between soil particle size and the height of the PWT in containers. As particle size increases, the height of the PWT decreases, until at about a particle size of just under 1/8 inch, soils will no longer hold perched water. If there is no perched water, the soil is ALWAYS well aerated, even when the soil is at container capacity (saturated).

If you wish to grow in a large container - please do. Just be certain that your soil supports no, or very little perched water. You have all the tools you need to make an excellent soil. Now all you need is the confidence and the materials. ;o)

If you're interested in more in-depth discussion about soil choices, how soil choice relates to container size, and a better understanding of soils in general, you can follow the link below.

Al

Here is a link that might be useful: More about soils.

What a stunning plant! I've got a smaller one, that has scale. I've read that the Amate is more resistant to bugs but I can't find that kind here. It's tough finding any Schefflera (the umbrella plant, not the Hawaiian or arboricola which is everywhere.)
I've been spraying it, and have it isolated from the others.

Someone was offering their large Schefflera on Freecycle because it has scale and he doesn't have the time to deal with it. So it's obviously a plant that is prone to it.

Ahhh, it all actually makes perfect sense. Thank you kindly for the wealth of info you've provided. I'm going to bookmark your soil thread for future use. Oh, and I enjoyed reading your bio and learning a little bit about you. Your home sounds heavenly! I have just one more question: may I come live with you? ;)

Thank you, jasdip, for the compliment :) I only hope I can keep it looking this well.

"Live with me?" Lol - I've been asked that question a number of times. You're certainly welcome to visit. ;o)

{{gwi:1211}}

Al