How to Propagate the Money Tree? A Detailed Guide to Common Propagation Methods
The money tree, also known as the money plant, is a common ornamental plant in China. Because its leaves are very attractive, it is deeply loved by gardening enthusiasts, and many people like to keep a pot of it at home. So what are the propagation methods for the money tree?
1. Seed propagation
Seed propagation is suitable for large-scale propagation. Generally, after the fruit ripens in autumn, the fruit is picked, dried in the sun, and shelled, and then used for sowing; besides autumn sowing, it can also be sown in spring after stratification treatment with moist sand.
Method: Ridge sowing is generally used, with a ridge spacing of 60-70cm. Because the seed germination rate is low, the amount of seed used is large, with a sowing rate of 30-40kg per mu.
2. Cutting propagation
1. Selection of cuttings
Choose healthy one-year-old money tree leaves, and cut off the petiole together with a bit of stem as the cutting; the stem can also be omitted, as long as the petiole is included; you can also cut a section of stem, remove the leaves from the lower part of the stem, and keep only 4 leaves at the top.
2. Cutting
Use some fine sand, or a mix of 3 parts peat soil, 1 part perlite, and 1 part river sand as the nutrient soil, then insert the cuttings into the substrate. Generally, the insertion depth is 1/3 to 1/2 of the cutting length, leaving only the leaves outside the substrate. After spraying thoroughly with water, place it in a shaded area.
3. Care after cutting
After cutting, place the flower pot in an environment with a temperature of 25-27°C, and spray the leaf surface 1-2 times a day, keeping the potting soil moist, but never overly wet. After 30-40 days, you will find that the leaves really have grown small roots, which basically indicates that the cutting has succeeded.
3. Division propagation
1. Time for division
Carry it out in April each year, when the temperature reaches above 18°C. At this time, the survival rate of division is the highest.
2. Removing from the pot and dividing
Pull out the robustly growing money tree by hand, taking care not to damage the plant. After removing it from the pot, clean the soil from the roots of the money tree properly, then slowly separate the divisions by hand or with a tool at the tuber at the base of the stem.
3. Planting the divisions
After dividing, apply plant ash or sulfur powder to the wounds, then plant them in pots, not too deep, 2 cm is enough. Note: divisions with buds should be planted separately, buried in moist fine sand, and moved into pots for planting after they grow fibrous roots.
4. Later care
After division is completed, place the flower pot in a cool place, maintain a temperature environment of 26°C, and then water it, paying attention to the soil moisture, and spray some water on the leaf surface every day. This can make the survival rate of the divided money tree higher.
Overall, there are still many propagation methods for the money tree, including sowing, cutting, and division, but cutting is more commonly used. As long as you cut a section of stem and insert it into the substrate, it will do.