What causes a money tree to wither and die, and how should it be handled?
Because of its distinctive tree shape, the fact that its stem base can be shaped into different forms, and its especially auspicious name, the money tree is often used as an indoor foliage plant and is widely cultivated. But some flower lovers often end up killing their money trees. What causes this? And how should it be handled?
Money tree
The money tree is native to the tropics and likes full sunlight and high temperatures. It grows rapidly when sunlight, temperature and water are all sufficient. But it is also very shade-tolerant, and in the short term it can grow well anywhere indoors. However, every 10 to 20 days the money tree should be moved outdoors to a sunny spot for a while, otherwise its leaves will become too thin. It is best placed in a spot with bright, indirect light.
The optimum growing temperature for the money tree is 15 to 30 degrees. In winter, attention should be paid to keeping it warm; low temperatures easily cause leaf drop.
Watering is a key part of money tree care. In summer, when it grows vigorously, it absorbs a lot of water, and needs watering once every 2 to 3 days. If it is kept outdoors, it needs watering 1 to 2 times a day. But more water is not always better; you should also grasp the principle of watering thoroughly once the soil has dried out, so that the soil has an interval between wet and dry.
The money tree grows rapidly. With good fertilizer and water, it can grow about 1 m per year. Therefore it must be pruned frequently to maintain a good tree shape. When pruning, most people use the flat-cut method, but you can also do it according to your own preference. The pruned branches, no matter how thick or thin, as long as they have become woody, can be cut into 20 to 30 cm long cuttings and inserted into flower pots to propagate. However, cuttings that take root generally do not easily grow into a tree shape with a swollen stem base.
How to care for a potted money tree in winter and how to rescue a frostbitten money tree
The auspiciously named money tree is outstanding among ornamental plants. A small pot at home carries the beautiful wish of "bringing wealth." However, the money tree has poor cold tolerance. When cultivating a money tree in winter, attention should be paid to several aspects such as temperature, water and light. Below, the editor will introduce how to care for a money tree in winter and how to rescue a frostbitten money tree!
How to care for a money tree in winter?
1. Light
The money tree grows robustly in a full-sun environment, with short leaf nodes, wide leaves, dark green leaf color, and a thick, sturdy stem base. If grown under weak light for a long time, the branches become thin, the leaf stalks droop, and the leaf color turns light green. The best method is in mid-to-late March of the following year, on a sunny midday, to move the potted money tree outdoors. At first, give it 1 to 2 hours of sunlight each day, then gradually extend the light time until full-sun management is restored.
2. Smoke
When the money tree is moved indoors for care in winter, avoid damage from smoke. Smoke will make the leaves turn yellow and reduce its ornamental value. Therefore, try not to place the money tree near a smoke source or an air-conditioner outlet.
3. Temperature
The most suitable temperature for money tree growth is 20°C to 30°C. If the winter temperature is kept above 5°C, the money tree can generally overwinter safely. If the room temperature is below 8°C and the environment is too humid or too dry and not ventilated, the money tree's leaves will develop water-soaked spots, first appearing bronze-colored and then gradually falling off. If the temperature is below 5°C, all the money tree's leaves will fall off, or it may even wither and die.
Therefore, in mid-November, move the potted money tree indoors to overwinter, and move it outdoors again at Grain Rain (mid-April) of the following year.
4. Water
The money tree is not very demanding about water. It can grow normally whether given heavy irrigation outdoors or not watered for 10 days indoors. But in winter, the amount of watering should be reduced. The money tree's potting soil should not be wet; slightly moist is best, otherwise the tips of the money tree's leaves easily become scorched, or the leaves may even fall off. At a room temperature between 12 and 18°C, the money tree only needs watering once a month. diyju.com
How to rescue a frostbitten money tree
Improper care of the money tree in winter can very easily lead to frost damage. The cold-sensitive money tree's leaves and roots are very easily frostbitten, and once frost damage appears it needs to be remedied promptly, otherwise the money tree will find it very hard to survive.
