From my perspective as a Schefflera, light is my primary source of energy. When I am placed in a location with insufficient light, my very survival instinct kicks in. My internal systems signal that I must find more light to fuel photosynthesis. I cannot walk toward it, so I must grow toward it. I will rapidly extend my stems and direct all my energy into vertical growth, sacrificing the production of new leaves along the stem to reach a potential light source. This results in the long, weak, and bare stems you describe as "leggy." Each new section of stem grows longer between leaf nodes (the points where leaves emerge) as I desperately stretch. To encourage fuller growth, you must place me in a spot with bright, indirect light for most of the day. A north or east-facing window is often ideal, or a few feet back from a south or west-facing window.
In my natural habitat, I am a large shrub or small tree, and I am programmed to grow upwards to compete for sunlight. Without natural events like wind breaking my tips or animals browsing on me, I will follow this single-minded, upward growth pattern indoors. Pruning is the human equivalent of these events. When you cut off my main growing tip, you directly interfere with my production of a hormone called auxin. Auxin is concentrated in the tip and promotes apical dominance—the tendency for the main, central stem to grow more strongly than the side stems. By removing the tip, you break this dominance. This signals to me to redirect my energy into activating dormant buds lower down on my stem, resulting in two or more new branches where there was previously just one. This is the key to creating a denser, bushier form.
While light and pruning are the primary factors, my growth can also be affected by how you feed and water me. If you provide too much nitrogen-heavy fertilizer, you might encourage rapid but weak and spindly stem growth instead of strong, sturdy growth supported by healthy leaves. Conversely, if I am consistently under-watered or over-watered, my root system becomes stressed and cannot effectively support robust growth. Weak roots lead to a weak plant that may struggle to produce foliage, exacerbating a leggy appearance. A consistent watering schedule (allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings) and a balanced, diluted fertilizer during my active growing season provides the stable foundation I need to respond well to your other care efforts.
My roots are my anchor and my nutrient-gathering system. Over time, I can become pot-bound, meaning my roots have filled every available space in the container. When this happens, the soil can no longer hold enough water or nutrients to sustain my full size. My growth will slow down, and any new growth that does occur may be weak and spindly as I simply don't have the resources to support lush, dense foliage. Checking my root system every year or two and moving me to a pot only one or two inches larger in diameter gives my roots the room they need to support the healthy, full top-growth you desire.
