Causes of Yellowing Leaves on the Money Tree and How to Fix Them

The money tree (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant and a very rare foliage plant with underground tubers. It is native to tropical Africa and prefers a warm, hot, slightly dry, semi-shaded environment with little variation in average annual temperature. It is relatively drought-tolerant, but fears cold, hates intense direct sunlight, and dislikes heavy, sticky soil and waterlogged potting soil. If the potting soil has poor aeration and drainage, it can easily cause its tubers to rot. Now let's take a look at what to do when the money tree's leaves turn yellow!

Improper Watering

The money tree prefers warm, hot and slightly dry conditions and is relatively drought-tolerant, so it should not be overwatered, otherwise yellowing leaves are likely to occur. When grown on a home balcony, if it is on the 3rd floor or above, the potted plant can be placed on a wet sand tray, and you should routinely spray some water on the leaf surface to wash away the fine dust attached to the leaves, while also paying attention to providing shade. When grown indoors, once the room temperature reaches above 33°C, the plant should be sprayed with water once a day, keeping the potting soil only slightly moist. In winter, pay attention to spraying water on the leaf surface and the surrounding environment so that the relative air humidity can reach above 50%. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, watering should be reduced, or spraying water can replace watering, to help the newly emerging tender leaves survive the winter safely. In addition, in winter special attention should be paid to ensuring the potting soil is not overly moist; it is better to keep it on the dry side, otherwise under low-temperature conditions, overly wet potting soil is even more likely to cause root rot, or even the death of the whole plant.

Unsuitable Lighting

The money tree's growing environment is one with ample light that at the same time is not exposed to intense light. Therefore, direct intense sunlight should be avoided, while at the same time ensuring the environment is well-ventilated and cool; otherwise, the leaves will turn yellow.

Improper Fertilization

The money tree is relatively fond of fertilizer, but the degree must be well controlled during fertilization. During the growing season, the money tree can be watered monthly with 2 to 3 applications of a mixed solution of 02.% urea plus 0.1% monopotassium phosphate, or it can be watered with a balanced fertilizer 20-10-20 (20-20-20) at a concentration of 200 to 250 ppm used together with calcium nitrate. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, to help it survive the winter safely, nitrogen fertilizer should be stopped, and 0.3% monopotassium phosphate solution should be applied as a top dressing 2 to 3 times in succession to promote the hardening and filling out of its young leaf axes and newly emerged leaves. Once the temperature drops below 15°C, all forms of top dressing should be stopped, to avoid fertilizer burn damaging the roots under low-temperature conditions.

Causes of Pest Infestation

Pest infestation is also one of the causes of yellowing leaves on the money tree. In environments with poor ventilation and insufficient light, the money tree's leaves are prone to damage from the piercing and sucking of scale insects. For control: for small-scale home cultivation, transparent tape can be used to stick off the insects, or a damp cloth can be used to wipe away the live insects. For commercial cultivation, during the peak hatching period of the nymphs, spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 20% buprofezin wettable powder gives good insecticidal results.

Unsuitable Soil

Insufficient soil acidity can also cause the money tree's leaves to turn yellow. Due to the special climatic conditions of its place of origin, the money tree has developed strong drought resistance, so the basic requirement for the growing medium is good aeration and drainage. The growing medium is mostly a mix of peat, coarse sand or rinsed coal cinders with a small amount of garden soil, with its pH adjusted to between 6 and 6.5, in a slightly acidic state. Because its tubers are large, its root system is well developed, and its pinnate compound leaves are relatively long, it is best to choose a deeper blue-and-white porcelain pot or purple clay pot for planting, but the lower part should be lined with more stones, brick fragments or bark chunks, at a height of about 1/4 of the pot's depth, to help create a root environment with good aeration and drainage. During the growing season, loosen the soil for the plant once a month, always keeping the growing medium well aerated and drained. During the plum rain season, check frequently; if water accumulation is found in the pot, repot and change the soil promptly.

