Money Tree Leaves Turning Yellow: A Complete Guide to Care Essentials
At home or in the office, keeping a potted money tree can absorb formaldehyde, protect against radiation, bring in wealth and good fortune, boost your luck, and look very pleasing to the eye.
Some plant lovers' money trees thrive all year round and never show yellow leaves, while others find that no matter how they care for it, it barely grows and always has a few leaves that are withered, yellow and wilted.
Today we'll sum up a few key points for caring for the money tree. Master these, and your money tree will never have yellow leaves again, with a good shape and emerald-green foliage!
Soil: The choice matters a lot
Most money trees come with potted soil when you buy them. It's not suitable to repot a plant right after bringing it home, so wait a while before changing the soil.
The money tree likes slightly acidic soil with good drainage. Peat soil and leaf mold, plus coarse sand and a small amount of base fertilizer (chicken manure and cow manure both work well), make an excellent growing medium for the money tree. Peat soil and leaf mold can also be replaced with garden soil plus decomposed pine needles.
Light: The biggest influence on plant shape
The money tree likes light and tolerates shade. Without light for a long time, it will develop yellow leaves and become weak. It can grow normally under shaded, indirect light, but its branches and leaves will be rather sparse, while under full sun the money tree's stem nodes shorten, the trunk grows thicker, and the plant takes on a compact shape.
In addition, the money tree is strongly phototropic. With strong light from one direction for a long time, its branches and leaves tend to twist, so it needs to be rotated regularly.
Watering: Where problems most easily arise
The money tree itself likes moist soil and a humid air environment. In the hot, humid summer climate of Xishuangbanna, it grows well when planted in the ground.
But when grown in a pot, the money tree is still very prone to waterlogging, and this has a lot to do with its root structure and our home potting environment.
Although the money tree likes moisture, its trunk is swollen and has a water-storing function, making it fairly drought-tolerant. At the same time, liking moisture doesn't mean it isn't afraid of root rot. The money tree's roots are not well developed, so with frequent watering and poor drainage, root rot easily sets in.
So watering a money tree depends on the growing environment:
If the potting soil drains and breathes well, contains few water-retaining materials, and the environment is often ventilated, you can water more.
If the potting soil is fairly heavy and sticky (fine sand, clay), or contains a lot of water-retaining materials (coconut coir, peat, vermiculite), and your home has little ventilation, then water less, otherwise root rot easily occurs.
If you really can't get the hang of it, just water as little as possible. Especially now in autumn when temperatures drop below 15°C, you should control water even more. During the vigorous growth period at 20 to 30°C, if the potting soil drains well, you can water once every half month, and the amount each time should not be too much; pour slowly, and it's enough for water to seep out of the bottom of the pot.
In addition, the money tree likes a humid air environment, especially during the growing season. Mist the leaves every day, and they will be clean, fresh green and glossy.
Fertilizing: It likes fertilizer but fears excess
A money tree can grow quite large and has a high demand for fertilizer. When repotting or changing the soil, remember to add base fertilizer at the bottom of the pot, so the money tree has plenty of reserves for later growth and thrives.
Although it likes fertilizer, remember: less is better than more, and don't fertilize at low temperatures. Generally, during the vigorous growth period, a light fertilizing once every half month is enough. Stop fertilizing in winter, otherwise root rot easily occurs.
A roundup of yellow leaf problems
1. Overwatering
With overwatering, new leaves turn yellow, old leaves drop, and the roots begin to rot. Stop watering and ventilate promptly.
2. Long-term lack of light
A serious long-term lack of light affects photosynthesis, so not only do the leaves turn yellow, but the plant also becomes weak.
2. Lack of fertilizer
The money tree likes fertilizer. If the soil itself is not fertile enough, be sure to fertilize regularly during the growing season and add base fertilizer when repotting.
4. Overfertilizing
With overfertilizing, the leaves become thick and fleshy and start turning yellow from the leaf tips, and in serious cases the roots also develop problems.
5. Yellow leaves from iron deficiency
When the leaf surface is green but the veins... the leaf surface turns yellow, it's due to poor soil quality and iron deficiency. Adding a small amount of ferrous sulfate solution when watering, or burying a few rusty iron nails in the potting soil, can solve this.
