A Detailed Guide to the Propagation Methods and Cultivation Techniques of the Money Tree
The money tree, also known as Gua Li or Malabar chestnut, is an evergreen small tree of the Bombacaceae family. It originates from Mexico and Costa Rica. It has palmate leaves with 7-11 leaflets that are oblong to obovate. There is a horticultural variety known as the variegated money tree. Because the name "money tree" is highly popular among merchants and ordinary citizens, and because of its beautiful plant form, bright green leaves and hammer-shaped trunk, it is suitable for indoor arrangement and beautification when potted. Therefore, in recent years it has developed very quickly in China's flower market. During festivals, hotels, restaurants, merchants and citizens alike rush to purchase it for good luck and good fortune.
In southern China, cultivating the money tree for ornamental purposes is very common and the numbers are difficult to count, but there are roughly three kinds of plants bearing the name "money tree": the Taiwan money tree, the large-leaf money tree and the money beauty tree. Upon verification, the Chinese name of the Taiwan money tree is Malabar chestnut, native to Mexico; it is most widely cultivated in Taiwan, China, and most plants cultivated in mainland China are introduced from Taiwan, China. The large-leaf money tree was originally named Queensland umbrella tree, native to Australia. The money beauty tree is Schefflera octophylla, belonging to the Araliaceae family, produced in Taiwan, China, Guangdong, Hong Kong, China, Fujian, Hainan Island and other places. All three are compound-leaved. The former mostly bears six or seven leaflets on each petiole, but sometimes eight; because "eight" is homophonous with "prosperity" in Chinese, some flower shop owners have euphemistically named it "money tree."
Under suitable climatic conditions and careful cultivation, all three kinds of money trees show the elegance of being beautiful, green and easy to cultivate and propagate, whether indoors or in garden spaces, and are loved by people. The potted Taiwan money tree has a tall and upright trunk, thin at the top and thick at the bottom, a plump root crown, and spreading, graceful leaves. Plants grown in the ground are smooth and upright, fresh and pleasing to the eye. The large-leaf money tree has slender leaves, with flat leaves layered one upon another, beautiful and pleasant; after ground planting, the tree form is elegant and full of vitality, with concise and clear branches and leaves. The money beauty tree, whether potted or ground-planted, is handsome and elegant, with branches and leaves well-spaced and naturally interlaced; its cloud-like dense foliage, seen from a distance, has the artistic conception of distant trees in a landscape painting, stirring the imagination. Shade tolerance is another characteristic that endears them to people: potted plants placed indoors can be enjoyed for two to three months without turning yellow. If managed properly, these trees remain evergreen year-round. Easy propagation is another characteristic: propagation by branches and stems roots easily, and delightfully, new plants can also be propagated by leaf cuttings. In addition, they have strong sprouting ability; after pruning they quickly sprout branches and leaves, always maintaining lush foliage, making them good materials for indoor and garden landscaping. In the cultivation and application of money trees, adhere to the principle of suitability to each site, and you can experience the pleasure that money trees bring you.
I. Cultivation Environment Requirements
1. Temperature. The minimum winter temperature is 16-18°C; below this temperature the leaves turn yellow and drop; below 10°C they easily die.
2. Light. The money tree is a strongly sun-loving plant and is grown in the open ground in places such as Hainan Island. But this plant has fairly strong shade tolerance and can be enjoyed indoors in weak light for 2-4 weeks continuously. After that, place it in a bright location.
3. Water. During the high-temperature growing period it needs sufficient water; but it has fairly strong drought tolerance and will not be harmed by several days without watering. However, water accumulation in the pot must be avoided. Reduce watering in winter.
4. Air humidity. During the growing period it prefers higher air humidity; a small amount of water can be sprayed on the leaf surface from time to time.
