What to Do About Root Rot in the Money Tree? Causes and Solutions

The money tree placed in a fairly spacious living room, study, or family room has an elegant, simple style with a tropical feel. It is a world-famous new-generation indoor foliage plant with a beautiful, neat plant shape, but root rot can occur during cultivation. Below, let us take a look at what to do about root rot in the money tree!

The Growth Habits of the Money Tree

The money tree likes warm, hot, slightly dry, semi-shaded environments with small changes in average annual temperature. It is relatively tolerant of drought, but fears cold, avoids strong direct sunlight, and fears heavy, sticky soil and water accumulation in the pot. If the pot soil has poor aeration, it can easily cause its tubers to rot. It requires loose, fertile soil that drains well, is rich in organic matter, and is acidic to slightly acidic. It has strong sprouting ability; after cutting off the thick pinnate compound leaves, new leaves will quickly sprout from the top of its tubers.

Causes of Root Rot in the Money Tree

1. Money tree root rot may be caused by the pot soil being too dry. The money tree is fine with the pot soil being slightly moist. By nature it does not like water, but if the pot soil drains poorly and the water quality becomes stale, it can cause root rot.

2. Money tree root rot may be caused by using relatively strong fertilizer before the root system has grown well. Strong fertilizer can scorch the root and stem area of the plant (the part close to the pot). It may also be that the pot soil is unsanitary, and when watering or when it rains, pathogens are splashed onto the money tree plant.

3. Money tree root rot is root rot disease, caused by watering too much, which leads to scarce air near the roots; in a humid environment, large amounts of fungi breed, and finally root rot forms. Carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl can both be used. Penicillin cannot be used. It is best to first dig the plant out, cut off the rotten roots, soak it in a carbendazim solution for about 10 minutes, then change the soil and replant.

What to Do About Root Rot in the Money Tree?

1. Generally, the cause of root rot in the money tree is root rot caused by watering. The plant needs to be promptly taken out of the pot, part of the old soil shaken off, placed in a semi-shaded, cool place to air dry for 1-2 days, and then replanted in new sandy loam soil. After that, the pot used should not be too large, and watering should not be too frequent. Water when the pot soil is 70 percent dry. There must not be a rigid watering interval; water flexibly.

2. If the root rot is relatively severe, it is best to shake off all the soil, then soak it in a 500-times dilution of potassium permanganate or carbendazim solution for 5-10 minutes, then rinse it once with clean water, air dry the root system, and replant.

3. You can first take the plant out of the flower pot, cut off the rotten tubers and branches and leaves, then apply charcoal powder to the wounds, leave the roots exposed in a warm place, and after the wounds dry, bury them in the pot soil and stop watering until spring warmth raises the temperature above 20°C, then resume normal watering, but the amount of water must be small, only keeping the pot soil slightly moist.

What to Do About Root Rot in the Money Tree_ Causes and Solutions for Money Tree Root Rot

The money tree, also known as Zamioculcas zamiifolia and golden pine, is a perennial green herbaceous plant belonging to the extremely rare foliage plants with underground tubers. It is native to the tropical savanna climate zone of eastern Africa with relatively low rainfall. It likes warm, slightly dry, semi-shaded environments with relatively small changes in average annual temperature. It is relatively tolerant of drought, fears cold, avoids strong direct sunlight, and fears heavy, sticky soil and water accumulation in the pot. If the pot soil has poor aeration, it will cause tubers to rot. In daily life, when we grow money trees at home, these problems also occur, and when money tree root rot occurs, what should we do? We have already understood its causes and solutions. Below, the editor will introduce to everyone what to do about money tree root rot, as well as the causes and solutions for money tree root rot.

[What to Do About Root Rot in the Money Tree]

The money tree likes soil that is loose and fertile, drains well, and is rich in organic matter, acidic or slightly acidic. This can promote its sprouting ability. After cutting off the thick compound leaves, new leaves will quickly sprout from the top of the tubers. But when encountering money tree root rot, we should find the cause of its root rot and make corresponding solutions and measures.

[Causes of Root Rot in the Money Tree]

1. Cause of money tree root rot — too much watering
It may be that the pot soil is too dry. The money tree likes to grow in an environment where the pot soil is slightly moist. The money tree by nature does not like water, but if the pot soil drains poorly and the water quality becomes stale, it can also cause root rot.
2. Cause of money tree root rot — too much fertilizing
When the money tree's root system has not grown mature, relatively strong fertilizer cannot be applied, otherwise root rot will occur. Applying overly strong fertilizer will scorch the root and stem area of the plant, thereby causing root rot. Excessive fertilizing can also cause root rot.
3. Cause of money tree root rot — attack by pests and diseases
Especially when it rains, if no rain sheltering or corresponding preventive measures are taken, pathogens will be splashed onto the money tree plant, and this will also cause root rot in the money tree.

[Solutions for Money Tree Root Rot]

1. Solution for money tree root rot — replanting
In general, money tree root rot is caused by overwatering, so the plant should be promptly transplanted out, part of the old soil shaken off, then placed in a semi-shaded, cool place for 1-2 days, and then replanted in new nutrient sandy soil. Before planting, the pot used must not be too large, and when watering, the amount must not be too much, nor should it be watered too frequently. Water when the pot soil is 70 percent dry, and water flexibly. If the root rot is relatively severe, it is best to shake out all the soil, then soak it in a 500-times dilution of potassium permanganate or carbendazim solution for 5-10 minutes, then rinse it clean with clean water, let the roots cool until dry, and then replant.

