A detailed guide to sowing a money tree (Pachira aquatica) - even beginners can learn it easily

The money tree, also known as Malabar chestnut, Guiana chestnut, and goose-foot money, is an evergreen small tree of the Malvaceae family. It is native to Costa Rica in Latin America, Australia, and some small islands in the Pacific, and is also distributed in the tropical regions of southern China.

The money tree is a very common potted plant, and most flower enthusiasts do not know that the money tree can be grown from seed. In fact, the germination rate of money tree seeds is quite high, and compared with bought cutting-grown potted plants, a money tree grown from seed by yourself is easier to care for.

Money tree planting methods

For money tree cultivation methods, the following five aspects should mainly be noted.

1. Temperature and humidity for the money tree

Money tree cultivation has relatively high requirements for temperature and humidity. If the temperature is too low or the humidity is insufficient, leaf drop may occur, and in severe cases the branches may become bare, which is unfavorable for viewing and may also cause the plant to die.

For money tree cultivation, care should be taken to maintain a temperature above 15°C and to frequently spray water on the branches and leaves to increase humidity. In late autumn and winter, attention should be paid to cold protection and freeze protection. For indoor cultivation in summer, water once every 3 to 5 days; in spring and autumn, water once every 5 to 10 days. In winter, it depends on the room temperature. If the room temperature is around 12°C, watering once a month is sufficient. Its most suitable growth temperature is 18 to 30°C.

2. Sunlight for the money tree should be appropriate

For money tree cultivation, it should be placed in a sunny spot indoors. When placing it, attention should be paid to facing the leaf surface toward the sunlight, and it should not be kept in shade for a long time, otherwise the branches and leaves will become twisted and deformed. It is best to spray water on the money tree leaves once every 3 to 5 days, which is good for photosynthesis and also makes the branches and leaves more attractive.

3. Watering the money tree should be moderate

The money tree has strong adaptability to moisture. Generally, whether watered heavily outdoors or not watered for more than ten days indoors, waterlogging and drought will not occur. However, watering is still an important part of money tree cultivation. If the amount of water is too small, branch and leaf development is likely to stagnate; if the amount of water is too large, the roots may rot and the plant may die; if the amount of water is moderate, the branches and leaves will be plump.

The first principle of watering the money tree is to prefer moist over dry. Water more in the high-temperature summer season and less in winter; water more during the vigorous growth period, and water less for small or newly planted trees. Under normal conditions, watering once every 15 to 20 days is enough.

Precautions for planting a money tree

4. How to fertilize a money tree

The money tree has a greater demand for fertilizer than other flowers and trees. When repotting, the proportion of fertilized soil can be one third. Fertilized soil includes mixed humus leaf litter, miscellaneous bone meal, soybean cake residue, etc. This kind of fertilized soil has high effectiveness and is convenient and easy to obtain. However, attention should be paid to making it fully decomposed, so as not to "burn" the leaves yellow. It is worth noting that during the growth period of the money tree (that is, from May to September), a fully decomposed liquid fertilizer or flower-growing fertilizer should be applied once every 15 days to make its roots deep and leaves lush.

5. How to repot a money tree

Newly introduced money tree plants do not need repotting in the same year, to prevent the tree shape from becoming distorted. The suitable season for repotting is spring, and it can also be done in July and August, taking advantage of the plant's semi-dormant state during the high-temperature period. The money tree has relatively strict requirements for potting soil. The potting soil should preferably be slightly moist and well-drained, and an acidic sandy loam containing humus can be used.

For home cultivation, based on its living habits of preferring high temperature and high humidity and being intolerant of frost and dryness, focus on grasping the following four points:

1. The money tree likes high temperature, moisture, and sunlight, and cannot be kept in shade for a long time. Therefore, during care and management, it should be placed in a sunny spot indoors. When placing it, the leaf surface must face the sunlight. Otherwise, because the leaves tend toward light, the entire branches and leaves will become twisted. In addition, every 3 to 5 days, use a spray bottle to spray water on the leaves once. This is not only good for photosynthesis, but also makes the branches and leaves look more attractive.

2. The money tree is a flowering tree that likes fertilizer, and its demand for fertilizer is greater than that of common other flowers and trees. When repotting each year, the proportion of fertilized soil can account for 1/3, or even more. Fertilized soil has a wide range of sources. You can collect humus soil from broadleaf tree leaf litter, add a small amount of garden soil, and mix it with miscellaneous bone meal and soybean cake residue. This fertilized soil has high effectiveness and is convenient and easy to obtain, but attention should be paid to fully decomposing it, so as not to "burn" the leaves yellow.

3. During the growth period of the money tree (from May to September), once every 15 days, apply a fully decomposed liquid fertilizer or a mixed flower-growing fertilizer once, to promote deep roots and lush leaves. At ordinary times, keep the potting soil moist; in winter, the potting soil should be on the dry side, and wetness should be avoided; otherwise, the leaf tips are prone to scorching, and even the leaves may fall off. Prune and repot once every 1 to 2 years, and change to a slightly larger pot year by year. At the same time, add base fertilizer and replace with new nutrient soil so that it grows vigorously.

4. The money tree has relatively high requirements for temperature and humidity. If the temperature is relatively low or humidity is lacking, leaf drop often occurs, and in severe cases the branches become bare, which not only hinders viewing but also very easily causes the plant to die. Therefore, during cultivation and care, attention should be paid to maintaining a temperature above 15°C and frequently spraying water on the branches and leaves to increase the necessary humidity. In late autumn and winter, attention should be paid to overwintering cold protection and freeze protection management.

3. Money tree cultivation methods and precautions

4. Cultivation methods for potted small money trees

5. Cultivation methods for small-leaf money trees

6. Cultivation methods and precautions for hydroponic money trees