5. Repotting. Repot in spring as needed; potted money trees should be repotted once every 1-2 years, carried out in spring when they are brought out of doors, and necessary pruning should be done on yellow leaves and thin weak branches to promote new shoots. Watering should follow the principle of alternating dry and wet; in spring and autumn, control the frequency of watering according to sunny or rainy, dry or wet conditions, generally once a day; when the temperature exceeds 35°C, water at least twice a day; during the growing season apply fertilizer twice a month; for newly grown leaves, also pay attention to spraying water to maintain higher environmental humidity; from June to September, shade is required, maintaining 60%-70% light transmittance or placing in a location with bright scattered light. After bringing indoors in winter, the temperature should not be lower than 5°C, and keeping it around 10°C is better; water once every 5-7 days, and ensure fairly sufficient light is given. In addition, during the growing season, if ventilation is poor, red spider mites and scale insects are prone to occur, so observe carefully. When pests are found, remove them promptly or spray pesticide.
II. Cultivation Methods
1. Seedbed preparation. Choose a nursery site with deep, fertile soil, and form a seedbed 1 m wide, with the length depending on the quantity; a north-south orientation is preferable. Deeply plow the seedbed, remove the topsoil, and tamp it firm. Lay a 3 cm thick layer of gravel on the lower layer, and on top spread 10 to 15 cm of fresh river sand and furnace slag; the moisture level should be such that it forms a ball when squeezed in the hand and disperses when released. Spray the bed surface with 40% formalin at 400 times dilution, soaking to a depth of 3 to 5 cm, and cover with plastic film for 3 days to disinfect the soil.
2. Cutting collection. Select robust, current-year semi-lignified branches, cut them on cloudy days or windless mornings, with a cut length of 6 to 7 cm. The lower cut should be slanted, located below a leaf or axillary bud, and the cut should be smooth to facilitate callus formation. Generally each cutting should carry two palmate leaves; be careful not to damage the leaves, so as to facilitate photosynthesis.
3. Fine cuttings. Money trees are propagated by cuttings from late June to early August; choose cloudy summer days or early and late hours, cutting and inserting immediately. When inserting, place half of the cutting in 25 PPM No. (I) ABT rooting solution and soak for 20 to 24 hours, then remove and rinse clean with water. Use a small wooden stick to make holes in the seedbed surface, then insert the cuttings along the holes, and seal and firm the holes. Shorter cuttings can be inserted straight; longer cuttings can be inserted at an angle. The insertion depth should be such that they do not topple, generally 3 to 5 cm. After inserting, water thoroughly promptly, straighten any tilted cuttings, and cover well with plastic film.
4. Seedling management. After cutting, ventilate once every 3 days. From June to August the temperature is high and water evaporates quickly; spray water once in the morning and evening, maintain the temperature between 23 and 25°C, and keep humidity at about 80% of field water-holding capacity. To promote lignification of the seedlings, spray 0.2% monopotassium phosphate before the end of August. To prevent fungal infection, spray the seedbed surface once every 7 days with thiophanate-methyl or carbendazim. Generally callus tissue forms in about 15 days, and rooting begins in about 30 days.
5. Transplanting seedlings. Before potting the seedlings, first prepare nutrient soil by mixing 3 parts leaf mold, 1 part sand and 2 parts garden soil. When transplanting, be careful not to damage the roots; the depth should be based on the original base of the roots. After planting, water thoroughly and place in a shaded area to avoid direct sunlight. Afterwards, water daily according to the condition of the potting soil, following the principle of watering when dry and stopping when wet.
III. Propagation Methods
Money trees can be propagated by sowing or cutting. Seeds should be sown immediately after collection; for cuttings, take sprouting branches as cuttings in May-June; insert into sand or gravel, taking care to shade and keep moist; roots will form in about one month.
IV. Disease Control
Common diseases of the money tree include root (stem) rot and leaf blight.
1. Root (stem) rot
This is a common disease that seriously harms money trees, also known as rot disease.
[Control methods]
(1) Keep the cultivation environment dry and cool, and pay attention to disinfecting the growing medium and site.
(2) After semi-finished products are removed from the cabinet and unloaded to the handling shed, spray the head of the money tree with procymidone to prevent gray mold fungus damage.
