How to Grow a Money Tree (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)? Detailed Care Methods and Precautions
Money Tree (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) - is it just me, or does everyone fall in love with it the moment they hear its name? The Money Tree is not actually a piece of wood covered in money! It is a succulent plant, small and cute, with large, thick, fleshy leaves, and it has extremely high ornamental value. Many people like to grow it at home, so do you know the correct way to grow a Money Tree? Let us find out together below!
How to Grow a Money Tree
The Money Tree likes a warm, humid, semi-shaded environment. It is drought-tolerant, cannot stand harsh sun exposure, is slightly shade-tolerant, and is afraid of cold and waterlogging in the potting soil. It is suited to growing at 20°C to 32°C, and during the growing season watering should follow the rule of “do not water until dry, and when you water, water thoroughly.” The potting soil should not be waterlogged for long periods, otherwise the tubers will rot. In northern regions, because of indoor heating in winter the air is dry, so it is necessary to spray the plant frequently to increase air humidity.
The Money Tree is not strict about light and can be kept indoors for viewing for long periods, but when new leaves are emerging it must not be kept in too dark a spot, otherwise the new tender leaves will grow thin and long with sparse spacing between leaves, affecting its ornamental value. In summer, keep it in a spot without direct sunlight to avoid the new tender leaves being scorched by strong light. During the growing season, apply a diluted, well-rotted liquid fertilizer once a month, adding a small amount of ferrous sulfate to prevent the leaves from turning yellow. In winter, move it indoors to a bright spot, water less, do not fertilize, and maintain a room temperature of about 10°C.
The Money Tree should be repotted once every two years, in late spring and early summer. The potting soil should be a free-draining, breathable, slightly acidic soil; you can use peat, coarse sand or perlite, and furnace slag with a small amount of garden soil and slow-release fertilizer. Because its tubers are large and its root system is well developed, it is suitable for planting in a relatively deep flower pot, with plenty of stones, tile pieces, and similar items placed at the bottom of the pot to aid drainage. When planting, part of the tuber can be exposed above the soil surface, and a layer of ceramic granules or small stones can be spread over the pot surface to enhance the ornamental effect.
Money Tree Growing Methods
1. Temperature
The suitable growing temperature for the Money Tree is 20 degrees to 32 degrees, so during the hottest days of midsummer you should use black shade netting and spray water around it to lower the temperature, thereby maintaining a warm and humid growing environment. In addition, when the temperature drops in late autumn and early winter, the plant must be moved to a bright indoor spot so as to maintain the temperature conditions for overwintering.
2. Light
As far as the growing habits of the Money Tree are concerned, it likes light and is also shade-tolerant. What needs attention here is that direct strong light must be avoided, especially the scorching sun in summer, to prevent the leaves from being scorched. In addition, pay attention to meeting its light requirements according to the different seasons; for example, from late spring to early autumn, shade must be provided but it must not be too dark, otherwise the plant's health and beauty will be affected, while in winter the potted plant should be moved indoors to ensure light.
3. Water
The Money Tree prefers a moist but on the dry side environment. When the temperature is above 30 degrees, you must spray the plant with water every day, and in addition just keep the potting soil slightly moist and on the dry side. In winter, pay attention to spraying water to maintain air humidity, but reduce watering, replacing watering with spraying.
4. Soil
The Money Tree has relatively high drought resistance, so it is not demanding about the potting soil medium; it only requires good air permeability. The potting soil is mostly made by mixing peat, coarse sand, coal slag, and garden soil, and it shows slightly acidic properties.
Precautions for Growing a Money Tree
Keep the potting soil moisture on the dry side; this way the plant can stay healthy. Especially in winter it must not be excessively wet, to avoid root rot. Whether the Money Tree needs its soil and pot changed depends on the specific situation. If you find a waterlogging problem, you must repot and change the soil promptly.
Watering Time and Method for the Money Tree
The watering principle for the Money Tree is that you can water when it is on the dry side; watering in spring and autumn can follow this principle; in summer, the amount of water should be reduced appropriately compared with spring and autumn. Although summer temperatures are higher, if there is no good ventilation environment, the humidity is also very high, and keeping the roots in overly moist soil for a long time is very bad for the health of the Money Tree. In summer, watering should be done when the temperature is lower, in the early morning or evening, and the water temperature should preferably be the same as room temperature.
In winter, watering should also be reduced, keeping the soil slightly moist or on the dry side, and the water temperature should also be the same as room temperature. You can first place it on a windowsill where sunlight can come in and let it sit in the sun for a while, then water it.
As everyone knows, succulent plants are especially easy to grow. Placed there as usual, they are not only beautiful, but also do not need a lot of time spent on care every day, making them very suitable for flower lovers who are also a bit lazy!