How to Grow a Money Tree (Pachira aquatica): Care Methods and Precautions, What to Do When Leaves Turn Yellow, and the Correct Way to Water

The money tree symbolizes good fortune and rolling wealth, and in recent years it has become deeply loved by flower enthusiasts, who place it in their homes, offices or shops. So how do you grow a money tree? What are the care methods and precautions? What should you do when the leaves turn yellow?

Money tree care methods

1. Choosing the pot and soil for a money tree

Pot: Most flower enthusiasts know that when growing flowers you need to consider the size, breathability and depth of the pot, and choose according to the plant's habits. Because the money tree's root system is not well developed, you should not choose a pot that has poor breathability or is too deep and too large, as it easily accumulates water and can very easily lead to root rot due to watering problems. You can also use the method of placing a small pot inside a large pot to grow a money tree; this solves both the aesthetic problem and the water accumulation problem.

Soil: Money trees generally use loose garden soil or peat soil, leaf mold, coarse sand, plus a small amount of compound fertilizer or chicken manure as base fertilizer and potting soil.

2. Water and fertilizer management for a money tree

Watering: Watering is an important part of the money tree's care and management. With too little water, the branches and leaves grow slowly; with too much water, it may cause root rot and death; with a moderate amount of water, the branches and leaves are plump. Watering should follow the principle of preferring moist over dry, and secondly the “two more, two less” principle, that is, water more in the high-temperature summer season and water less in winter; water more for large and medium-sized plants in vigorous growth and water less for newly potted small plants.

Fertilizing: The money tree is a flowering plant that likes fertilizer, and its demand for fertilizer is greater than that of common flowering plants. Each year when repotting, apply sufficient base fertilizer, with a fertilizer-to-soil ratio of about 1:3, or even more. May to September is the growing period for the money tree; fertilize once every 15 days, using decomposed liquid fertilizer or mixed flower fertilizer, which can promote deep roots and lush leaves

3. Light and temperature for a money tree

Light: The money tree likes high temperatures, humidity and sunlight, and cannot be shaded for long periods. In home care it should be placed in a spot indoors with sufficient sunlight. When placing it, the leaf surface must face the sunlight. Otherwise, because the leaves are phototropic, the entire branches and leaves will become twisted. Also, do not move it suddenly from long-term shade into sunlight, as the leaves are easily scorched.

Temperature: The best temperature for money tree growth is between 20 and 30 degrees, so in winter the money tree is rather afraid of cold. When the temperature drops to 10 degrees it should be brought indoors; below 8 degrees it will suffer cold damage, with mild cases dropping leaves and severe cases dying. In winter, pay attention to doing a good job of cold protection and warmth.

In addition, every 3 to 5 days, use a spray bottle to spray water on the leaves once, to increase leaf moisture and raise air humidity; this not only helps photosynthesis proceed but also makes the branches and leaves look more attractive.

4. Money tree propagation methods

There are mainly two propagation methods for the money tree: sowing or cuttings. Sowing propagation can be carried out as long as the temperature is kept above 20 degrees, and cuttings can be taken from branches in May-June as cuttings for propagation.

Precautions for money tree care

1. Repotting a money tree

As needed, it can be repotted in spring, and the branches and leaves can be pruned once to promote renewal of the branches and leaves.

2. Common pests and diseases of the money tree

The common diseases of the money tree are mainly root rot and leaf blight, and during growth there can also be damage from the larvae of the sugarcane borer moth. In addition, note that the money tree can also show yellowing leaves and leaf drop; observe promptly and prevent early.

3. Pruning a money tree

If the money tree is planted outdoors, then there is no need to prune it; just let it grow. But if it is planted in a pot as a foliage plant, then if it is not pruned in time it is prone to growing too fast and affecting its ornamental value. Timely pruning can control its growth rate and at the same time change its shape, making the plant more ornamental.

Causes of yellowing money tree leaves and solutions

Cause 1: Improper watering

The money tree likes a warm and humid climate; watering too much or too little can cause the leaves to turn yellow.

