How to care for a potted money tree? Latest care tips shared
The money tree, also known as Malabar chestnut, Guiana chestnut, and provision tree, is a small tree of the genus Pachira in the family Malvaceae. It is native to Central America from Mexico to Costa Rica. It has an attractive plant shape, with stems and leaves remaining green all year round. The branches of young seedlings are soft and tolerant of pruning, so they can be shaped into various artistic forms of stump specimens and bonsai. In the south it is often used as a street tree and landscape tree. Now let's take a look at how to care for a potted money tree!
Growth habits of the money tree
The money tree is native to Central America from Mexico to Costa Rica, and it grows normally when cultivated in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China. It likes a hot and humid climate and has poor cold resistance. Seedlings cannot tolerate frost, while adult trees can withstand light frost and long periods of low temperatures of 5-6°C. In South China it can overwinter outdoors; in areas to the north, it must be moved into a greenhouse in winter to protect it from the cold. It likes fertile, loose, breathable, water-retaining sandy loam, prefers acidic soil, and dislikes alkaline or heavy clay soil. It is relatively tolerant of waterlogging and also slightly tolerant of drought.
⟦NL>Propagation methods of the money tree
1. Cuttings: The best time to take money tree cuttings is in May and June. Cut sturdy branches with buds and insert them into sand, while paying attention to moisture retention and shade. They will root and survive in one month. In spring, branches cut when the plant is topped can also be used, inserted into gravel or coarse sand, kept at a certain humidity, and they will root in about 30 days.
2. Sowing: Money tree seeds should be sown immediately after harvesting. Cover the seeds with 1 cm of soil, keep moist and shaded, and control the temperature at 20 to 25°C. They will sprout in about one week. Note that the seedbed soil should be fertile and well drained, preferably containing gravel, which helps the new shoots root.
How to care for a potted money tree?
1. Potting soil: When you buy a money tree, it usually comes in soil provided by the seller. Gardeners do not need to repot it immediately after purchase; keep it for now and consider repotting later. If repotting, potted money trees generally use loose garden soil or peat soil, leaf mold, and coarse sand, with a small amount of compound fertilizer or chicken manure added as base fertilizer and growing medium.
2. Light: When growing a money tree, place it in a bright spot indoors. When positioning it, make sure the leaf surface faces the light. Do not keep it in shade for a long time, otherwise the branches and leaves will twist and deform. It is best to spray the money tree leaves with water once every 3 to 5 days, which both aids photosynthesis and makes the branches and leaves more attractive.
3. Watering: When growing a money tree, too little water can easily stunt the development of branches and leaves, too much water may cause root rot and death, and a moderate amount of water results in plump branches and leaves. The first principle of watering a money tree is to keep it moist rather than dry. Water more in the hot summer season, less in winter, more during the vigorous growth period, and less for small or newly planted specimens. Under normal conditions, watering once every 15 to 20 days is enough.
3. Fertilizing: The money tree has a greater demand for fertilizer than other flowering plants and trees. When repotting, the proportion of fertilized soil can be one third. Fertilized soil includes a mix of decomposed leaf litter, crushed bone meal, and bean cake residue. This kind of fertilized soil is highly effective and easy to obtain. However, note that it must be fully decomposed, so as not to burn the leaves yellow. During the money tree's growing period (that is, from May to September), apply a decomposed liquid fertilizer or flower fertilizer once every 15 days to keep the roots deep and the leaves lush.
4. Humidity: When growing a money tree, water frequently, watering thoroughly and evenly, leaving little standing water, and avoiding overwatering. The leaves should be sprinkled with water often, on the one hand to maintain the plant's humidity, and on the other hand to wash off floating dust and preserve its ornamental value. For indoor growing in summer, water once every 3-5 days; in spring and autumn, once every 5-10 days. In winter it depends on room temperature. If the room temperature is around 12°C, watering once a month is enough.
5. Temperature: The money tree is native to Central America from Mexico to Costa Rica and likes a hot and moderately humid environment. Its most suitable growing temperature is 18-30°C. When growing it, care should be taken to maintain a temperature above 15°C, and the branches and leaves should be sprayed with water frequently to increase humidity. In late autumn and winter, attention should be paid to cold protection and frost protection.
6. Repotting: Newly introduced money tree plants do not need repotting in the same year, to prevent the tree shape from becoming distorted. The suitable repotting season is spring, and it can also be done in July and August, using the plant's semi-dormant state during the high-temperature period to repot. The money tree has relatively strict requirements for potting soil. The potting soil should preferably be slightly moist and well drained, and can use acidic sandy loam containing humus.
