You can water schefflera top or bottom and both methods work well. Each one serves a slightly different purpose. Top watering is the go-to for regular care since it flushes salt buildup out of the soil. Bottom watering pulls moisture deep into the root zone for a more thorough soak. Most growers use top watering as the default and add bottom watering once a month.
I started with top watering only for the first year. It worked fine until the soil in my pot got old and packed down tight. Water poured on top would bead up and run straight down the sides of the pot without soaking in. The soil had become water-resistant. Switching to bottom watering fixed the problem in one session. The soil drew moisture up from below and the roots got the deep drink they had been missing. Now I use both methods on a rotation.
Top watering means pouring water onto the soil surface until it drains from the holes in the bottom. This process washes mineral salts and fertilizer residue down through the soil and out of the pot. Those salts come from your tap water and build up over time. Flushing them out every time you water keeps the root zone clean. Clemson Extension points to too much or too little water as the top problem with schefflera, so getting this right matters a lot.
Bottom watering schefflera works by setting the pot in a basin filled with a few inches of water. The soil draws moisture upward through the drainage holes by capillary action. Plantura recommends this immersion method and says to soak the pot for 20-30 minutes. Roots follow the moisture downward, which helps them grow deeper and stronger. This approach is great for pots where the top soil has dried out and become hard.
In my experience, mixing both is the best schefflera watering method. Use top watering for your regular checks every 7-14 days when the soil feels dry. Once a month, switch to a bottom soak to hydrate any dry patches the top method missed. Always empty the saucer or basin after 30 minutes no matter which method you use. Standing water is the fastest path to root rot.
Pay attention to how your soil absorbs water over time. Fresh potting mix soaks up top watering just fine. Older soil that's been in the pot for a year or more may start to repel water from above. That's your signal to bottom water or repot with fresh mix. Either fix gets moisture back to the roots where your plant needs it.
Read the full article: Schefflera Plant Care Guide
