Can I cut a branch off and repot it?
By Luckyfingers
United Kingdom 
over the years my plant has grown quite tall. It is all stem with a head of leaves. It has one branch thick and healthy with leaves which are getting heavy to hang off the side. I have pinched it out a couple of times but it is still sprouting new leaves. Can I remove the branch and repot it without killing the branch and main plant?
On plant
Umbrella plant
23 Jul, 2009
Answers
God, what an idiot I am - I've just noticed you put a picture of the plant on here! It IS a Heptapleurum, which means you can do what I do, but I've never tried it this time of year, always in the spring. Up to you if you want to chance it now - it might work, but it definitely will in the spring. Looks pretty ghastly, I'd cut the long branch off at the base now and keep the top 6/8 inches and give it a shot - if you want another plant, otherwise just chop it off.
23 Jul, 2009
Thank you for your reply. I have now included 3 photographs to go with my question.
23 Jul, 2009
Depends what you mean by Umbrella Plant - I have what's commonly known as a Parasol or Umbrella plant (Heptapleurum), but there is also Cyperus and Schefflera - both also known as umbrella plant or tree. If you've got the one I've got, I can tell you what to do with that - I chop the tops off, about 8 inches of stem, remove the lower leaves, stick them in a bottle of water and wait till the roots are big enough to pot up, then get rid of the main plant, or give it away and just grow the newly rooted one. I've had the same plant, technically, for 20 years... Best done in the spring, though.
23 Jul, 2009