7. Pests and diseases: The money tree is commonly harmed by leaf spot disease, which can be prevented and treated by spraying with a 1000-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim. The pests of the money tree include scale insects, whiteflies, and leaf rollers, which can be killed by spraying with a 1000-fold dilution of 25% phosmet emulsifiable concentrate.
What to do if the money tree leaves turn yellow?
1. Unsuitable light: Keeping it indoors without light for a long time prevents the leaves from carrying out photosynthesis to supply nutrients. If it is winter, it can be placed in a bright spot indoors; if it is spring or autumn, it can be placed in a bright spot outdoors; if it is summer, it can be grown in a spot with dappled shade outdoors, and it will recover its vitality before long.
2. Too high a temperature: In summer, if the money tree is placed in a high-temperature spot exposed to direct strong sunlight, it is very easy for the tips and edges of young leaves to scorch, or for leaves to turn yellow and fall off. At this time it should be moved promptly to a well-ventilated, cool place.
3. Overwatering: Overwatering keeps the potting soil in a waterlogged state for a long time, causing the root crown to rot and the leaves to turn yellow and fall off. The base of the money tree stem is swollen and stores a large amount of water and nutrients, making it very drought tolerant. Do not water too much or too often. Especially in winter, when the temperature is low, watering too much or too often can very easily cause the root crown to rot and the leaves to turn yellow, blacken, and fall off.
4. Improper fertilizing: Because the money tree is given too little fertilizer, at too low a concentration, and with too long an interval between applications, its leaves turn yellow. The characteristic is that young leaves and tender stems turn yellow first. If this phenomenon is found and fertilizer is not applied in time, it can also cause the whole money tree to have yellow leaves and even die. Therefore, fertilize in time. For flowering plants lacking fertilizer, never apply a large amount of concentrated fertilizer at once, so as to avoid burning the roots.
5. Nutrient deficiency: Most soil and water in northern regions contain more salt and alkali. The money tree likes acidic soil. Because the soil lacks soluble iron and other elements that it can absorb, the money tree leaves turn yellow. Its characteristic is that young leaves are clearly affected while old leaves are less so, with yellow leaf tissue and green veins, forming a typical network pattern. It can be solved by applying a ferrous sulfate aqueous solution. The method is to mix 7 parts bean cake fertilizer, 5 parts ferrous sulfate, and 200 parts water into a diluted solution and water with it.
6. Poor ventilation: If the money tree is given too much nitrogen fertilizer, the branches and leaves grow too luxuriantly. If it is not pruned for a long time, the inner branches and leaves do not get enough light, which can very easily cause the money tree leaves to turn yellow and fall off. At this time, fertilizer should be applied reasonably and pruning strengthened, so that the money tree has ventilation and light.
7. Improper soil changing: When repotting or changing the soil of a money tree, incorrect operation can also cause the leaves to turn yellow. When changing the soil, try to damage the roots as little as possible, and the added soil and medium should be sterile, breathable, fertile, and on the acidic side. The solution is to be especially careful when changing the soil, and if this situation is found, replace the soil normally in time.
8. Drought and dehydration: If the money tree misses watering or is watered with half water for a long time (that is, wet on top and dry below), it will affect the plant's absorption of nutrients and can also easily cause the leaves to become dull and lusterless and to wilt and droop. Its characteristic is that the lower old leaves age first and gradually turn yellow and fall off from bottom to top. At this time, water lightly and spray water so that it gradually recovers, then return to normal watering.
9. Pests and diseases: Leaf spot disease caused by infection with fungi and other pathogens easily causes local necrosis of the leaves, with yellow spots or blotches appearing, and in severe cases the whole leaf withers, turns yellow, and falls off. After infection with mosaic virus, yellow-green mottling appears on the leaves. Damage by scale insects, red spider mites, and the like also turns parts of the leaves yellow and withered, and even causes the whole leaf to wilt, turn yellow, and fall off. In all cases, spray promptly for prevention and control.
10. Too great a temperature difference: If the temperature difference is too great, the plant cannot adapt, causing the money tree leaves to turn yellow and fall off. The suitable growing temperature for the money tree is 20-32°C, and with moderate light it grows well. If it is kept indoors for a long time and suddenly moved outdoors, the leaves easily turn yellow and fall off. For outdoor cultivation, first place it in dappled shade, then gradually move it to a spot with direct light; the leaves will then appear thicker, darker green, and robust. Be careful to guard against strong wind, and do not let it be exposed to sudden cold or heat.