How to Fertilize a Money Tree? A Detailed Guide to the Correct Fertilizing Method
The money tree (Pachira aquatica) loves fertilizer. When growing one, you need to pay attention to fertilizing it, and there are many points to keep in mind. The main ones are what fertilizer to use for a money tree and how to fertilize it. Today, we'll introduce which fertilizers suit a money tree and how to fertilize it!
What Fertilizer Is Best for a Money Tree?
Fertilizing a money tree should be based first and foremost on environmental conditions. At 18-30°C, apply solid fertilizer in holes around the roots or liquid fertilizer along with watering, with nitrogen fertilizer as the main component and phosphorus and potassium secondary. Generally, apply solid fertilizer in holes once every two months, or water with liquid fertilizer once every half month.
The money tree is grown mainly for its foliage, and the growth of its large leaves requires plenty of nitrogen fertilizer. As for potassium fertilizer, it strengthens the roots and is also suitable for a money tree.
Apply a compound organic fertilizer to the money tree. This type of fertilizer is sold as bagged granular fertilizer in flower shops and works well. In addition, decomposed soybean cake fertilizer and fermented rice-washing water are both good. Chicken and duck feathers, crushed animal bones, and offal can also be used directly, but they must be buried deep in the flower pot to avoid attracting insects.
How Do You Fertilize a Money Tree?
Fertilizing a money tree should be based first and foremost on environmental conditions. At 18-30°C, apply solid fertilizer in holes around the roots or liquid fertilizer along with watering, with nitrogen fertilizer as the main component and phosphorus and potassium secondary. Generally, apply solid fertilizer in holes once every two months, or water with liquid fertilizer once every half month.
There are two main times to fertilize a money tree: when repotting and when the money tree is in its growing season, when its demand for nutrients is higher and fertilizer can be applied as appropriate.
Each year when repotting the money tree, the proportion of fertilized soil can make up 1/3 or more. Fertilized soil has a wide range of sources; it can be made by mixing collected leaf mold from broadleaf tree litter with a little garden soil, plus some bone meal and soybean cake residue. This kind of fertilized soil is highly effective and easy to obtain. One thing to note, however, is that the fertilized soil must be fully decomposed, so as not to “burn” the leaves yellow.
Besides fertilizing when repotting, you should also fertilize the money tree during its growing season, which is from May to September each year. The fertilizer can be decomposed liquid fertilizer or a mixed flower fertilizer, applied about once every 15 days, which helps the money tree grow lush and full of branches and leaves.
Precautions for Fertilizing a Money Tree
1. The amount used each time must not be large.
2. Do not fertilize outside the growing season. The simplest method is to dig several small holes 5 cm deep around the flower pot and put 5 granules of imported high-efficiency compound fertilizer in each hole.