(3) Before planting, use a sharp knife to cut off the bruised and rotting tissue at the top of the main root, then spray the wound with procymidone; plant after it dries.
(4) One week after planting, when the medium in the pot gradually dries, callus tissue has formed and new roots have begun to grow, spray the bare trunk of the money tree with Previcur, Anke or zinc manganese metalaxyl (Ridomil-MZ), so that the solution flows along the trunk into the potting soil. Thereafter, use fungicides such as Anke, etridiazole, Ridomil or dimethomorph in weekly rotation.
(5) If Pythium is active, spray with Previcur, etridiazole, Ridomil or dimethomorph; the efficacy generally lasts about two weeks. If the weather remains unfavorable, spray again with a different agent to prevent resistance from developing. If any rotting plants are found during this period, discard them immediately.
2. Leaf blight
[Control methods]
(1) Remove diseased leaves promptly when found and destroy them.
(2) During the cultivation of money trees, maintenance and management should be strengthened, with timely watering and fertilizing. Each growing season, 2-3 applications of foliar fertilizer can be made, such as 0.5% nitrogen monopotassium phosphate or 200 times dilution of double-effect micro-element fertilizer.
(3) Before seedlings are transported from the south to the north, spray protective fungicides on the leaves, such as 70% chlorothalonil at 800 times dilution, or 18% copper multi-mycin emulsifiable powder at 200 times dilution, or 50% Tuzet at 600 times dilution. After arriving in the north, plant promptly, strengthen fertilizer and water management, and prevent dehydration and nutrient deficiency. In southern regions, money tree cultivation can begin from the rainy season, spraying 50% carbendazim at 800 times dilution, or 70% chlorothalonil at 800 times dilution, or 75% thiophanate-methyl at 1500 times dilution every 10-15 days. In addition, the main pest is the sugarcane borer moth; this insect is a new record in China, and its larvae mainly harm money trees, and can also affect poinsettia, Polyscias and Schefflera.
Money Tree Planting and Cultivation Techniques and Indoor Growing Management Methods
The money tree, also known as Gua Li or Malabar chestnut, belongs to the Bombacaceae family as an evergreen small tree, native to Mexico and Costa Rica, and is now widely cultivated in southern China. Because the name "money tree" represents good luck and good fortune, and because it has a beautiful form, bright green leaves and is easy to manage, it is suitable for indoor decoration and beautification when potted. During festivals, hotels, restaurants and citizens mostly rush to purchase it. Therefore, the money tree has developed very quickly in China's flower market in recent years, and cultivating money trees has become a good project for the vast number of growers to make a fortune. Today we will introduce the cultivation techniques of the money tree to everyone.
Biological Characteristics of the Money Tree
1. Morphological characteristics of the money tree: The money tree is an evergreen tree with an upright main trunk, and the tree can reach about 10 m in height. It has a plump fleshy root system and a swollen stem base. The bark of young trunks is smooth and emerald green, and can also be braided into a plait. The leaves of the money tree are palmate compound leaves, with a petiole 10-28 cm long, bearing 5-9 leaflets. The fruit of the money tree is a hard capsule; when the fruit matures, the pericarp turns from green to yellow-brown. Each fruit has 10-20 seeds, with a light brown seed coat and an umbilical scar on the ventral side. The flowers of the money tree are pale yellow, with slender filaments and 2-3 small bracts.
2. Growth habits of the money tree: The money tree likes light and is also shade-tolerant; it can grow under full sun, partial sun or shaded conditions, but long-term lack of light will weaken its growth. The suitable growth temperature for the money tree is 20-30°C; it can also grow below 10°C, but below 5°C it is prone to disease, with mild cases causing leaf drop and severe cases leading to death. The money tree has swollen roots and stem base that can store a large amount of water, so it is fairly drought-tolerant, while excessive soil moisture will cause the fleshy roots to rot. Money tree cultivation is not very demanding regarding soil; as long as drainage is good, it can grow normally.