First, move the potted money tree to a warm place. Then, check the degree of frost damage to the money tree. If only the leaves are damaged, spray the leaves with a solution of naphthaleneacetic acid butyl ester and gibberellin, and at the same time drench the roots with agents such as naphthaleneacetic acid. Treat once every 3 days, and after new tender leaves grow out, change to once every 7 days. Generally 5 to 6 treatments are enough for recovery.
When the money tree's roots are found to be damaged, you can drench with a 200-fold solution of 70% ethylicin-manganese wettable powder, then place the potted money tree in a warm, dry place to recover and grow.
How to grow a money tree, and what to do when the money tree's leaves turn yellow
I believe many people place a money tree at home or in the office. First, the money tree's meaning is very auspicious, and moreover its tree shape is very graceful, with glossy green leaves all year round, making it a very attractive foliage plant. But with improper care, the money tree can also develop yellow leaves. Below is an introduction to how to grow a money tree and how to deal with yellowing leaves on a money tree.
How to grow a money tree
1. Choosing the environment
The money tree is highly adaptable, liking light yet tolerating shade, and it grows well in full sun, half sun or a shaded spot. But if grown in a dark place for a long time, its vitality will decline. When summer arrives, it is best to shade it 50% to prevent the intense sun from scorching the leaf tips and leaf edges.
When grown indoors for viewing, it should be placed in a spot with some indirect light, and it should not stay there continuously for more than 30 days. If leggy growth and declining vitality appear, it should gradually be exposed to sunlight. Never suddenly expose it to strong light, in case it cannot adapt and withers and dies.
2. Choosing the potting soil
Most money trees bought now come with the soil provided by the seller, so flower lovers do not need to change the soil the moment they get it. Keep growing it first, and consider changing the soil later. If you do change the soil, a potted money tree is generally given loose garden soil or peat soil, leaf mold, coarse sand, plus a small amount of compound fertilizer as a base fertilizer and growing medium.
3. Watering the money tree
The money tree's root system is very underdeveloped. Many flower lovers' money trees die mainly from root rot. Some flower lovers will then ask: exactly how often should a money tree be watered, and how much water at a time? Here it must be stated clearly that conditions differ from place to place, and the pot and soil used also differ, so there is no fixed watering standard.
So how should you water? Generally speaking, watering a money tree once a month is not too little. Also, here is a little tip for flower lovers: a plant will not die quickly from lack of water, and it will recover quickly after watering, but if it is waterlogged it is basically beyond saving. For the money tree, you can usually spray water more and water the soil less.
3. Fertilizing the money tree
Normally, if the soil is fertile enough, no fertilizing is needed. If it has been grown for a long time, you can consider giving it light fertilizer. Never use concentrated fertilizer. You can use some common foliage fertilizers, and remember to keep the fertilizer light.
Note: Generally speaking, money trees have had their tops cut off, so every spring flower lovers can also prune them appropriately. This both improves their appearance and promotes the growth of new branches.
4. Watch out for pests and diseases
If the epidermis of the stem is found to be black or black thread-like fibers are exposed, it is stem rot causing the money tree's stem to rot. In the early stage of the disease, spray a 1000-fold solution of 50% water-soluble fungicide powder, once every 10 days, for 2 to 3 consecutive treatments.
For anthracnose, spray 800-fold 50% chlorothalonil wettable powder or 600-fold 50% carbendazim solution for control, once every 7 to 10 days. For cabbage caterpillars, inchworms and red spider mites, regularly spray 800-fold 40% omethoate or 1000-fold 50% dichlorvos, once every 7 days for 2 to 3 consecutive sprays.
What to do when the money tree's leaves turn yellow
1. Overwatering
The potting soil stays too wet for a long time, causing a lack of oxygen in the soil, making some fibrous roots rot, hindering normal respiration and the absorption of water and nutrients, and causing leaves to turn yellow and fall off. After the damage occurs, the tender leaves first turn light yellow, and then the old leaves gradually turn yellow too. Watering should be stopped immediately, fertilizing suspended, and the soil often loosened so that it is well aerated.
2. Drought and dehydration
Missing a watering or long-term half-watering (that is, wet on top and dry below) affects nutrient absorption and also easily causes the leaves to become dull and lusterless, and the leaves to wilt and droop. First the lower old leaves age, and gradually wither, yellow and fall off from bottom to top. At this point, water lightly and spray water, so that it gradually recovers, then return to normal watering.
