Money tree always getting yellow leaves and root rot in soil? Try switching to water culture

Money tree roots are fine and slender, and it prefers dry conditions over wet ones. So for many gardening enthusiasts, a soil-cultured money tree will easily develop yellow leaves and root rot if it is watered just a little too much, or if the soil medium is poor. Today I will teach you how to convert a soil-cultured money tree to water culture. During the growing process you no longer need to worry about root rot caused by overly wet soil or medium problems, and it saves worry and effort. You only need to change the water and add nutrient solution for it to grow vigorously. Gardening enthusiasts who like hydroponic plants can give it a try (the soil-to-water conversion described here is suitable for small money trees grown at home).

Take the money tree out of the pot and remove the soil from the roots. You will find that under the money tree's thick trunk there are only a few very fine, weak roots, which is also the main reason the money tree is prone to root rot. Remove a few leaves at the base, clean the soil off the roots, then trim the weak roots, keeping only about 2 cm of roots; don't be reluctant to do this, as new roots will soon grow. Put the roots into a carbendazim solution to disinfect, then let them dry.

Prepare a hydroponic planting basket, put the disinfected money tree roots into the basket, and fill around them with decorative stones to hold them in place. Place the retained 2 cm-long roots in the lower part of the planting basket, add water to the hydroponic container, and let the water level cover only half of the roots. Never let the water level touch the trunk, to prevent rot.

Place the hydroponic money tree in a cool, ventilated indoor spot. In the early stage, change the water every three days. After about a week, new roots will grow. Once new roots have grown, there is no need to change the water frequently; just add water promptly when the water level gets low. After rooting, you can add hydroponic nutrient solution once a month, place the plant near a windowsill or in a bright, ventilated spot, and mist the leaves or the surrounding area daily to keep it moist.

Observe the root growth promptly. If you find root rot, promptly identify the cause and cut away the rotten roots. If the root rot is caused by cloudy water, promptly replace it with fresh water. After disinfecting the roots and letting them dry, they can be replanted.