Four-Season Care and Pruning/Shaping Methods for the Money Tree

Because of the symbolic meaning of the money tree, many people now like to grow a few money trees at home. But the money tree does not only represent wealth; it is also an important small decorative item for the home, and paired with different home decor, it will spark different styles. But do you know how to care for this money tree that symbolizes wealth?

Four-Season Care Methods for the Money Tree

1. Spring care and management methods for the money tree

Spring is the peak growing season for young money trees, so you need to ensure sufficient light and timely water and fertilizer supply. When the outdoor temperature stays stable above 15°C, you can decide whether to repot the soil according to specific needs, and move it to a semi-shaded spot on the balcony or a bright indoor spot for cultivation. Water alternately between dry and moist periods, keep the potting soil moist, and frequently spray water to replenish air humidity. After the temperature rises in late spring, it should be moved to a spot with morning and evening light.

For cultivation in light or semi-shade, apply 1 dose of decomposed liquid fertilizer every 20 days. Mature plants can be placed year-round in a bright spot or a place with morning and evening light for cultivation or viewing, watered alternately between dry and moist periods, keeping the potting soil moist or slightly moist-dry, appropriately reducing the frequency of fertilization, or even omitting fertilization. However, if the leaves are found to turn yellow, promptly spray the leaves with 500 times diluted urea solution 1 to 2 times to supplement nutrients.

2. Summer care and management methods for the money tree

The money tree likes high temperatures but cannot tolerate strong sunlight. In summer, when temperatures are high and light is strong, young plants should be placed in semi-shade for cultivation, and care should be taken to water promptly to keep the soil moist, spray water to increase environmental humidity, and stop topdressing fertilizer during the hot season.

The money tree can be propagated by sowing or cuttings. Except in the tropical regions of South China, where it can flower and bear fruit, in most parts of our country, due to insufficient accumulated temperature, seeds cannot be harvested, so cutting propagation is mostly used. June to July in summer is the suitable period for cuttings. You can take 10 to 15 cm of current-year branches, keep 2 to 3 leaves at the top, insert them into the cutting medium, and with warmth and moisture maintained, they will root and become seedlings in about 30 days.

3. Autumn care and management methods for the money tree

In autumn, young plants need to be guaranteed sufficient light and water and fertilizer supply, and before the temperature drops in late autumn, they should be moved in time to a bright indoor spot for cultivation. The daily management of mature plants can follow the spring management.

4. Winter care and management methods for the money tree

The money tree is not cold-tolerant, and can only overwinter safely when the indoor temperature in winter is above 11°C. If the temperature is below 5°C, it easily causes leaf drop. In winter, young plants should be guaranteed sufficient light, and when the midday temperature is relatively high, they also need to be misted around to increase humidity. For mature plants, attention should be paid to controlling watering, insisting on watering only after the potting soil has dried completely, but the leaves should be frequently misted and sprinkled with water to increase humidity.

How to Prune and Shape the Money Tree

The money tree tolerates pruning well. In spring, the branches should be pruned to encourage new branches to sprout from the base of the stems, and the new branches that grow are convenient for braiding and shaping. The intensity of pruning is determined by the shape of the crown.

For leggy branches that affect the shape of the crown, cut off the branch tips 3 cm above the leaf node. Remove dead branches, yellow leaves, and sprouting branches on the trunk at any time. If all the top branches have withered, prune back level at an appropriate spot to encourage regrowth.

Each year the money tree sends out 2 to 5 layers of palmate compound leaves from the top, while the older leaves in the lower layers naturally fall off 1 to 3 layers every two years. Due to environmental influences and improper management, leaf drop occurs every year. For home cultivation, the plant should not be too tall; keep it within 1.5 m for easy management. For overly tall plants, you can prune back level to make them sprout side branches, enlarge the crown, and reveal a graceful form. For crowns with short leaf nodes, many leaf whorls, and thick leaf layers, the braided tail at the crown should be carefully untied to loosen the crown, so that the 5 to 7 independent umbrella-shaped palmate leaves extend into the air, making the crown fluffy and well-arranged.

Placement for Growing the Money Tree

Ordinary money trees are relatively large in form, so they are suitable for placement in relatively spacious spaces, such as the living room, study, office, and so on.

Miniature money trees, on the other hand, have no great restriction on space and can be placed according to your own preference. What should be said here is that the money tree cannot grow well in all environments.

So it is recommended that everyone grow the money tree in a bright and well-ventilated place. Also, be careful not to move it frequently, and do not place the money tree next to the television.

Choosing a Flower Pot for Growing the Money Tree

As for choosing a flower pot, many flower lovers find it hard to understand: does growing flowers really depend on the pot?

What is meant here is not the style of the pot, but the depth and size of the flower pot. Pots that are too deep and too large are not good. The large money trees sold on the market now all come in very deep and very large ceramic pots. To be honest, that kind of deep and large pot is really not suitable for growing money trees, because the root system of the money tree is not well developed, and that kind of pot has very poor air permeability, making it very easy for the money tree to suffer root rot due to watering problems. So if you like large pots, it is recommended to use the method of placing a small pot inside a large pot to grow the money tree. In this way, you can solve the aesthetic problem and also solve the problem of water accumulation for the money tree.

Having said so much, I believe you now have a deeper understanding of growing the money tree. Growing a money tree well is not that easy, but as long as we are attentive, we can do it. Chinese people value squareness and steadiness, and whether small or large, the money tree exactly embodies this kind of charm. Let us take good care of this little tree with special meaning!