3. Styling of the money tree: The styling of the money tree can be divided into single-trunk styling and braided styling. Braided styling is more traditional; common forms on the market include "three dragons," "five dragons," "seven dragons" and several others. It has the gentle beauty of intertwined branches, graceful and elegant, with a myriad of postures. Single-trunk styling, however, is natural and beautiful, with strong vitality, and can grow into a spectacular large tree stump, very imposing, becoming a new favorite on the market. For growers, the cultivation techniques of both are basically the same.
Propagation of the Money Tree
Propagation of the money tree can be divided into seed propagation and cutting propagation. Because cutting propagation has the defects of a non-swollen head stem and an unattractive seedling trunk, it is generally rarely used in horticultural production. Seed sowing and seedling propagation, however, has the characteristics of uniform emergence, straight roots and smooth seedlings, being easy to braid, and being able to grow a round and lovely "radish head," making it the propagation method commonly used by the vast number of flower growers. The specific methods are as follows:
1. Seed collection and selection: The money tree flowers twice a year and can also produce seeds twice. The first time it flowers in April-May, and the fruit matures in July-August; the second time it flowers in September-October, and the fruit matures in December. Growers should choose mature, plump seeds and remove shriveled, cracked and moldy seeds; seeds from inferior trees or trees with obvious disease cannot be used.
2. Sowing: Before sowing, the soil should be deeply plowed and finely harrowed, and seedbeds suitable for seed growth should be divided. At both ends of the seedbed, stretch a rope respectively, insert a bamboo stick every 0.3 m to set the row spacing, and use a wooden board connecting the bamboo sticks on both sides to draw a straight shallow furrow. In this shallow furrow, sow one seed every 0.1 m; one mu of land can raise about 10,000 seedlings. When placing the seeds, note that the seed hilum should face downward, so that the money trees that grow will be straight and upright. Cover the seeds with about 2-3 cm of soil, not too thick, so as not to affect the emergence of money tree seedlings. After covering with soil, also cover the seedbed with black shade netting to prevent the seeds from being scorched by the hot sun; only when the seeds germinate can the protection of the shade netting be removed.
3. Daily management during the seedling stage: After 4 days, seedlings can emerge. After emergence, the following management should be carried out.
① Watering: After removing the shade netting, water once every 1-2 days. A sprinkler head must be installed at the front of the hose; do not water directly with a faucet. Watering should be done until the surface layer of the soil is fully moist. After full emergence, water once every 3-5 days; after 1-2 months, water appropriately according to weather and temperature conditions.
② Fertilizing: During the entire seedling-raising period, fertilizer can be applied 3-5 times. The first time is after full emergence; compound chemical fertilizer can be used, with about 2.5 kg per mu, applied by manual broadcasting. Because the root system area occupied by a single seedling is very small, a very important point is to spread the fertilizer evenly on the soil. This requires the fertilizer applicator to be especially experienced, with the speed of hand swinging and walking speed kept uniform and consistent. After fertilizing, rinse the leaf surface with water so that the fertilizer can be absorbed quickly. Thereafter, fertilize once every 1-2 months, with the amount gradually increasing, at 2.5-7.5 kg per mu.
③ Weeding: Because the seedlings are planted at high density and need large amounts of nutrients, if there are too many weeds in the seedbed, it will affect the growth and development of the seedlings. Therefore, growers should promptly pull out weeds in the seedbed.
Field Management of the Money Tree
1. Lifting seedlings: Be careful when lifting seedlings with a hoe; move slowly and do not dig into and damage the roots of the money tree. Dug-out seedlings must undergo two treatments. The first is root pruning: cut off overly long roots, leaving only about 25 cm. The second is branch pruning: cut off branches from 1.2 m above the stem base downward, ensuring sufficient nutrient supply to the main trunk. Because the degree of development of each money tree seedling is not necessarily the same, growers must also grade the seedlings by height and must not plant them mixed together. Here growers should be especially reminded that braided money trees are lifted earlier; when the seedlings grow to 0.6 m, they should be lifted, while single-trunk money trees must wait until the seedlings grow to 1.5 m before they can be lifted and planted.