What Causes the Money Tree's Leaves to Turn Yellow

Cause 1: Improper Watering

The money tree prefers warm, hot and slightly dry conditions and is relatively drought-tolerant, so it should not be overwatered, otherwise yellowing leaves are likely to occur. When grown on a home balcony, if your home is on the 3rd floor or above, the potted money tree can be placed on a wet sand tray, and you should routinely spray some water on the leaf surface to wash away the fine dust attached to the leaves, while also paying attention to providing some shade. When grown indoors, once the indoor temperature reaches above 33°C, the money tree should be sprayed with water once a day, keeping the potting soil only slightly moist. In winter, pay attention to spraying water on the money tree's leaf surface and the surrounding environment so that the relative air humidity can reach above 50%. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, watering should be reduced, or spraying water can replace watering, to help the newly emerging tender leaves survive the winter safely. In addition, in winter special attention should be paid to ensuring the potting soil is not overly moist; it is better to keep it on the dry side, otherwise under low-temperature conditions, overly wet potting soil is even more likely to cause root rot, or even the death of the whole plant.

Cause 2: Soil Problems

Insufficient soil acidity is also one of the causes of yellowing money tree leaves. Because of the special climate of the money tree's place of origin, the money tree has developed strong drought resistance, so the requirement for the growing medium is good aeration and drainage. The growing medium can be made by mixing peat, coarse sand or rinsed coal cinders with a small amount of garden soil, with the soil's pH adjusted to between 6 and 6.5, in a slightly acidic state. Because the money tree's tubers are large, its root system is well developed, and its pinnate compound leaves are relatively long, a deeper blue-and-white porcelain pot or purple clay pot should be chosen for planting, but the bottom of the pot should be lined with more stones, brick fragments or bark chunks, at a height of about 1/4 of the pot's depth, to help create a root environment with good aeration and drainage. During the growing season, loosen the soil for the plant once a month, always keeping the growing medium well aerated and drained. During the plum rain season, check frequently; if water accumulation is found in the pot, repot and change the soil promptly.

Cause 3: Improper Fertilization

The money tree is relatively fond of fertilizer, but the degree must be well controlled during fertilization. During the growing season, the money tree can be watered monthly with 2 to 3 applications of a mixed solution of 02.% urea plus 0.1% monopotassium phosphate, or it can be given a balanced fertilizer 20-10-20 (20-20-20) at a concentration of 200 to 250 ppm used together with calcium nitrate. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, to help the money tree survive the winter safely, nitrogen fertilizer should be stopped, and 0.3% monopotassium phosphate solution should be applied as a top dressing 2 to 3 times in succession to promote the hardening and filling out of the money tree's young leaf axes and newly emerged leaves. Once the temperature drops below 15°C, top dressing should be stopped, to avoid fertilizer burn damaging the roots under low-temperature conditions.

Cause 4: Pest Infestation

Pest infestation is also one of the causes of yellowing money tree leaves. In environments with poor ventilation and insufficient light, the money tree's leaves are very prone to damage from the piercing and sucking of scale insects. Control methods: for small-scale home cultivation, transparent tape can be used to stick off the insects on the money tree, or a damp cloth can be used to wipe away the live insects on the money tree. For commercial cultivation, during the peak hatching period of the nymphs, spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 20% buprofezin wettable powder gives good insecticidal results.

What Causes the Money Tree's Leaves to Turn Yellow_What to Do When the Money Tree's Leaves Turn Yellow?

The money tree is a type of foliage plant that is often kept by people in offices or in some indoor environments. However, many people who grow money trees find that during the process of growing them, the money tree's leaves turn yellow, yet many people don't know what causes this, and when they encounter yellowing money tree leaves they don't know what to do. First of all, when growing a money tree, we should have a simple understanding of it; for example, aspects such as its growth habits and morphological characteristics are all very important. Below, let's take a detailed look together at what causes the money tree's leaves to turn yellow, and what to do when the money tree's leaves turn yellow.

