What to Do When the Money Tree's Leaves Turn Yellow? Cause Analysis and Treatment Methods

The money tree (Pachira aquatica) is a popular potted plant, and it does not only stand for wealth; it is also a natural air purifier that can fight the exhaust gases produced by burning tobacco, making it an important decorative item for the home. Many people like to keep one at home, only to find that its leaves turn yellow before long. So what is going on when a money tree's leaves turn yellow? What should you do? How can you prevent it?

I. Causes of yellowing leaves on the money tree

1. Improper watering

The money tree likes a warm, humid climate, and both overwatering and underwatering can cause the leaves to turn yellow.

With overwatering, the soil in the pot stays constantly too wet, the roots of the money tree cannot breathe properly, the rhizome rots, and this gradually spreads to the branches and stems, until finally the leaves turn yellow, wither and drop off, and in severe cases the whole plant dies. With underwatering, the top of the potting soil is moist while the bottom is dry, which not only affects the absorption of nutrients but also causes the leaves to become dull and lusterless and to gradually turn yellow and drop from the bottom upward - the money tree is silently protesting your laziness~.

2. Improper lighting

The money tree likes sunlight but cannot tolerate direct intense light, and either scorching sun or long-term shade can also cause the leaves to wither and yellow.

Placing the money tree in a corner of the room indoors, with too much emphasis on the ornamental effect, keeps the money tree in a shady environment for a long time, which causes the new shoots and leaves to grow leggy and pale yellow, while the old leaves become dull and lusterless and drop off in large numbers. In the blazing summer, you can only sit indoors in the air conditioning - how could the money tree withstand the assault of the scorching sun? If you forget to move it to a shady spot at noon, then you can only accept the miserable sight of yellowing leaves.

3. Too much fertilizer

If you are impatient, you must be very afraid that the money tree will lack fertilizer and become malnourished, right? But excessive fertilizing is no good either. The nutrients the money tree absorbs are a fixed amount; if you fertilize too much, after the plant has absorbed enough nutrients, the remaining fertilizer will burn the rhizome of the money tree, causing the leaves to turn yellow.

4. Unsuitable temperature

Some people hate summer and winter, because one is too hot and the other too cold; actually plants are the same way, and the suitable temperature for the money tree's growth is 20°C~30°C; too high or too low will affect its growth.

If the temperature in the money tree's growing environment is too high, transpiration becomes too strong, the supply of water and nutrients to the roots is insufficient, and the leaves gradually dry up and turn yellow. But if the temperature is too low, for example when the winter temperature falls below 16°C, the leaves easily turn yellow and drop off, and below 10°C the plant very easily dies.

5. Pests and diseases

When the money tree is attacked by fungi and bacteria, it triggers leaf spot disease, and localized necrosis appears on the leaves, producing yellow patches or spots, and in severe cases the whole leaf withers and yellows and falls off.

Not only do pathogens covet the money tree; there are also many pests such as red spider mites and scale insects that can cause the money tree's leaves to wither and yellow, so you need to observe carefully.

6. Overly dense branches and leaves

The money tree has fairly strong growth capacity, so its branches and leaves grow vigorously; if you do not have the habit of pruning regularly, then the branches and leaves hidden at the bottom will turn yellow and droop due to insufficient light and lack of ventilation.

7. Alkaline soil

Soil is an indispensable factor for the money tree's growth. Most of the soil in northern regions contains more salt and alkali, but the money tree likes acidity, and being unable to adapt to the soil is no small matter - the soil lacks the iron the money tree needs, and the result of malnutrition is yellowing leaves.

II. What to do when the money tree's leaves turn yellow

1. Ventilate promptly, repot, or replenish water

When you have overwatered, place the plant by the window to ventilate well and loosen the soil more. If the potting soil cannot dry out within a short time and has become muddy, you can put a layer of absorbent cotton cloth under the bottom of the flowerpot and replace it with a new one once it is soaked through, or use a fan on a low setting to blow on it. If after trying every method the soil still has not dried, then repot it.

When you have underwatered, and the soil surface has cracked, then as long as the plant has not turned completely yellow, replenish water gradually. First moisten the soil surface, watering a little every hour, and gradually water thoroughly. Avoid watering thoroughly all at once, so that the roots do not swell from absorbing water and affect growth.

