Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) Is Easy to Kill in Summer - Do These Things Right to Get It Through the Summer Safely

Money trees (Pachira aquatica) and kalanchoes (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) have really been causing a lot of problems lately. Many gardening friends have come to Huahua to complain that they do not know how to care for them in summer. Actually, as long as you understand the patterns, you do not need to worry about failing to grow them well. Learn as you go and take a quick look at these tips!

Money Tree: Water Control and Ventilation Are Both Essential

1. Control water at the roots, spray the leaves to keep them moist

Water control means controlling how much you water. It is often said that money trees mostly die from root rot caused by overwatering, so do not water too much. In summer, the surface of the pot evaporates quickly. Some gardening friends see the topsoil is dry and immediately water, not realizing there is still moisture in the pot. So it is best to stick a chopstick into the pot and pull it out every 2-3 days to check. Water only when the chopstick is dry, and when you water, water thoroughly.

In summer, the leaves evaporate a lot and dry out easily. Sometimes even if the pot is not short of water, the leaves still droop. That is when you need to spray water to keep them moist. Use a spray bottle to mist around the money tree's leaves. This not only lowers the temperature but also perks the leaves up quickly.

2. Increase ventilation to avoid root rot

Money trees love a well-ventilated environment. Places at home near the balcony, windowsill, hallway, and so on not only have ventilation but also some scattered light, making them very suitable for growing money trees. Without ventilation, the moisture in the pot cannot evaporate in time, and root rot easily occurs.

3. Fertilize appropriately, and it can shoot up to the roof in one summer

It is often said that money trees grow slowly, so do not miss the summer growing season. Fertilize appropriately in time, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer: fermented rice water, soybean cake water, or mix slow-release fertilizer or compound fertilizer into the soil. Fertilize once every half month, and it can change greatly in one summer!

4. Dealing with yellow leaves and root rot

If the money tree's leaves droop and turn yellow because of too much watering or lack of ventilation, quickly remove the yellow leaves, move the money tree to a ventilated place, pause watering, and let it recover for 3-5 days. Once it improves, resume normal watering.

If there is no improvement after 3-5 days and the leaves continue to turn yellow, dig it out quickly and take a look, as the roots may already be rotten. Use a knife to cut off the rotten parts and soak them for 20 minutes in carbendazim solution or potassium permanganate solution to disinfect.

After disinfecting, insert it directly into water for hydroponics. The water here is best tap water that has been left to sit (to remove chlorine). When growing in water, you can add a little rooting powder or vitamin B, aspirin, which can speed up rooting.

If you find it troublesome, you can also cut a thin branch for hydroponics. As long as it is a healthy one-year-old strong branch, the success rate of hydroponics is very high.

Kalanchoe: Yours Has Gone Dormant, While Other People's Are Blooming Like Crazy!

1. Can kalanchoes bloom even during dormancy?

When the temperature exceeds 35°C, kalanchoes begin to enter dormancy. But some gardening friends' kalanchoes are blooming right now. What is going on? The first factor is temperature. If you move the kalanchoe into an air-conditioned room or keep it on a cool north-facing balcony, with the temperature around 23-30°C, the kalanchoe will not enter dormancy and will continue to grow normally.

Next is light. Shorten the light duration. Receiving 4 hours of mild sunlight during the day is enough, and keep it in a cool place the rest of the time. This way, with a cold-hot temperature difference of 8-10°C, the kalanchoe mistakenly thinks the flowering period has arrived, so it blooms!

Of course, if your kalanchoe has already entered dormancy, do not torment it like this. Quickly learn how to get it through summer safely~

2. How to tell whether a kalanchoe is dormant

Most kalanchoes go dormant in July and August. If the kalanchoe's growth rate clearly slows down and it seems not to grow taller, not to bloom, and the leaves either turn yellow or develop black rot, that means it has already gone dormant.

3. How to get a dormant kalanchoe through summer

If your kalanchoe has already gone dormant, start reducing watering, move it to a cool and ventilated place, and prune off all the yellow leaves to reduce nutrient consumption. Do not fertilize or repot for now. Wait until after September.

4. Prune the kalanchoe, and 1 pot becomes 10 pots!

Dormant kalanchoes are prone to leggy growth. Gardening friends must pay attention to this problem. If it becomes leggy, prune it quickly, or it will be too late by autumn! Prune according to the principle of "remove two, keep four," that is, for a branch with 6 pairs of leaves, cut off the top 2 pairs of leaves' length and keep the stem with 4 pairs of leaves. The picture below shows a very serious case of leggy growth, and it is recommended to remove 3 pairs of leaves.

The pruned branch tips can also be used for cuttings again. It is fine to do it now. Insert the flowering branch into breathable sandy soil, water thoroughly, place it on a cool and ventilated north-facing windowsill, and mist it daily to keep it moist. It will probably take root in about 1-2 weeks.

After reading this

Do gardening friends know how to care for them now?

If your money tree or kalanchoe has problems

Check and compare with this right away~

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