2. Solution for money tree root rot — apply charcoal powder
Transplant the money tree plant out of the pot soil, then cut off the rotten roots and stems and branches. Then apply charcoal powder to the wounds of the plant. Place the exposed-root part in a relatively warm place. When the exposed-root part is relatively dry, it can be buried in the soil. Stop watering. When the spring temperature reaches 20°C, resume normal watering, but the amount of water should be small; just keep the pot soil slightly moist.

Summary: The above is what the editor introduced to everyone about what to do when encountering money tree root rot, as well as the causes and solutions for money tree root rot. I hope everyone can reasonably solve such problems when encountering them, grow lush money trees, and bring good luck back to your side. Thank you for reading.

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What to Do About Root Rot in the Money Tree

The money tree is a common indoor foliage plant, but during cultivation, root rot may occur due to improper care and other reasons. So what should be done about money tree root rot, and what are the propagation methods of the money tree?

What to Do About Root Rot in the Money Tree

The money tree by nature likes a warm, humid, sunny climate environment. If root rot occurs, it may be caused by three reasons: too much watering, excessive fertilizing, and pathogen attack. Be sure to find solutions according to the causes of money tree root rot and treat the root cause accordingly, so as to solve the problem of money tree root rot.

1. Too much watering as a cause of money tree root rot

Money tree root rot is very likely caused by too much watering, poor pot soil drainage, and water quality becoming stale. The money tree needs to be promptly taken out of the pot, part of the old soil shaken off, placed in a cool place to air dry for 1 or 2 days, and then replanted in new sandy loam soil. After that, the pot used should not be too large, and watering should not be too frequent; water again when the pot soil is 70 percent dry. There must not be a rigid watering interval; water flexibly. If the money tree root rot is relatively severe, it is necessary to shake off all the soil, then soak the money tree roots in a 500-times dilution of potassium permanganate or carbendazim solution for 5-10 minutes, then rinse once with clean water, air dry the root system, and replant.

2. Excessive fertilizing as a cause of money tree root rot

Excessive fertilizing can also cause money tree root rot, especially if relatively strong fertilizer is used before the money tree's roots have grown well. Strong fertilizer will scorch the root and stem area of the money tree, causing root rot. First take the money tree out of the flower pot, cut off the rotten tubers and branches and leaves, apply charcoal powder to the wounds, and leave the roots exposed in a warm place. After the wounds dry, bury them in the pot soil and stop watering until spring warmth raises the temperature above 20°C, then resume normal watering, but the amount of water must be small; just keep the pot soil slightly moist.

3. Pathogen attack as a cause of money tree root rot

If the pot soil is not clean, when watering or when it rains, pathogens are splashed onto the money tree plant, which can cause pathogen attack and lead to money tree root rot. You can first dig the money tree out of the pot soil and cut off the rotten roots. Then soak it in a carbendazim solution for about 10 minutes, and replant with new soil.

Propagation Methods of the Money Tree

The money tree is generally propagated by division and cuttings. Below, we will introduce division propagation and cutting propagation of the money tree. Let us take a look together!

Division Propagation of the Money Tree

Division propagation of the money tree is generally carried out in April. When the outdoor temperature reaches above 18°C, take the large money tree out of the pot, shake off most of the old soil, pull it apart from the weak connection point of the tubers, apply sulfur powder or plant ash to the wounds, and plant them separately in pots. Note that when planting, do not bury them too deep; burying the top of the tuber 1.5-2 cm below the soil is enough. According to the characteristic that money tree tubers have dormant buds, cut a huge single tuber into small pieces with 2-3 dormant buds. After their wounds heal and dry, first bury and plant them in slightly moist fine sand. After the cut small tubers grow into independent plants, then plant them in pots.

Cutting Propagation of the Money Tree

Cuttings can use a single small leaf, a section of leaf rachis with 2 leaves, or a separate section of leaf rachis. From the perspective of rooting effect, cuttings using leaf rachis with leaves root quickly, have a high sprouting rate, and relatively easily form larger tubers. Insert a single leaf into a mixed substrate of river sand and vermiculite. After 10-14 days, a small rooted bulbous stem will form at the leaf base. After 2-3 months of cultivation, it can grow into a small money tree plant, but under normal circumstances the seedling survival rate is not high.

If leaf rachis or leaf rachis with leaves is used as cuttings for propagation, the substrate can be ordinary fine sand, or a substrate mixed with peat soil, perlite, and river sand in a 3:1:1 ratio. The insertion depth of the cutting is 1/3-1/2 of the cutting length, leaving only the leaves outside the substrate. After spraying thoroughly with water, place it in a shaded place, maintain an environmental temperature of 25°C-27°C, and depending on the dryness and moisture of the substrate, mist the money tree leaves 1-2 times a day, keeping the substrate slightly moist. Never make it overly humid, otherwise it will cause the cuttings to rot and lead to cutting failure.