Why Does the Money Tree Keep Dropping Leaves? Causes Explained

The money tree (Pachira aquatica) has always been a popular potted plant among growers; whether at the office or at home, people are happy to keep one. But some growers are unsure how to care for a money tree, and after keeping one for a while they find it starts "dropping leaves", and within a few days almost all the leaves are gone.

I bought a money tree and it had always grown quite well, but as soon as autumn arrived the leaves dropped every day until it was almost a bare stem. I asked an experienced friend and sorted out the following causes.

Leaf drop on a money tree may be caused by an unsuitable indoor environment where the potted tree is placed. First, lack of light; second, poor air circulation or poor ventilation. As we all know, any flowering plant or tree can only survive with light (or light intensity) and air. Without them, it cannot exist. This is because it needs light and air for photosynthesis, and only then does it obtain nutrients and the conditions for survival.

If a potted money tree is placed in an indoor corner that gets no sunlight and has no air circulation, then because it lacks the survival conditions of light and air, after being left there for a long time the leaves will drop, or they will fall off at a single touch of a finger. So no matter the season, when placing potted flowers you must pay attention to light (light intensity) and air circulation.

Overwatering keeps the potting soil wet for a long time, causing a lack of oxygen in the soil, rotting some of the fibrous roots, hindering normal respiration and the absorption of water and nutrients, and causing leaves to turn yellow and drop. After damage occurs, the young leaves first turn pale yellow, then the old leaves gradually yellow as well. Watering should be stopped immediately, fertilizing suspended, and the soil often loosened so it is well aerated. Another cause of daily leaf drop in a money tree may be watering too much and too often, leaving the potting soil wet for too long. If you water a money tree too much and too often, the potting soil is often too wet, or the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot are clogged and drainage is poor, all of these can cause the plant to have difficulty breathing, water to flow back from the leaves, and the root system to suffocate and rot, which leads to leaves dropping in great numbers.

So watering must be reasonable and moderate, especially with winter approaching; for a cold-sensitive plant like the money tree, controlling the dryness and moisture of the potting soil is crucial.

Missing waterings, or watering only halfway for a long time (that is, wet on top and dry below), affects nutrient absorption and also easily causes the leaves to become dull and lusterless, and to wilt and droop. First the lower old leaves age, then gradually turn yellow and drop from the bottom upward. At this point you need to water a small amount and spray water to help it gradually recover, then return to normal watering.

If the money tree has not been given nitrogen fertilizer for a long time, or the pot and soil have not been changed, the soil lacks nitrogen and other nutrients, causing the branches and leaves to become weak and thin, and the leaves to be thin and yellow. The pot should be changed in time, replaced with fresh loose, fertile potting soil, and gradually given more dilute decomposed liquid fertilizer or compound flower fertilizer.

If a money tree is overfertilized, the new leaves become thick and fleshy and mostly uneven, while the old leaves dry at the tips, turn scorched yellow and drop.

What to Do About Money Tree Leaf Drop, and the Causes of Money Tree Leaf Drop

Many people keep money trees, but money trees sometimes drop leaves. Today the editor wants to share with you knowledge about what to do about money tree leaf drop and the causes of money tree leaf drop. Let's take a look.

The scientific name of the money tree is Pachira aquatica. Generally speaking, money tree leaf drop may have the following causes.

Improper environment

If a money tree lacks light and air for a long time, it will drop leaves, or the leaves will fall off at a single touch of a finger.

Overwatering

Overwatering is one of the important causes of money tree leaf drop. If a money tree is watered too much and the potting soil stays moist, water flows back from the leaves and the root system suffocates and rots, causing the leaves to drop in great numbers.

A money tree generally needs little water; water only after the potting soil has dried out completely.

Drought and dehydration

We just said that overwatering causes money tree leaf drop, but being too dry also causes it. Leaf drop caused by lack of water and drought is characterized by old leaves yellowing first from the bottom upward; if the lack of water lasts a little longer, the whole plant's leaves turn yellow and it may even die, so water it in time. First water a small amount and spray water on the leaves, and once the money tree gradually recovers, return to normal watering.

