How to Fix Soft, Yellowing, and Dropping Leaves on the Money Tree (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The money tree (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) has a very appealing name, and many people love growing it, not only because its name carries excellent symbolism, but also because it is especially easy to care for. However, quite a few plant lovers have run into the problem of yellowing and dropping leaves when growing the money tree, which seriously affects its overall appearance. Let's find out together how to solve the problem of yellowing leaves on the money tree!
What to Do When Money Tree Leaves Turn Soft and Yellow
1. Temperature
In winter, when the temperature drops below 5°C, if the soil is also very wet at this time, it will directly cause the money tree's leaves to suffer cold damage and collapse, and in severe cases it can even cause root rot and death.
Prevention and treatment: When growing the money tree in winter, you must control the temperature well; the minimum temperature must stay above 10°C, and you must ensure the potting soil stays dry.
2. Too Much Sunlight
In the hot summer, sunlight is plentiful, and the plant can easily get sunburned. If several consecutive cloudy days suddenly turn sunny, it will also struggle to adapt. There is another similar situation: when a plant kept indoors for a long time is suddenly moved outdoors, the money tree is suddenly exposed to the sun, which very easily causes its leaves to get sunburned, after which they turn yellow and soft.
Prevention and treatment: Give the money tree appropriate sun exposure, but it must not be suddenly exposed to harsh sunlight. In summer, keep it indoors or in a semi-shaded environment. After consecutive cloudy and rainy days, do the shading work in time.
3. Disease
When the money tree develops disease, round spots appear on the leaves, ranging in color from grayish brown to yellowish brown, usually occurring when the temperature is too high, the humidity is too high, and ventilation is poor.
Prevention and treatment: When symptoms are found, promptly remove the diseased leaves to prevent them from infecting one another. In addition, you can spray pesticide to treat the problem; spray once every ten days, and three or four sprays will achieve a preventive and therapeutic effect.
How to Solve Money Tree Leaf Drop
1. Watering Management
Water the money tree according to the principle of not watering until the soil is dry; as long as the soil retains a certain degree of moisture, that is enough. Never allow water to accumulate.
2. Temperature Management
The most suitable temperature for them is 20-32°C. When winter temperatures do not meet the requirement, you must raise them yourself. But if it is placed in an air-conditioned room, be sure the temperature stays fairly stable, at least above 10°C.
3. Light Control
Place the money tree in a spot with fairly abundant light, but also be careful not to let it be exposed to scorching sun. In summer, do the shading work well; in winter, it needs more light.
4. Pest and Disease Control
When pests or disease are found, promptly clean up the diseased leaves to prevent the virus from spreading among the leaves. In addition, spraying pesticide for control is needed; this gives the best effect.
Why Money Tree Leaves Turn Black
1. Cold Damage
Cold damage in the money tree has a fairly long latent period, so it cannot be discovered in time; it takes half a month before it becomes apparent. If only a small number of leaves are affected, simply prune them off in time.
2. Brown Spot Disease
The most common disease of the money tree is brown spot disease. The specific symptoms begin as round or oval spots that are purplish brown and later turn black; in severe cases the leaves even turn yellow and fall off. This disease is spread by pathogens in dead leaves or soil via wind and rain, and it occurs frequently in summer under conditions of high temperature, high humidity, and insufficient ventilation.
Points to Note When Growing the Money Tree
Keep the potting soil moisture on the dry side, which keeps the plant healthy. Especially in winter, it must not be overly wet, to avoid root rot. Whether the money tree needs its soil or pot changed depends on the specific situation. If you find a problem with water accumulation, be sure to repot and change the soil in time.
As described above, although the money tree is easy to grow, that does not mean it can be neglected or grown carelessly. In fact, the money tree is a type of succulent and does not need to be drought-tolerant; if you water it with too much water, it can easily cause leaf drop and root rot!