2. Field planting: Field planting of money trees is divided into braided planting and single-plant planting. Braided planting means that before the seedlings are transplanted to the field for cultivation, they must first be braided. Below, taking the "five dragons" styling as an example, we will introduce the braiding method of the money tree in detail.
① Seedling selection: First, the five money tree seedlings we select must be consistent in size and thickness, and each must be free of disease or bruising. Then place these seedlings in a cool place for 2-3 days to dehydrate them, making the stems softer.
② Braiding method: First, number the five seedlings. Then place No. 1 and No. 2 slanting to the right, then place No. 3 and No. 4 slanting to the left, and finally place No. 5 in the middle. Then use a rubber band to tie the roots of the five seedlings together and fix them in place. Next, use No. 1 to press the two plants beside it, namely No. 2 and No. 5; then use No. 4 to press the two plants beside it, namely No. 3 and No. 1; then use No. 2 to press No. 5 and No. 4; then use No. 3 to press No. 1 and No. 2, and so on. We always use the outermost seedling to press the two seedlings immediately beside it. Finally, use a rubber band to tie the end of the braid tightly to prevent it from coming apart. Growers should note that the distance between each braid should be even, so that the money trees that grow in the future will be beautiful. During the operation, the braid body will naturally bend to one side, and we need to press it straight with a heavy object in a cool place. Finally, plant the straightened money tree into the field. Apart from the different styling, the field planting techniques of braided planting and single-plant planting are completely the same.
③ Generally plant at a density of about 450 plants per mu. The spacing between seedlings is 0.75 m, and the row spacing is 2 m. According to this standard, growers dig holes 30 cm deep and 30 cm wide in the ground, then place 50-100 g of base fertilizer in each hole, and use a hoe to mix the fertilizer evenly with the soil in the hole. When planting, place the seedling vertically in the hole and backfill soil in layers and firm it. When backfilling, protect the trunk so it remains upright; the backfilling depth should be roughly the same as the depth at which the seedling was buried in the seedbed. Newly planted seedlings should be given one watering to settle the roots, using about 3 jin of water per plant.
3. Daily management: Money trees after field planting need strengthened maintenance and management to ensure their survival and healthy growth and development. We need to pay attention to doing the following items well.
① Watering: During the growth period, money trees are not very demanding regarding water. After field planting, watering once every two months is sufficient. If the weather is hot and dry, the number of waterings can be increased as appropriate. The irrigation amount should be sufficient and full; never let the surface soil be wet while the subsoil remains dry. Generally, water should penetrate to a depth of 80 to 100 cm.
② Fertilizing: In the first year after field planting, apply topdressing once every half year using the hole application method. Hole application is a method of concentrated fertilizing and economical fertilizer use. The specific method is as follows: First, between every two trees, about half a meter from the base of the trunk, dig a hole 10 cm deep and 20 cm wide; then place 25 g of compound chemical fertilizer in each hole; finally cover with soil to prevent fertilizer loss. In dry seasons, growers can also mix compound chemical fertilizer into water, using an average of 3 jin of water per hole, applying it as water-fertilizer, which can accelerate absorption by the seedling roots and improve fertilizer use efficiency. In the second and third years, apply fertilizer once each year, with each application being double that of the first year.
③ Pruning: Pruning should be carried out in summer, preferably from early June to early July. The first pruning technique is thinning: for example, for money trees planted for less than 1 year, the main trunk is relatively low, so generally select and retain vigorous, upright branches as the main trunk, and thin out the remaining branches according to different situations, mainly thinning overly dense lateral branches and water sprouts in the crown. The second is heading back: that is, cutting off upright, strong lateral branches. According to the principle of suppressing the strong and retaining the weak, removing the upright and retaining the horizontal, cut back in stages, leaving small branches below the cut, and do not cut from the base, so as to avoid weakening the tree's growth.
