How to Grow a Potted Money Tree at Home and How to Treat and Rescue Root Rot

The money tree has an auspicious meaning, symbolizing the bringing in of wealth and great good fortune, and is one of the most popular home green plants, so how do you grow a potted money tree? If root rot occurs, how should it be treated and rescued?

1. How to treat and rescue money tree root rot?

Symptoms of money tree root rot:

1. Leaves turning yellow and dropping: the money tree's leaves suddenly turn yellow and begin to drop in large numbers.

2. Bark peeling off: after root rot, the money tree also shows signs on its bark. Sticky secretions appear on the trunk near the roots, along with mold-like white fuzz, and when touched lightly with the hand it feels soft, and the nearby bark will also peel off.

Causes of money tree root rot:

1. Waterlogged soil in the pot: money tree root rot is generally caused by waterlogged potting soil. When there is too much water in the pot, the roots remain in an overly wet environment for a long time, respiration is blocked, and the roots become soft and rot. There are mainly two causes of waterlogging in the pot. One is overwatering; the other is poor ventilation, being too humid and stuffy.

2. Pests and diseases: when the money tree is infested by pests and diseases, root rot can also occur. Because the water quality is poor and the potting soil is rather wet, it is very easy for pests and diseases to breed, gnaw at the roots, and cause rot. Common pests and diseases occurring on money trees include: powdery mildew, root rot disease, and root-knot nematodes parasitic in the soil.

Solutions for money tree root rot:

1. Root treatment: when the plant's leaves turn yellow and the bark becomes soft, prune the roots in time. Cut off the yellowed leaves, keeping only the bud eyes. Take out the woody stem; do not deal with the root system first, and clean off the soil at the bottom.

Use scissors to prune the root system, cutting off the rotted parts; if the rot is severe, cut off all the tangled roots directly. If the stem also begins to rot, the rotted parts need to be removed, turning it into piece after piece. Put the treated roots and stems into a thiophanate-methyl or potassium permanganate solution and soak for 24 hours; or spray the wounds with procymidone. Then dry them in a cool, ventilated place and replant.

2. Medication treatment: when root rot disease and other rot-causing fungi are active, spray with propamocarb, hymexazol, metalaxyl, or dimethomorph, and the effect generally lasts about two weeks. In addition, for money tree pests, non-fumigant nematicides such as fosthiazate, cadusafos, milbemectin, and phorate can be used for insecticidal treatment.

How to prevent root rot from occurring:

1. Soil medium: to grow a healthy money tree, you need to provide it with a good soil medium, and it must have good air permeability. You can prepare a cultivation medium with good aeration and drainage, and you can mix medical pond mud, river sand, and decomposed sawdust in a 5:3:2 ratio; or use mountain soil and river sand, mixed in a 7:3 ratio. You can also buy special horticultural nutrient soil at a flower market, as well as anti-rot and anti-root-rot granules.

2. Water according to the soil: watering is an important part of care and management, and when caring for a money tree you must strictly control the amount of water. When you find the soil has turned white, water it, and water thoroughly when you do. The money tree does not need watering every day; at room temperature it can be watered once every five or six days, and it is better to keep it dry than wet. Also, pay attention to the hygiene of the flowerpot at ordinary times; if the small hole at the bottom of the pot is blocked, it should be cleared in time.

2. How to grow a potted money tree?

1. Choosing a location: most money trees are grown indoors, and it is recommended to grow a money tree in a place with bright light and good ventilation. Be careful not to move it around often, and do not place it next to the TV.

2. Choosing a flowerpot: a pot that is too large is not good. Some large potted plants use very deep and very large ceramic pots, and that kind of pot is really not suitable for growing a money tree, because the money tree's root system is not well developed, and that kind of pot also has poor air permeability, making it very easy to cause root rot due to watering problems, so it is recommended to use the method of placing a small pot inside a large pot to grow a money tree, which can solve the waterlogging problem.

3. Watering: the money tree is not tolerant of water, and its root system is not well developed, so whenever the roots are waterlogged and damp for a long time, root rot may be caused, so it is recommended that flower lovers first clearly know whether the soil they use can quickly let the water evaporate.

4. Fertilizing: the money tree has a full plant form, large leaves, and relatively vigorous growth, so it also has a relatively large fertilizer requirement. In addition to requiring fertile cultivation soil, potted money trees should stop all forms of topdressing in winter to prevent fertilizer damage to the roots.

Overall, when growing a money tree, pay attention to ventilation, avoid direct sun (bright indirect light is best), water according to the dry and wet conditions of your own potting soil, and follow a schedule, and fertilize with light doses to avoid root rot!