A Detailed Guide to Money Tree Bonsai Shaping and Watering Methods

The money tree (Pachira aquatica) is an evergreen shrub plant, often used as an indoor ornamental plant. Businesspeople in particular like to buy a pot and place it at home or in their shop, as it symbolizes rolling in wealth. Because of this, very many people buy it. Seeing this business opportunity, merchants have pruned the money tree into all kinds of shapes to make it sell better. Let's look below at which shapes are common.

How to shape a money tree bonsai to look good

1. Single-trunk planting: Suitable for plants with thick, large stems. The stem can be cut short to serve as the base, letting many fine branches regrow from the top of the base, forming a miniature version of a large tree in a pot.

2. Braided type: Use wire to intertwine the stems of 2-3 plants as they grow, letting them grow into a braid-like shape.

3. Clustered type: Plant several Pachira aquatica with thinner stems together, forming a clump, winning by quantity.

4. Unique shape: During growth, use wire to continuously shape it into a form you personally like.

How to water a money tree

In a place with good sunlight and air circulation, the more you water a money tree, the faster it grows. Watering less does not mean the money tree is afraid of water. In the south, even if a money tree is soaked in water it will not go bad. For a money tree in a flower pot, one reason is that its root system cannot grow thick roots with strong resistance.

On the other hand, and this is the most important aspect, it is to control its growth. This is the real reason why it should be watered less. If you water it, with good sunlight and air circulation, in less than three months the money tree will completely lose its shape.

What to do if the money tree does not grow tall

1. A money tree grown from cuttings does not grow tall

When growing a money tree, most of us gardeners either take cuttings ourselves or buy cutting-grown seedlings. A money tree grown this way, because it is not seed-grown, will actually not grow taller in its main trunk. Basically, a money tree grown from cuttings this way, whether the plant is large or small, is actually very hard to make grow tall again.

If this is the case, and you want your money tree to grow tall and look tall, then you can only count on the small new branches growing from the main trunk to grow taller and bigger. At this time you can prune the money tree appropriately. You can prune according to your own preferences, and the money tree will still look relatively tall.

2. Improper care prevents it from growing tall

If the money tree does not grow tall, another possibility is improper care, which restricts its growth. First, it may be the pot soil. The flower pot is too small, or the soil nutrients have been lost. These are some factors that restrict the money tree's further growth. If the pot is small, the money tree's root system cannot grow further, and it can easily lead to root rot and similar problems, making it even harder to grow. Soil nutrient loss may be because the pot soil has not been changed for too long, and the nutrients in the soil have been used up. When growing a money tree, you can repot and change the soil according to its needs.

Second, it may be that water and fertilizer management was not done properly when growing the money tree. The growth of the money tree needs the support of water and fertilizer. If these are lacking during cultivation, the money tree's growth will be restricted and it will be hard for it to grow big. So when growing a money tree, water and fertilizer must be kept up.

How to prune a money tree

The best time to prune a money tree is from early to mid-May. The temperature at this time is very suitable for the money tree's growth and development, and helps buds grow into new branches. It is best to place the money tree in an environment it likes about 1 month before pruning for care and management, and apply 1-2 rounds of nitrogen fertilizer or a compound fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen. In this way, the money tree will store more nutrients in its body. In early May the money tree will show some signs of budding. This is exactly when the money tree's sap flows vigorously and its sprouting ability is strong. After pruning, the money tree will sprout many new branches and the branches will grow robustly.

If you want a money tree to grow well, care is the key. Usually pruning and watering still require certain techniques, so we should follow some of the small methods introduced today and combine them with the actual condition of the money tree. In this way, I believe the money tree you grow will certainly grow healthily. Friends who like it can start taking action.