2. Move it to a semi-shady spot

For situations where the money tree's leaves turn yellow because it suddenly received sunlight, the chance of saving it is not great. When the leaves turn yellow from excessive sun exposure, the leaves lose water severely and it is very hard for them to recover in a short time; it is recommended to move it to a semi-shady spot. With proper watering, the yellowed leaves will slowly drop off, and once new buds grow it will be fine.

3. Trim the roots and change the soil

When overfertilizing causes the money tree's roots to rot, take the plant out of the pot, clean up the rotted parts, change to fresh soil, and replant. Or, by watering, dilute the nutrients in the soil to reduce the fertilizer strength.

4. Raise the temperature

In summer, when the money tree's leaves turn yellow due to excessively high temperature, move the plant promptly to a cool place and sprinkle water to cool it down; if the yellowing is not severe, it will slowly resume growing. In winter, raise the care temperature appropriately to prevent the plant from freezing injury.

5. Spray with chemicals

Improve ventilation and spray with chemicals promptly. For different pests and diseases, choose the corresponding fungicide, spraying once every 5~7 days, and after 3~4 sprays it will basically improve. (Recommended chemicals: carbendazim, chlorothalonil, Huahuashen)

6. Prune promptly

Many plant lovers' money trees have grown into the shape of a straw hat, and they still do not prune them. As a foliage plant, the money tree's lush branches and leaves are of course important. But when there are too many leaves and they hinder the plant's growth, that is your fault.

The money tree grows relatively fast, so for potted plants with dense branches and leaves, you can prune off part of the branches; there is no need to be reluctant to do so, as new buds will soon grow and the plant will grow even more luxuriantly.

7. Acidify the soil

The money tree is suited to growing in acidic soil, and promptly changing the soil's acidity and alkalinity can rescue a yellowing money tree. There is no need to take it out of the pot, and no need to change the soil; you only need to apply a certain amount of ferrous sulfate to the soil, sprinkling it directly into the flowerpot, which both increases the soil's fertility and acidifies the soil - killing two birds with one stone.

In the process of acidifying the soil, note that you should not use vinegar. Vinegar can indeed quickly make the soil acidic, but because the method of change is too aggressive, it will damage the organic matter in the soil and lower the soil's fertility.

III. How to prevent the leaves from turning yellow

1. Control the amount of watering

So that you do not end up crying bitterly because the money tree's leaves turn yellow, we should do everything well before it turns yellow, starting first with the amount of watering. Watering the money tree should follow the principle of “do not water until dry, and water thoroughly when you do”; under normal care, watering once every 15~20 days is enough. 

2. Reasonable lighting

In caring for the money tree, you should do your best every day; starting in late April, choose a clear, warm noon to move it outdoors or onto the balcony to receive sunlight, for 1~2 hours at first, then gradually extend the time, and you will get unexpectedly good results.

Of course, in summer it is best to do this in the morning or evening, when the sunlight is milder and will not harm the money tree.

3. Moderate fertilizing

When fertilizing the money tree, follow the principle of “light fertilizer, frequent application”, fertilizing according to the plant's growth; during the growing season, apply a liquid fertilizer or mixed flowering-plant fertilizer once every 1 to 2 weeks, and when repotting the plant, add well-rotted base fertilizer in time.

4. Control the soil's pH

Actually, the soil in most homes is bought directly from the market, and the soil in the pot is all acidic. But why does the phenomenon of yellow leaves still appear? This is related to our watering and soil changing; when watering, try to choose acidic water (rainwater, river water, tap water that has been left standing); in addition, you can usually water with a ferrous sulfate solution to ensure the soil's pH stays in a suitable range.

5. Clean the branches and leaves regularly

First, prune in time, cutting off overly dense, leggy and diseased branches to enhance the plant's light penetration. Second, clean the dust off the leaf surfaces; too much dust on the leaves not only affects the appearance but also reduces photosynthesis, causing the leaves to turn yellow.

6. Prevent and control pests and diseases in time

When growing the money tree indoors, because of ventilation, lighting and humidity, pests and diseases are hard to avoid; the key is to take good preventive measures. Apart from rainy days and winter, ensure the air in the care environment flows well; in the hot and humid season, spray a fungicide once a month as a preventive measure.

7. Maintain a suitable temperature

The money tree is fairly sensitive to temperature: when it is hot the leaves turn yellow, and when it is cold they turn yellow too, so a suitable temperature is very important. The suitable growing temperature for the money tree is 22~35°C; above 35°C, growth slows down. The minimum winter temperature is 16-18°C (basically the same as indoor temperature); below this temperature the leaves turn yellow and drop off, and below 10°C the plant easily dies