3. Long-term lack of fertilizer
If no nitrogen fertilizer has been applied for a long time, or the pot and soil have not been changed, the soil lacks nitrogen and other nutrient elements, causing the branches and leaves to become weak, and the leaves thin and yellow. The pot should be changed in time, replaced with fresh loose, fertile growing medium, and gradually given more dilute, fully decomposed liquid fertilizer or compound flower fertilizer.
4. Overfertilizing
Too much fertilizer will cause new leaves to be thick and fleshy, and mostly uneven, while old leaves dry at the tips, scorch yellow and fall off. Fertilizing should be stopped immediately, watering increased so the fertilizer flows out through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, or the pot should be changed immediately, the root ball rinsed with water, and then replanted in the pot.
5. Hot, high temperatures
In summer, if cool-loving flowers (such as cyclamen, fuchsia and wax begonia) are placed in a high-temperature spot and exposed to direct strong sunlight, the leaf tips and leaf edges of young leaves are very easily scorched, or the leaves turn yellow and fall off. They need to be moved promptly to a cool, well-ventilated place.
6. Excessive shading
If sun-loving flowers are kept for a long time in a shaded spot or a place with insufficient light, their branches and leaves will turn yellow.
7. Soil and water on the alkaline side
In most northern regions, the soil and water contain more salt and alkali. When planting acid-loving flowers, such as rhododendrons, camellias, Michelia figo, gardenias, orchids, Michelia alba and osmanthus, the leaves gradually turn yellow because the soil lacks absorbable soluble iron and other elements. When planting, choose acidic soil, and during the growing period often water with alum fertilizer water.
8. Too dense and unventilated
If too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, the branches and leaves grow too luxuriantly, and combined with a long period without pruning, the inner branches and leaves do not get enough light, which easily causes leaves to turn yellow and fall off. Fertilize reasonably and strengthen pruning to let air and light through.
9. Dry air
When indoor air is excessively dry, some flowers that like a humid environment, such as spider plants and orchids, often show dry leaf tips or scorched leaf edges. Measures such as spraying water or covering with a plastic film cover should be taken to increase air humidity.
10. Improper temperature
If the winter room temperature is too low, flowers that like high temperatures are often harmed by cold, which causes their leaves to turn yellow, and in severe cases to wither, yellow and die. If the room temperature is too high, the plant's transpiration is excessive, and the roots cannot supply water and nutrients fast enough, which also makes the leaves turn yellow. Take care to adjust the room temperature in time.
11. Soil on the acidic side
In the south, red loam soil is on the acidic side, and elements such as magnesium are easily lost. When planting trees and flowers that tolerate alkali or like slightly alkaline soil, such as oleander, boxwood and winter jasmine, the old leaves often show yellowing between the veins. You can apply calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer or spray a magnesium sulfate solution.
12. Damage from pests and diseases
Leaf spot disease caused by infection with fungi and other pathogens easily causes localized necrosis of leaves, with yellow spots or patches appearing, and in severe cases the whole leaf withers, yellows and falls off. After infection by mosaic virus, mottled yellow-green patterns appear on the leaves. Damage by scale insects, red spider mites and the like also makes leaves turn partially yellow and withered, or even the whole leaf wilt, yellow and fall off. In all cases, spray promptly for control.
13. Strong irritants
When preventing and controlling pests and diseases, using pesticide at too high a concentration, or pollution by toxic gases in the air, or suddenly watering with cold water when the temperature is high, can all easily cause the leaf tips or parts of the leaf surface to turn yellow and scorch, or even the whole plant to wither and die.
Therefore, attention should be paid to using pesticides reasonably and to finding ways to remove sources of air pollution. In midsummer, avoid watering flowers with cold water around midday. Finally, it should also be mentioned that sometimes yellow leaves on potted flowers are caused by one reason, but they are often the result of multiple factors. Only by making a correct diagnosis can the right remedy be applied.
The above is an introduction to how to grow a money tree, along with some answers to the question of what to do when a money tree's leaves turn yellow. I hope everyone can gain some understanding. For more home plant knowledge, please stay tuned.