4. Common pests and diseases and their control: Money trees have strong disease resistance, and under normal conditions there are relatively few pests and diseases, but under high temperature and high humidity, pests and diseases are prone to occur. The common pests of money trees are mainly moth larvae, such as the larvae of the stinging rose caterpillar and swallowtail butterfly larvae, which can be treated by spraying with avermectin solution diluted 1500-2000 times. The main diseases of money trees are anthracnose, gray blight and stem base rot. Below we will introduce the treatment methods for these diseases respectively.
① Anthracnose: Its main symptoms are that the lesions mostly spread from the leaf tip downward, and the lesion color is dark brown to gray-brown. The control method is to apply less nitrogen fertilizer, apply more phosphorus fertilizer, reduce leaf surface humidity, change leaf surface watering to base watering, and maintain good ventilation. For chemicals, use carbendazim wettable powder at 600 times dilution for spraying, continuously 2-3 times, once every 7 days.
② Leaf blight: Its main symptoms are that the lesions are yellow-white to gray-yellow, with irregular shapes, and when humidity is high, needle-tip-like scattered small granules appear. The control method is to keep the environment clean, promptly handle diseased leaves, strengthen fertilizer and water management, and enhance plant disease resistance. For chemicals, use copper oxychloride suspension concentrate + mancozeb wettable powder diluted 800 times at a 1:1 ratio, spraying once every 10-15 days.
③ Stem base rot: Its main symptoms are that the color of the cortex at the stem base is abnormal, ranging from grayish-dark to grayish-black, and spreads deep into the xylem, ultimately causing the entire tree to wither and die. The control method is to operate carefully during the lifting, field planting and transportation of money trees, minimizing artificial wounds. For mildly diseased plants, first scrape off the diseased area with a small knife, then soak and disinfect with potassium permanganate at 600 times dilution; for severely diseased plants, thoroughly cut off the infected parts.
After two years of cultivation, when the stem of the money tree becomes thick and strong, it can be transferred to a pot and sold on the market.
Indoor Management of the Money Tree
In the vast northern regions of China, winter temperatures are relatively cold, and money trees cannot survive outdoors, so they are generally potted indoors. Money trees have good shade tolerance, and indoor potted maintenance is relatively simple. We should pay attention to the following items.
1. Light: Money trees are shade-tolerant but like light. If kept in shade for a long time, growth will slow, leaf color will fade, and they will lose their luster. Therefore, potted plants should be placed in a location with relatively strong light, such as near a window, and must also be regularly moved to a balcony or outdoors to receive light to restore vitality. However, when moving from indoors to outdoors, this should be done gradually: first for a short time, such as 1-2 hours, then for a longer time, such as 1-2 days; first weak light, then stronger light. Direct sun exposure must be avoided.
2. Temperature and humidity: Money trees like warmth and fear cold. In winter, room temperature should be kept above 15°C; below 5°C, money trees may die. The first principle of watering is to prefer dry over wet; in the high-temperature summer season, water more, and in winter, water less.
3. Pruning: Indoor potted money trees are generally pruned twice a year, once in spring and once in autumn. When pruning, first cut off newly grown buds on the trunk, with the cut close to the trunk; cut off aged and yellowed leaves and excess weak branches inside the crown; and properly cut back the elongated branches at the top, so as to maintain a beautiful crown.
4. Repotting: Money trees have well-developed roots and grow relatively fast. When indoor potted plants have been kept for 1-2 years and their vigor weakens, they should be repotted promptly. Repotting is generally done in late autumn or winter. Do not water before repotting. If it is difficult to remove, use a shovel inserted along the pot wall to separate the soil from the four walls of the flowerpot, then grasp the root stem and shake back and forth to pull the money tree out of the pot and place it into a prepared container. Never dig out the potting soil, so as not to damage the roots. When repotting, prune appropriately according to root length, remove decayed roots and excessively tangled fibrous roots, then place in well-drained acidic sandy loam; this part should account for about one third of the pot. Then add 5-10 g of compound chemical fertilizer, stir evenly with the soil, and then plant the pruned money tree back into the pot. Finally, water until water flows out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot.
