What value does the money tree (Portulacaria afra) have? What should I do if the leaves turn yellow and soft? What should I pay attention to when growing it?

Money tree, also known as cloud leaf and Jincheng wood, belongs to the Portulacaceae family. It is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Portulacaria, named for its thick, neatly arranged leaves that closely resemble copper coins, and it is a fine indoor foliage plant that has become popular in recent years. So, what value does the money tree have? What should I do if the leaves turn yellow and soft? What should I pay attention to when growing it?

I. What value does the money tree have?

1. Ornamental value

The money tree has fairly attractive leaf shape and color, giving it a certain ornamental value.

2. Purifying effect

A potted money tree can be placed beside a TV or computer to absorb radiation, and it can also be planted indoors to absorb substances such as formaldehyde and purify the air.

II. What should I do if the money tree's leaves turn yellow and soft?

1. Temperature causes

In winter, when the temperature drops below 5 degrees, if the soil is also very moist at this time, it will directly cause the money tree's leaves to be damaged by cold and topple over, and in severe cases it can even cause its roots to rot or even die.

Prevention and treatment methods: When growing the money tree in winter, the temperature must be well controlled, the lowest temperature must be kept above 10°C, and the pot soil must be kept dry.

2. Disease occurrence

When the money tree suffers from disease, round lesions appear on the leaves, ranging in color from grayish brown to yellowish brown, and they generally occur under conditions of excessively high temperature, excessively high humidity and poor ventilation.

Prevention and treatment methods: Once symptoms are found, promptly remove the diseased leaves to prevent them from infecting one another. In addition, pesticide can be sprayed to treat pests, once every ten days, and three to four sprays can achieve the preventive and therapeutic effect.

3. Too much sunlight

In the hot summer, when sunlight is plentiful, they are easily sunburned. After several consecutive cloudy days suddenly turning sunny, they also fail to adapt. There is another similar situation: when a plant kept indoors for a long time is suddenly moved outdoors, letting the money tree come into contact with the sun all at once makes its leaves especially prone to sunburn, after which they turn yellow and soft.

Prevention and treatment methods: Let the money tree get an appropriate amount of sun; it must not be suddenly exposed to harsh sunlight. In summer it should be kept indoors or in a semi-shaded environment. After consecutive rainy days, shade it promptly.

III. What should I pay attention to when growing it?

1. Temperature: When the summer temperature reaches above 35°C, the money tree grows poorly, and measures such as adding black shade netting and spraying water around its surroundings should be used to cool it down. 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 then seriously endangers its survival. In late autumn and early winter, when the temperature drops below 8°C, it should promptly be moved to a well-lit indoor spot, and throughout the overwintering period the temperature should be kept between 8 and 10°C.

2. Light: The money tree likes light and also has fairly strong shade tolerance, so it should be given an environment with good sunlight but also a certain degree of shade. It dislikes direct strong light, and in particular should avoid the scorching sun after long rain and a sudden clearing in late spring and early summer, as well as the unobstructed strong light baking for 5 to 6 hours around noon in summer, otherwise the newly sprouted tender leaves are very easily scorched.

3. Water: In commercial cultivation of potted money trees, for plants kept in a greenhouse, when the room temperature reaches above 33°C, the plants should be sprayed with water once a day. Because this plant has fairly strong drought tolerance, it is best to keep the pot soil slightly moist and on the dry side, but occasionally watering or fertilizing excessively will not cause root rot. In winter, be careful to spray water on the leaf surfaces and the surrounding environment so that the relative air humidity reaches above 50%.