6. High temperature, strong light and lack of water
In the summer heat, leaf moisture evaporates quickly and is replenished slowly, so under strong light the leaves are easily scorched and turn yellow. Therefore, in high temperatures, avoid strong light, replenish water promptly, and maintain ventilation.
7. Big differences when the environment changes
Plants, like people, can also suffer from not adapting to a new environment. Sudden changes in ventilation, temperature and light conditions easily cause yellow leaves and leaf drop, so try to avoid abrupt environmental changes and sudden shifts from cold to hot.
Money Tree and Kalanchoe Hard to Grow in Summer? Key Care Tips for These Two Plants in Summer
It's the hottest time of summer right now, and many plant growers say the money tree and kalanchoe are not easy to grow. Actually, no matter what flower it is, there are certain care tricks. As long as you master these tricks, growing them well is naturally no problem. Next, let's look at the summer care guide for the money tree and kalanchoe!
I. Money Tree
1. Control water at the roots, mist the leaves
Controlling water at the roots of the money tree actually means controlling watering. Many people kill their money trees by overwatering and root rot, so remember: even in summer, don't water too much. Some people see the surface of the pot drying quickly in summer and rush to water as soon as the topsoil looks dry, not realizing there's still water in the pot. To judge whether the pot is short of water, you can stick a chopstick into the pot and pull it out to check every 2-3 days; water again when the chopstick is dry, and when you water, water thoroughly.
In summer, leaf surfaces evaporate a lot and dry out easily. Sometimes even if the pot isn't short of water, the leaves droop. Then you should mist to keep them moist, using 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. Improve ventilation
The money tree loves a ventilated environment most. Places at home near a balcony, windowsill or corridor, which have both ventilation and some indirect light, are all very suitable for growing a money tree. Without ventilation, the water in the pot can't evaporate in time, and root rot easily occurs.
3. Fertilize appropriately
Everyone says the money tree grows slowly, so don't miss summer, its growing season. Add fertilizer appropriately in time, mainly nitrogen fertilizer: fermented rice water, bean cake water, or mix slow-release fertilizer or compound fertilizer into the soil. Fertilize once every half month, and by the end of one summer there will be a big change!
4. Dealing with yellow leaves and root rot
If the money tree's leaves droop and turn yellow because of too much watering and poor ventilation, promptly remove the yellow leaves, move the money tree to a ventilated place, pause watering, and let it recover for 3-5 days before watering normally again.
If after 3-5 days there's no improvement and the leaves keep turning yellow, dig it out quickly to take a look, as the roots may already have rotted. Use a knife to cut off the rotted parts and soak them for 20 minutes in carbendazim solution or potassium permanganate solution to disinfect.
After disinfecting, put it directly in water for hydroponics. The water is best tap water that has been left to stand (to remove chlorine). When growing in water, you can add a little rooting powder, vitamin B or aspirin to speed up rooting.
If you find that too much trouble, you can also cut a thin branch for hydroponics. As long as it's a healthy one-year-old strong branch, the success rate of hydroponics is very high.
II. Kalanchoe
1. Kalanchoe can also bloom during its dormant period
When the temperature exceeds 35°C, kalanchoe begins to enter its dormant period, but some people's kalanchoe is blooming right now. What's going on? The factor that determines whether kalanchoe goes dormant is temperature. If you move your kalanchoe into an air-conditioned room or keep it on a cool balcony, and the temperature is around 23-30°C, it won't enter dormancy and will continue to grow normally. Above this temperature range, it will go dormant.
Light also affects kalanchoe. If you shorten the light duration, giving it just 4 hours of mild sunlight during the day and keeping it in a cool place the rest of the time, the temperature difference between the cold and warm periods will be 8-10°C, and the kalanchoe will mistakenly think its flowering season has arrived, so it blooms.
Of course, if your kalanchoe has already entered dormancy, don't mess with it like this. Better to learn how to help it through the summer safely!
2. How to tell whether kalanchoe is dormant
Most kalanchoe goes dormant in July and August. If its growth speed clearly slows down, it seems not to grow taller or bloom, and the leaves either turn yellow or develop black rot, that means it has gone dormant.
3. How to get a dormant kalanchoe through the summer
If your kalanchoe has already gone dormant, start watering less, move it to a cool, ventilated place, and prune away all the yellow leaves to reduce nutrient consumption. Don't fertilize or repot for now; wait until after September.