The money tree has elegant posture and remains evergreen through the four seasons, and has become an outstanding ornamental plant. We sincerely hope that the vast number of farmer friends, relying on scientific cultivation methods and carrying the beautiful wish of "prosperity," will embark on a path of truly making a fortune.
Money Tree Planting: How to Grow a Money Tree? A Complete Guide to Money Tree Cultivation and Care Methods
Money tree pictures and information: http://hua.fengqiaoju.com/?album-read-id-715.html
For a money tree to grow well, in addition to watering, the supply of fertilizer must also be ensured. When fertilizing a money tree, simply follow the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently. For example, for a money tree planted in a flowerpot with a diameter of 20 cm, if applying biological fertilizer, only 20 g is needed each time; if applying chemical fertilizer, mix it at a ratio of 3 parts per thousand and pour it into the pot. A foliar feeding method can also be used. Fertilize about once every 20 days.
Finally, pay attention to creating a ventilated environment for the money tree. If there is no ventilation for a long time, the money tree is prone to pests.
Malabar chestnut, also known as Gua Li or money tree, is an evergreen small tree of the Bombacaceae family. It originates from Mexico and Costa Rica. It has palmate leaves with 7-11 leaflets that are oblong to obovate. There is a horticultural variety known as the variegated money tree. Because the name "money tree" is highly popular among merchants and ordinary citizens, and because of its beautiful plant form, bright green leaves and hammer-shaped trunk, it is suitable for indoor arrangement and beautification when potted. Therefore, in recent years it has developed very quickly in China's flower market. During festivals, hotels, restaurants, merchants and citizens alike rush to purchase it for good luck and good fortune.
Key Points for Money Tree Cultivation
1. Temperature. The minimum winter temperature is 16-18°C; below this temperature the money tree's leaves turn yellow and drop; below 10°C the money tree easily dies.
2. Light. The money tree is a strongly sun-loving plant and is grown in the open ground in places such as Hainan Island. But the money tree has fairly strong shade tolerance and can be enjoyed indoors in weak light for 2-4 weeks continuously. After that, place it in a bright location.
3. Water. During the high-temperature growing period the money tree needs sufficient water; but it has fairly strong drought tolerance and will not be harmed by several days without watering. Water accumulation in the pot must be avoided for money trees, and watering should be reduced in winter.
4. Air humidity. During the growing period it prefers higher air humidity; a small amount of water can be sprayed on the leaf surface from time to time.
5. Money tree repotting. Repot in spring as needed.
The hand tree, commonly known as the money tree, is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Pseudopanax in the Araliaceae family. Its stem is upright, its leaves are large and alternate, with long petioles and palmate compound leaves bearing 9-12 leaflets; the leaflets are 12-15 cm long and about 6 cm wide. Because its tree form and leaf shape are peculiar and its common name is auspicious, and because it is taken as a good omen, more and more people have introduced and cultivated it recently.
This flower is native to Australia and some islands in the Pacific. It is suitable for growing in a warm, humid and well-ventilated environment; it likes sun and is also slightly shade-tolerant; it grows best in loose, fertile soil with good drainage.
Potted money trees should be repotted once every 1-2 years, carried out in spring when they are brought out of doors, and necessary pruning should be done on yellow leaves and thin weak branches to promote new shoots. Watering should follow the principle of alternating dry and wet; in spring and autumn, control the frequency of watering according to sunny or rainy, dry or wet conditions, generally once a day; when the temperature exceeds 35°C, water at least twice a day; during the growing season apply fertilizer twice a month; for newly grown leaves, also pay attention to spraying water to maintain higher environmental humidity; from June to September, shade is required, maintaining 60%-70% light transmittance or placing in a location with bright scattered light. After bringing indoors in winter, the temperature should not be lower than 5°C, and keeping it around 10°C is better; water once every 5-7 days, and ensure fairly sufficient light is given. In addition, during the growing season, if ventilation is poor, red spider mites and scale insects are prone to occur, so observe carefully. When pests are found, remove them promptly or spray pesticide.