Damage from pests and diseases

Root rot
Root rot is a common disease that seriously harms money trees, also known as rot disease.
Control methods ⟧31⟧(1) Keep the growing environment dry and fresh, and pay attention to disinfecting the growing medium and the site;
(1) Keep the growing environment dry and pay attention to disinfecting the growing medium and the site;
(2) After semi-finished plants are taken out of the cabinet and unloaded to the operating shed, immediately spray the top of the money tree with procymidone to prevent damage from gray mold fungus;
(3) Before planting, use a sharp knife to cut away the bruised and rotted tissue at the top of the main root, then spray the wound with procymidone, let it dry and plant;
(4) One week after planting, when the medium in the pot gradually dries, the healing tissue has formed and new roots have begun to grow, spray the bare stem of the money tree with propamocarb, dimethomorph, or zinc manganese mancozeb (Ridomil-MZ). It is best to let the solution run down the stem into the potting soil. After that, rotate fungicides such as dimethomorph, hymexazol, Ridomil or ethylicin once a week;
(5) If Pythium is active, spray with propamocarb, hymexazol, Ridomil or ethylicin; the effect generally lasts about two weeks. If the weather is still unfavorable, spray again with a different chemical to prevent resistance from developing. If any plant is found to be rotting, discard it immediately.
Leaf blight
Control methods
(1) Remove diseased leaves promptly when found and destroy them;
(2) During money tree cultivation, strengthen care and management, water and fertilize in good time, and in each growing season apply foliar fertilizer 2-3 times, such as 0.5% monopotassium phosphate or a 200-fold dilution of double-effect micro-element fertilizer;
(3) Before seedlings are shipped from the south to the north, spray the leaves with a protective fungicide, such as an 800-fold dilution of 70% chlorothalonil, or a 200-fold dilution of 18% copper oxinate wettable powder, or a 600-fold dilution of 50% thiram. After arrival in the north, plant them out in time, strengthen fertilizer and water management, and prevent dehydration and fertilizer loss. When cultivating money trees in southern regions, starting from the rainy season, spray every 10-15 days with an 800-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim, or an 800-fold dilution of 70% chlorothalonil, or a 1500-fold dilution of 75% thiophanate-methyl.
Pest damage
The main pest of the money tree is the sugarcane borer moth (Opogona sacchari). This insect is a new record in China; it is mainly the larvae that harm the money tree, and they can also harm poinsettia, Polyscias, Schefflera and Hawaiian palm.

Why Does a Money Tree Drop Leaves Every Day? Causes and Solutions for Money Tree Leaf Drop

Potted money tree

I bought a potted money tree in summer and it had always grown quite well, but as soon as autumn arrived the leaves dropped every day until it was almost a bare stem. I asked a few friends who grow them well, and most people have encountered this problem. Experienced friends say this situation may be caused by these two things:

1. Improper environment

Leaf drop on a money tree may be caused by an unsuitable indoor environment where the potted tree is placed. First, lack of light; second, poor air circulation or poor ventilation. As we all know, any flowering plant or tree can only survive with light (or light intensity) and air. Without them, it cannot exist. This is because it needs light and air for photosynthesis, and only then does it obtain nutrients and the conditions for survival.

If a potted money tree is placed in an indoor corner that gets no sunlight and has no air circulation, then because it lacks the survival conditions of light and air, after being left there for a long time the leaves will drop, or they will fall off at a single touch of a finger. So no matter the season, when placing potted flowers you must pay attention to light (light intensity) and air circulation.

2. Overwatering

Another cause of daily leaf drop in a money tree may be watering too much and too often, leaving the potting soil wet for too long. If you water a money tree too much and too often, the potting soil is often too wet, or the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot are clogged and drainage is poor, all of these can cause the plant to have difficulty breathing, water to flow back from the leaves, and the root system to suffocate and rot, which leads to leaves dropping in great numbers.

So watering must be reasonable and moderate, especially with winter approaching; for a cold-sensitive plant like the money tree, controlling the dryness and moisture of the potting soil is crucial.

These two points are the main causes of daily leaf drop in money trees in autumn, but you should also judge based on your own specific situation. Only by finding a solution according to the plant's symptoms can you grow flowers you are satisfied with.