When watered too much, the soil in the pot often remains too wet, the money tree's roots cannot breathe freely, the root and stem rot, and this gradually spreads to the branches and stems, and finally the leaves turn yellow, wither and drop, and in severe cases the whole plant dies.

When watered too little, 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 wither and yellow from the bottom upward and drop; the money tree is silently protesting your laziness~

Solution: Ventilate promptly, repot or replenish water

When watered too much, place it by the window for good ventilation and loosen the soil more. If the potting soil cannot dry out within a short time and is muddy, you can place a layer of absorbent cotton cloth at the bottom of the pot, 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 using every method the soil still has not dried, then change the soil.

When watered too little, the soil surface cracks; if it has not all turned yellow, replenish water gradually. First moisten the soil surface, water a little each hour, and gradually water thoroughly. Avoid watering thoroughly all at once, so as not to cause the roots to swell from absorbing water and affect growth.

Cause 2: Improper light

The money tree likes sunlight, but it is not tolerant of strong direct light; scorching sun exposure or long-term shade can also cause the leaves to wither and yellow.

Placing the money tree in an indoor corner, with too much emphasis on ornamental effect, causes the money tree to remain in a shaded environment for a long time, which leads to new branches and leaves growing pale yellow and spindly, while the old leaves become dull and lusterless and drop in large numbers. In the scorching summer, you can only blow cold air indoors, so how could the money tree withstand the impact of the burning sun? If you forget to move it to a shaded place at noon, then you can only accept the miserable sight of yellowing leaves.

Solution: Move it to a semi-shaded place.

For the situation where the money tree leaves turn yellow due to suddenly receiving sunlight, the chance of saving it is not great. Because yellowing caused by excessive sun exposure means the leaves have lost water severely and it is hard to recover in a short time; it is recommended to move it to a semi-shaded place. With appropriate watering, the yellowed leaves will slowly drop, and once new buds grow it will be fine.

Cause 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 also no good. The nutrients the money tree absorbs are a fixed amount; if too much fertilizer is applied, after the plant absorbs sufficient nutrients the remaining fertilizer will scorch the money tree's roots and stems, thereby causing the leaves to turn yellow.

Solution: Trim the roots and change the soil

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

Cause 4: Unsuitable temperature

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

If the temperature in the money tree's growing environment is too high, transpiration is too strong, and the roots cannot supply enough water and nutrients, the leaves will gradually dry up and turn yellow. But if the temperature is too low, for example when the winter temperature is below 16℃, the leaves easily turn yellow and drop, and below 10℃ it is very likely to die.

Solution: Cool down and warm up

In summer, if the money tree's leaves turn yellow due to excessively high temperature, promptly move the plant to a cool place and sprinkle water to lower the temperature; if the yellowing is not serious, it will slowly recover its growth. In winter, appropriately raise the care temperature to avoid the plant being damaged by freezing.

Cause 5: Pests and diseases

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

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

Solution: Spray pesticides

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

Cause 6: Branches and leaves too dense

The money tree has relatively 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 inability to ventilate.

Solution: Prune promptly

Many flower enthusiasts' money trees have grown into a straw hat shape, yet they still do not prune them. As a foliage plant, dense branches and leaves are of course important for the money tree. But if there are too many leaves and they hinder the plant's growth, then it is your fault.

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

Cause 7: Soil on the alkaline side

Soil is an indispensable factor for money tree growth. Most areas in the north have soil with relatively high salt and alkali content, but the money tree likes acidity; being unaccustomed to the soil is no small matter. When the soil lacks the iron element the money tree needs, the result of malnutrition is yellowing leaves.

Solution: Acidify the soil

The money tree is suitable for growing in acidic soil; promptly changing the soil's acidity and alkalinity can remedy 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 pot. This can both increase the soil's fertility and acidify the soil, achieving two things at once.

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 aggressive, it will damage the organic matter in the soil and lower the soil's fertility.