Money Tree Leaves Turning Yellow: Latest Solutions Explained in Detail

The money tree (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant and a rare foliage plant with underground tubers. It is native to tropical Africa and prefers a warm, hot and slightly dry, semi-shaded environment with small annual average temperature fluctuations. It is relatively drought-tolerant, but sensitive to cold, averse to strong direct sunlight, and afraid of heavy, sticky soil and water accumulation in the pot. If the pot soil has poor drainage and aeration, it can easily cause its tubers to rot. Now let us take a look at what to do when the money tree's leaves turn yellow!

Improper watering

The money tree prefers a warm, hot and slightly dry environment and is relatively drought-tolerant, so it should not be watered too much, otherwise yellowing leaves are likely to occur. When growing it on a home balcony, if it is on the 3rd floor or above, the potted plant can be placed on a wet sand tray. Usually pay attention to spraying some water on the leaf surface to wash away the fine dust attached to the leaves, and at the same time be careful to provide shade. When growing it indoors, when the room temperature reaches above 33°C, spray the plant with water once a day and keep the pot soil slightly moist. In winter, pay attention to spraying water on the leaf surface and the surrounding environment so that the relative air humidity can reach above 50%. After Mid-Autumn Festival, reduce watering, or replace watering with spraying, to help the newly sprouted tender leaves safely overwinter. In addition, in winter, special attention should be paid to keeping the pot soil from becoming too wet; it is better to keep it on the dry side, otherwise under low temperature conditions, overly wet pot soil is more likely to cause root rot, and even the death of the whole plant.

Unsuitable lighting

The growing environment for the money tree is a place with plenty of light that is not exposed to strong light. Therefore, avoid direct strong light while ensuring the environment is well-ventilated and cool, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow.

Improper fertilizing

The money tree relatively likes fertilizer, but the degree must be well controlled during fertilization. During the growing season, the money tree can be watered with 2 to 3 times a month of a mixed solution of 02.% urea plus 0.1% monopotassium phosphate, or a balanced fertilizer 20-10-20 (20-20-20) can be applied at a concentration of 200 to 250 ppm in combination with calcium nitrate. After Mid-Autumn Festival, to help it safely overwinter, nitrogen fertilizer should be stopped, and 0.3% monopotassium phosphate solution should be applied 2 to 3 times in succession to promote the hardening and filling out of its young leaf stalks and newly sprouted leaves. After the temperature drops below 15°C, all forms of topdressing should be stopped to avoid fertilizer damage to the roots under low temperature conditions.

The cause of pests

Pests are also one of the reasons that cause the money tree's leaves to turn yellow. In environments with poor ventilation and insufficient light, the leaves of the money tree are prone to damage from the piercing and sucking of scale insects. For control methods, in small household plantings, transparent tape can be used to stick off the insect bodies, or a wet cloth can be used to wipe away the live insect bodies. In commercial cultivation, during the peak hatching period of the nymphs, spray 20% buprofezin wettable powder at 1000 times dilution, which gives good insecticidal results.

Unsuitable soil

Insufficient soil acidity can also cause the money tree's leaves to turn yellow. Due to the special climatic conditions of its place of origin, the money tree has developed strong drought resistance, so the basic requirement for the growing medium is good permeability. The growing medium is mostly a mix of peat, coarse sand or washed cinders with a small amount of garden soil, and its pH value should be adjusted to between 6 and 6.5, in a slightly acidic state. Because its tubers are large, its root system is well developed, and its pinnate compound leaves are relatively long, it is advisable to choose a deeper blue-and-white porcelain pot or purple clay pot for planting, but more stones, brick granules or bark chunks should be placed in the lower part, at a height of about 1/4 of the pot's depth, to help create a root environment with good aeration and drainage. During the growing season, loosen the soil for the plant once a month, always keeping the growing medium well aerated. During the plum rain season, check frequently, and if water accumulation in the pot is found, repot and change the soil promptly.