How to care for a money tree in winter so it survives the cold safely
As modern people's living standards keep rising, they also begin to pay attention to their living environment, and their demands for greenery are getting higher and higher, so potted plants are the public's first choice. The money tree sounds very auspicious by name and is the darling of the gardening community, and many people like to grow it at home. But the money tree has relatively high temperature requirements, so how should it get through the cold winter?
How to care for a money tree in winter
1. Temperature
The most suitable temperature for money tree growth is 20℃-30℃. In winter the temperature should be kept above 5℃, otherwise frost damage will occur. In the depths of winter, if the temperature is kept above 158℃ and there is sufficient sunlight, the money tree can continue to grow. If the room temperature is below 8℃, and the environment is too humid or too dry and not ventilated, the leaves will develop water-soaked spots, first appearing bronze-colored, then gradually falling off. If the temperature is below 5℃, all the leaves will fall off, and it may even wither and die.
2. Water
The money tree is not very strict about water requirements; it can grow normally whether it is flood-irrigated outdoors or not watered for 10 days indoors. But in winter, watering should be timely and the amount controlled. The potting soil should not be wet; slightly moist is best, otherwise the leaf tips easily scorch, and the leaves may even fall off.
Usually, if the room temperature is kept between 12-18℃, watering once a month is enough.
3. Light
The money tree grows robustly in a full-sun environment, with short leaf nodes, wide leaves, deep green leaf color, and a thick, sturdy stem base. If grown under weak light for a long time, the branches become thin, the leaf stalks droop, and the leaf color turns pale green. But full sunlight is not easy to achieve in winter, so after overwintering ends, when moving it from indoors to outdoors, it must gradually adapt to the light to avoid sun scorch on the leaves.
The best method is in mid-to-late March of the following year, choosing a sunny noon, to move the pot outside. At first give it 1 hour to 2 hours of sunlight each day, then gradually extend the light time until full-sun management is restored.
4. Smoke
When the money tree is moved indoors for care in winter, it must be protected from smoke damage. Smoke makes the leaves turn yellow and reduces its ornamental value. So try not to place the plant near a smoke outlet or an air-conditioner vent.
How the money tree gets through winter
1. Temperature
In the northern regions of our country, that is, the area north of the Qinling Mountains and the Huaihe River, winter is relatively cold, and the temperature is lower than the minimum temperature for the money tree to overwinter, so the money tree must not be exposed to the outside air and needs to be moved to a warm room. Generally, if the temperature stays below 10 degrees Celsius, the money tree may die.
2. Humidity
In winter the money tree grows slowly, transpiration slows down, and it does not need to consume much water, so winter watering can be appropriately reduced. Taking a room temperature of 10 degrees Celsius as an example, watering the money tree once every 5-7 days is enough.
3. Light
In winter, the daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere decrease and the light weakens, so the money tree must be given enough light. When placing it facing the sun, the leaf surface of the money tree should face the sunlight; otherwise, because of the leaves' phototropism, the whole branches and leaves of the money tree will twist, reducing its ornamental value.
4. Pests
In winter, indoor doors and windows are often closed and ventilation is poor. If the money tree is in its growing period and stays in a poorly ventilated environment for a long time, it is prone to red spider mite and scale insect damage. So indoor ventilation should be strengthened, and you should watch for any pest outbreak; once found, promptly remove them by hand or spray with pesticide.
How to propagate the money tree by cuttings
1. Use a sterilized sharp knife to cut a small section of healthy branch from the money tree. The length is about 10-15 cm.
2. Remove the excess leaves from the branch, keeping only the tender leaves in the core and two old leaves.
3. Prepare clean river sand in advance, soak it in a carbendazim solution for 1-2 hours, then rinse it clean with water and put it into a plastic bottle or glass bottle.
4. Apply rooting agent to the cut end of the branch, insert it about 5 cm into the river sand, water it thoroughly, and place it in a cool, ventilated spot.
5. Generally, in about 25 days the branch will grow new roots.
6. After rooting, the branch can be transplanted into a prepared flower pot. Place the planted money tree in a cool, ventilated spot for 7-10 days, then carry out normal care.
How to prevent and treat white spots on the money tree
1. Keep the soil breathable and loose; it is best to choose relatively fertile, clean sandy soil.
2. Water reasonably, do not overwater, which would cause waterlogging.
3. When the summer temperature is extremely high, pay attention to proper ventilation.
4. Observe the plant often; when pests or diseases are found, promptly remove the affected parts, and in severe cases spray with pesticide to kill them.
5. In winter, pay attention to keeping it warm and protecting it from the cold; do not spray water on the plant surface when the temperature is low, otherwise it can easily cause frostbite.
6. You can use alcohol (do not substitute the liquor you drink) to scrub its leaves, and you can also use dissolved washing-powder water to scrub its leaves, but be careful not to let the washing-powder water drip into the soil, as it will affect the plant's normal growth.
Although the money tree has relatively high temperature requirements, it should not be kept in a closed state all the time; the money tree should still be given proper ventilation. The money tree needs more care and management in winter, but in fact, once you understand its growth habits, it is still very easy to grow.