How to prune an umbrella plant and repot a cast-iron plant

Dear Jessica: My wife has a green thumb without even trying. People always give her dying plants, and she brings them back. We have one (I don't know what it is) that we'd like to trim back as it's over 6 feet tall. Can it be trimmed? If so, where and when should we cut it?

_ Henry Ashby

Dear Henry: You have a Schefflera, often referred to as an umbrella plant, and by the looks of it, I'd say your assessment of your wife's green thumb is correct. The plants are native to the tropics, but here in Zone 7, they are often grown as houseplants. Indoor-grown umbrella plants should get plenty of indirect sunlight, such as by an east-, west- or south-facing window that's covered with a sheer curtain. Overwatering can prove fatal, so soil should be allowed to dry completely before slowly and completely soaking soil until water runs out the pot's drainage holes (saucers should be emptied afterward to avoid absorption of excess water).