The Latest Money Tree Care Methods and Precautions

The money tree is a very popular indoor foliage plant because of its auspicious name, but many gardening enthusiasts know little about how to care for a money tree, and they also do not know what precautions there are for growing one. Below, the editor will explain the money tree's care methods and what precautions there are!

Growing Conditions for the Money Tree

The money tree (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) originates from the tropical (savanna) climate zone of eastern Africa, where rainfall is relatively low. It likes warm, hot, slightly dry, semi-shady environments with small annual average temperature fluctuations. It is relatively drought-tolerant, but afraid of cold, and avoids strong direct sunlight. It dislikes heavy, sticky soil and water accumulation in the pot. If the pot soil has poor aeration, it can easily cause its tubers to rot.

The money tree requires loose, fertile soil that drains well, is rich in organic matter, and is acidic to slightly acidic. It has strong sprouting ability; after cutting off the thick compound leaves, new leaves quickly sprout from the top of its tubers.

Propagation Methods for the Money Tree

The propagation methods for the money tree share similarities with other flowers and plants, mainly including division, whole-group cultivation, and cutting.

1. Division method: The division method involves separating a relatively strong seed-bearing stem of the money tree from the parent plant for propagation, then placing it in soil elsewhere to cultivate. Division is generally best done in spring, when the survival rate is relatively high.

2. Whole-group cultivation method: The whole-group cultivation method involves breeding money tree seedlings collectively, with unified lighting, fertilizing, and watering, which can increase the number cultivated.

3. Cutting method: The cutting method involves separating a stem of the money tree from the parent plant, placing it in acidic soil or nutrient soil, providing a certain amount of nutrients, and keeping it in a dark place to cultivate. Eventually, when it takes root, it has successfully propagated.

Money Tree Care Methods

1. Temperature: The suitable growth temperature for the money tree is 20-32°C. Whether potted or field-planted, it requires small annual temperature fluctuations. For commercial cultivation, it is best to grow it in a temperature-controlled greenhouse. Each summer, when the temperature reaches above 35°C, the plant grows poorly. Measures such as adding a black shade net and spraying water around the surrounding environment should be used to lower the temperature, creating a suitable environment with a suitable ambient temperature that is also relatively dry. In winter, it is best to maintain a greenhouse temperature above 10°C. If the room temperature is below 5°C, the plant is prone to cold damage, which can seriously threaten its survival. In late autumn and early winter, when the temperature drops below 8°C, it should be promptly moved indoors to a well-lit location. Throughout the winter, the temperature should be kept between 8°C and 10°C, which is relatively safe and reliable.

2. Light: The money tree likes light and also has strong shade tolerance. It should be provided with an environment that has good sunlight but also a certain degree of shade. It avoids strong direct sunlight, and especially should avoid the scorching sun after long rain and sudden clearing in late spring and early summer, as well as the 5-6 hours of unobstructed strong light baking around noon in summer, otherwise the newly sprouted tender leaves are very easily sunburned. During commercial cultivation, from late spring to mid-autumn, it should be placed under a shade shed with 50-70% shading, but it should not be overly dark, otherwise the newly sprouted tender leaves will become thin and elongated, the leaf color will turn yellow and lackluster, and the leaflets will be sparsely spaced, affecting the plant's compact and beautiful form. For potted plants moved into a greenhouse in winter, supplementary lighting should be provided. Keeping the pot soil on the dry side allows the plant to remain disease-free year-round. In addition, the newly sprouted pinnate compound leaves do not show obvious phototropism, and the plant form remains good.

3. Humidity: To care well for a potted money tree, efforts should be made to create an environment that is both moist and on the dry side. During commercial cultivation, for plants placed in a greenhouse, when the room temperature reaches above 33°C, the plant should be sprayed with water once a day. Because this plant has strong drought tolerance, it is best to keep the pot soil slightly moist and on the dry side, but occasional excessive watering and fertilizing will not necessarily cause root rot. In winter, pay attention to spraying water on the leaf surfaces and the surrounding environment so that the relative air humidity reaches above 50%. After mid-autumn, watering should be reduced, or spraying water should replace watering, to help the newly sprouted tender leaves safely overwinter. In addition, in winter, special attention should be paid to the pot soil not being too moist; it is better to keep it on the dry side, otherwise under low temperature conditions, overly moist pot soil is more likely to cause root rot, or even the death of the entire plant.

4. Soil: Due to the special climatic conditions of the money tree's place of origin, it has developed strong drought resistance, so the basic requirement for the growing medium is good aeration. The basic requirement for the growing medium is good aeration. The growing medium is mostly a mixture of peat, coarse sand or rinsed coal cinders, and a small amount of garden soil, with its pH adjusted to between 6 and 6.5, in a slightly acidic state. Because its tubers are large, its root system is developed, and its pinnate compound leaves are relatively long, during the growing season its growth should be observed in a timely manner to decide whether to repot and change the soil. Always keep the growing medium well aerated to help create a root environment with good air permeability and drainage. During the plum rain season, inspect frequently, and when water accumulation in the pot is found, repot and change the soil promptly.

5. Fertilizer: The money tree relatively likes fertilizer. In addition to adding an appropriate amount of decomposed cake fertilizer or multi-element slow-release compound fertilizer to the growing medium, during the growing season a mixed solution of 02.% urea plus 0.1% monopotassium phosphate can be applied 2-3 times a month, or a balanced fertilizer 20-10-20 (20-20-20) can be applied at a concentration of 200-250 ppm combined with calcium nitrate. After mid-autumn, to help it safely overwinter, nitrogen fertilizer should be stopped, and 0.3% monopotassium phosphate solution should be applied 2-3 times continuously to promote the hardening and filling out of the young leaf rachises 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.

Causes of Root Rot and Treatment Methods

During the care of the money tree, most failures are caused by root rot. Generally, the cause of money tree root rot is watering. The plant should be promptly removed from the pot, part of the old soil shaken off, placed in a semi-shady, cool place to air dry for 1-2 days, and then replanted with new sandy loam soil. Afterwards, the pot should not be too large, and watering should not be too frequent. Water when the pot soil is 70% dry. There must not be a rigid watering interval; water flexibly.

If the root rot is relatively severe, it is best to shake off all the soil, then soak it in a 500-fold dilution of potassium permanganate or carbendazim solution for 5-10 minutes, then rinse it once with clean water, air dry until the root system is dry, and replant.

Precautions for Growing the Money Tree

1. At noon or after long rain and sudden clearing in late spring and early summer, pay attention to sun protection and provide the plant with appropriate shading.

2. In winter, the pot soil must not be too moist, otherwise under low temperature conditions it will cause the plant's root system to rot; it is better to keep it on the dry side.

3. When the temperature is below 15 degrees, all forms of fertilizing must be stopped, otherwise under low temperature conditions the fertilizer will damage the roots and stems.

4. In winter, when it is especially cold, pay attention to protecting the plant from the cold. At night, a double layer of plastic bags can be placed over the plant, and when the temperature rises again, remove the plastic bags.

5. In summer, listen to the weather forecast in a timely manner and prepare to shade the plant as early as possible.