4. Kalanchoe needs a trim
A kalanchoe in its dormant period grows easily, so if you grow kalanchoe you must pay attention to this problem. If you notice leggy growth, trim it promptly, otherwise if it grows until autumn, it will be too late to trim. When pruning kalanchoe, follow the principle of "remove two, keep four": for a branch with 6 pairs of leaves, cut off the length of 2 pairs of leaves and keep the stem with 4 pairs of leaves.
The trimmed tips of the kalanchoe can be re-propagated by cuttings. Even though it's summer now, this can still be done. Insert the cuttings into breathable sandy soil, water thoroughly, place on a cool, ventilated north-facing windowsill, and mist daily to keep them moist. They should root in about 1-2 weeks.
Summer temperatures are high and light is strong, so no matter what flowers you grow, you must do a good job with watering and other management. That's all for the summer care guide for the money tree and kalanchoe. Here the editor emphasizes: during the intense heat, pay more attention to your plants, and you can't go wrong.
How to Water a Money Tree Correctly? Answers to Key Money Tree Watering Tips
The money tree is an indoor plant that many people like to grow. Many people like its symbolism: bringing in wealth and prosperity, so it is much loved. Keeping a potted money tree at home to bring wealth is a very good thing. We know that no matter what flower or plant you grow, watering is very important. So how do you water a money tree? Are there any watering tips? Let's find out below.
Watering a money tree
Watering a money tree is an important part of routine care. We know no plant can do without water, and the money tree is the same. But when watering a money tree, if you water too much, its roots sit in a damp, airless environment, cannot breathe and spread freely, and over time root rot easily occurs, the plant grows poorly, and yellow leaves appear. So how should you water a money tree correctly? Here are the answers.
Money tree watering tips
1. Where to water a money tree
When watering a money tree, don't pour from the leaves down; instead, spray some water on it, which more effectively improves and raises the humidity of the money tree's growing environment. The wrong watering method not only fails to replenish the money tree's water but also causes pests and diseases, so the watering method must be correct. The correct way is to water the roots, because the roots also need water, and not enough water will affect growth. Root watering generally shouldn't be too frequent; once every 7 days or so is fine.
2. When to water
Spring and autumn temperatures are very suitable for the money tree's growth, so when watering then, it's generally done in the morning. If you want to water in the evening, that's not impossible either, but remember to ventilate well, otherwise the leaves may rot. In summer the weather is very hot and plants need more water, so you can water in two sessions, and watering must be done in the morning and evening, not at high noon, because that will scorch its leaves. In winter, when temperatures are lower, water at noon.
3. How to judge whether to water
The money tree has relatively few roots, so when judging whether to water it, you can observe the potting soil and must wait until the soil is dry before watering. In summer, basically water once every half month; in winter, watering once every one or two months is enough. However, observing the potting soil should be judged according to different local conditions and the pot's use. Generally, a money tree short of water won't die quickly and will recover quickly once watered, but if water accumulates, it's basically very hard to save. So when watering a money tree, do more misting and less watering.
4. What kind of water is good for a money tree
(1) Fish tank water: If you keep fish at home, you can use the water from the fish tank to water the money tree. This is because fish tank water contains leftover fish food and fish waste, which are rich in nutrients, so it can provide part of the nutrients for the money tree's growth.
(2) Beer diluted with water: Dilute beer with water fifty times, then use it to water the money tree. This can make the money tree lush and leafy. Normally, you can dilute beer with water and spray it on the money tree's leaves; some substances in beer are nutrients it needs for growth, and it will immediately make the money tree's leaves glossy and shiny.
(3) Rainwater: The money tree is better suited to slightly acidic water, so rainwater suits it best. So remember to collect some rainwater whenever it rains, and it will make it grow more vigorously. Next time it rains, remember to go collect rainwater.
(4) Rice water: Rice water is the most common. Don't just pour away the water left from washing rice every day; it has many uses, and watering plants is just one of them. For the money tree, it is a very good care treatment that can make it greener and denser. But be very careful: rice water must not be poured directly on the plant's roots, as that is very bad for it. Fermented rice water is best diluted before watering flowers.
That's all for sharing money tree watering tips. Many people grow a money tree for its symbolism and wealth-bringing effect. But if you don't grow the money tree well, it surely won't bring in much wealth, so if you want to grow a good money tree, watering is very important.