How to Grow a Money Tree? The Latest Cultivation Methods and Precautions
The money tree (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is a perennial herbaceous ornamental plant. Unlike most ornamental plants, the money tree has underground tubers and basically no main stem above ground. Besides its extremely high ornamental value, the money tree can also purify the air, absorb carbon dioxide, and increase the concentration of negative ions in the air. It is one of the main plants cultivated by many flower growers, so how should the money tree be grown? What precautions should be taken? Let's take a look below!
1. Choosing Soil
The soil for planting the money tree needs to be highly permeable, fertile and loose; you can use vegetable garden soil mixed with a small amount of river sand. Keep the soil pH at around 6.2; it can be slightly acidic but must not be too alkaline. Before planting, pay attention to the planting density. Because the money tree's tubers are relatively large and the plant itself is thick and substantial, this is to avoid the plants becoming too crowded as they grow later and affecting each other's growth, so as to create a good growing environment for the money tree and improve its ornamental value.
2. Fertilization Method
The money tree loves fertilizer very much. During cultivation, not only should sufficient base fertilizer be applied before planting, but topdressing should also be done no less than 2 times a month during growth. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, nitrogen fertilizer application should be stopped to prevent excessive nitrogen from causing excessive vegetative growth of the money tree. Then appropriately add phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote tender and plump leaves on the money tree. In addition, fertilizer application should be controlled according to temperature changes. When the temperature is below 16°C, fertilization should be stopped.
3. Timely Watering
The money tree likes a dry-and-wet environment. During cultivation, water appropriately according to the money tree's growth progress and the soil's moisture content. When the surrounding temperature is above 30°C, insufficient water can easily cause the money tree to dry out, so it must be watered once a day. However, because the money tree has strong drought resistance, watering should be done by small-drip irrigation. When the temperature is suitable, watering once a week is enough. In summer and other high-temperature weather, appropriately increase the surrounding humidity level.
4. Light and Temperature
The money tree prefers warmth and is not very suitable for growing in low-temperature environments, so try to keep the money tree's growing temperature at around 25°C. If the temperature is above 33°C, it will affect the money tree's growth, so it should be cooled down in time and shading work should be done well. Although winter temperatures are lower, you must also ensure the temperature does not drop below 10°C. Too low a temperature can easily cause freezing damage to the money tree and reduce its survival rate. The money tree has relatively high light requirements, but strong direct light should also be prevented, otherwise new leaves can easily be scorched.
5. Precautions
Shading work for the money tree is very important. In summer, especially at noon when the temperature is highest, pay attention to cooling and shading. Also, the soil's moisture content should not be too high; excessive moisture in a low-temperature environment is not good for the money tree's growth and can easily cause its rhizomes to rot. In a low-temperature environment, topdressing should also be stopped, otherwise it will also harm the money tree's rhizome area. When the temperature is too low, attention should also be paid to cold protection to prevent freezing damage.
The above is the editor's brief introduction to the money tree's cultivation methods and precautions. The money tree's growth habits are rather peculiar; for example, it likes light but cannot tolerate direct light, and it likes water but cannot have too much, and so on. Therefore, everyone must pay attention to these aspects during cultivation to improve the money tree's survival rate, so as to ensure that unnecessary losses to cultivation benefits are avoided. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone.