How to Make a Money Tree Grow Thick: How to Care for a Large Money Tree

The money tree (Pachira aquatica) has a beautiful and elegant appearance, so it is shaped into various artistic stump bonsai and potted landscapes. In particular, its stems and leaves stay emerald green all year round, and the branches of young plants are soft and tolerant of pruning, making it a very common indoor tree that can be grown in pots. Moreover, the money tree has a very good symbolic meaning, but how can you make a money tree grow thick and sturdy?

How to Make a Money Tree Grow Thick

Nitrogen fertilizer promotes rapid leaf growth, while phosphorus and potassium fertilizers promote flowering and help thicken the branches and develop the root system, so when fertilizing, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in a targeted way to achieve your goal.

A hydroponically grown money tree grows very slowly. Generally, choosing a good branch is the most important thing, and after that there is little change; the effect of fertilizing is very small, and making it thick and sturdy is very difficult.

How to Care for a Large Money Tree

1. This plant likes ventilation; never place it in a closed environment.

2. It likes sunlight; never place it in a dark place, which can very easily cause large areas of leaves to turn yellow.

3. It is highly drought-tolerant; watering once every 5-7 days is best. Watering too frequently can very easily cause large areas of leaves to turn yellow and fall off.

4. It has poor cold tolerance; in winter the indoor temperature should not be lower than 18 degrees, otherwise the entire potted plant will be frozen and damaged, and it will be very difficult to bring it back to life.

Pruning Methods for the Money Tree

Pruning the money tree mainly removes leggy branches. When removing them, leave only 3-4 buds at the base of the vigorous branches, or leave about 10 cm, and cut off all the other upper branches. Note that all branches on the whole plant should be pruned; overly weak branches should be cut off from the base, because their sprouting ability is weak and they also compete with other strong branches for nutrients, so they cannot be kept. After pruning, do not let the branches get rained on or spray them with water, to prevent rot. Place the pruned money tree in a relatively bright place or under tree shade, and control watering, because with no leaves on the whole plant there is less transpiration and thus less need for water.

Precautions for Cultivating the Money Tree

First, pay attention to sunlight. The money tree likes high temperatures, humidity and sunlight, and cannot be shaded for long periods. Therefore, during care and management it should be placed in a spot indoors with plenty of sunlight. When placing it, the leaf surface must face the sunlight. Otherwise, because the leaves turn toward the light, the entire branches and leaves will become twisted. In addition, every 3 to 5 days, use a spray bottle to spray water on the leaves once; this not only helps photosynthesis proceed but also makes the branches and leaves look more beautiful.

Second, pay attention to watering. Watering is an important part of the care and management process. If the amount of water is too little, branch and leaf development stagnates; if the amount of water is too much, it may cause root rot and death; if the amount of water is moderate, the branches and leaves will be plump. The first principle of watering is to prefer wet over dry, and the second is “two more and two less”, that is, water more in the high-temperature summer season and water less in winter; water more for large and medium-sized plants in vigorous growth and water less for small newly potted plants. When the amount of water is too much, it easily causes root rot, leading to drooping leaves that lose their luster and even fall off. At this point, immediately move it to a cool place, reduce watering to the minimum, as long as the potting soil is not dry, spray water on the leaf surface several times a day with a spray bottle, stop fertilizing with water, and after about 15 to 20 days it can gradually recover.

Third, pay attention to fertilizing. The money tree is a flowering plant that likes fertilizer, and its demand for fertilizer is greater than that of common other flowering plants. When repotting each year, the proportion of fertilized soil can account for 1/3, or even more. Fertilized soil has a wide range of sources; you can collect leaf mold soil from the fallen leaves of broadleaf trees, add a little garden soil and mix it with a small amount of crushed bone meal and soybean cake residue. This fertilized soil is highly effective, convenient and easy to obtain, but it should be fully decomposed, so as not to “burn” the leaves yellow. In addition, during the money tree's growing season (May to September), every 15 days you can apply a fully decomposed liquid fertilizer or a mixed flowering plant fertilizer once, to promote deep roots and lush leaves.

Fourth, pay attention to temperature and humidity. The money tree has relatively high requirements for temperature and humidity. If the temperature is relatively low or humidity is lacking, leaf drop often occurs, and in severe cases the branches become bare, which not only hinders viewing but also very easily causes the plant to die. Therefore, during cultivation and care, attention should be paid to maintaining a temperature above 15°C and frequently spraying water on the branches and leaves to increase the necessary humidity. In late autumn and winter, on the other hand, attention should be paid to doing a good job of overwintering cold protection and freeze protection management.

The money tree is a relatively easy tree to grow. It is deeply loved by the broad masses of people not only for its beautiful appearance but also for its auspicious and wish-fulfilling symbolic meaning. Every plant should be treated like our own child, watered and nurtured with care, so that it can grow the leaves we are satisfied with.