[Introduction to the Money Tree]

The money tree is also known as Zamioculcas zamiifolia and the golden pine; it is a perennial green herbaceous plant and also a very rare foliage plant with underground tubers, native to tropical Asia. The money tree has no main stem in its above-ground part; it mainly consists of relatively large compound leaves formed by sprouting from adventitious buds on the tubers, with relatively short and small petioles on the leaflets, and it looks very upright, with a deep green color, while the underground tubers grow relatively plump and large. Its pinnate compound leaves grow from the top of the tuber, the leaf axis surface is very sturdy, the leaflets are opposite or nearly opposite in shape, and the base of the petiole is relatively plump, in a lignified state. Generally, each compound leaf has 6-10 pairs of leaflets growing on it, with a lifespan of more than 5 years, and during growth it will continuously send out new leaves; its vitality is very strong, and it is also very easy to grow.

[Growth Habits of the Money Tree]

The money tree is native to the tropical savanna climate regions of eastern Africa with relatively low rainfall, and it likes to grow in environments with ample sunlight, semi-shade, relatively small temperature variation, and slightly dry conditions. Its drought tolerance is relatively good, but it avoids growing in cold, intense light and blazing sun environments, and it fears growing in heavy, sticky soil; water accumulation in the potting soil will also be harmful to its growth. If the potting soil has poor aeration and drainage, it will cause the tubers to rot. It likes to grow in loose, fertile soil with good drainage that is rich in organic matter or is acidic to slightly acidic, and its sprouting ability is very strong; after the large tubers are pruned away, the stem part will quickly send out new leaves.

[What Causes the Money Tree's Leaves to Turn Yellow]

1. Watering: A newly purchased money tree will have relatively compacted soil, so it should be watered promptly to let the soil moisture be fully absorbed, which is more conducive to normal root development. If it is not watered promptly, the roots will become dry, and the phenomenon of yellowing money tree leaves will appear; while if too much water is applied, it will cause root rot, and the leaves will also turn yellow.
2. Light: The money tree is a plant with relatively strong shade tolerance, but in different seasons it also needs a certain amount of light; however, direct intense sunlight should be avoided, especially in summer, otherwise the leaves will be scorched, and yellowing money tree leaves will appear. From late spring to the Mid-Autumn Festival, 50%-70% shading should be provided, otherwise the leaf color will turn yellow and the leaves will grow relatively sparsely, thus reducing its ornamental value.

3. Fertilization: When growing a money tree, pay attention to fertilizing the plant and maintaining sufficient nutrients in the soil. If malnutrition occurs, the leaves will lack chlorophyll, which will lead to yellowing leaves.
4. Pest Prevention: When growing a money tree, pesticides should be sprayed regularly to effectively prevent and control pests and diseases. If pest or disease problems occur, the money tree's leaves will also turn yellow.

[What to Do When the Money Tree's Leaves Turn Yellow]

Yellowing money tree leaves are mainly caused by factors such as the amount of watering, the amount of fertilizer, light, temperature, and pest and disease damage. When these situations occur, prevention or improvement should be carried out promptly. Plants suffering from pest and disease damage should be removed promptly. Pest and disease damage is very closely related to water quality; attention should be paid to rain-sheltered cultivation, and after being hit by rainwater, drainage should be carried out promptly and the plant placed in a ventilated spot. Do not let the growing environment have excessively high humidity, otherwise yellowing leaves will also occur. To raise the soil's pH, you can add cinder ash, plant ash, slaked lime, etc. to the nutrient soil, thereby increasing trace elements such as silicon and calcium in the soil. During cultivation, the soil should be disinfected, and baking sterilization can also be carried out. At the very first sign of disease, you can spray or drench the soil with Root Boost, Huilv, chlorothalonil, etc. for effective control. Growing a money tree is very easy; as long as you put in a little care, yellowing leaves will not occur.

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