What should you do when the leaves of a potted money tree turn yellow and wilt?

  The money tree (Pachira aquatica) is a foliage plant with broad, emerald-green leaves. It is beautiful and elegant, with extremely high ornamental value. As an evergreen tree, it has large flowers with lobed petals in red, white or pale yellow, and the colors are gorgeous. A plant with green leaves is a feast for the eyes. When the money tree blooms, it is a wonderful sight to admire, and placing it at home unquestionably adds a touch of charm to your decor.

  The money tree, thanks to its auspicious and pleasant-sounding name, is favored and loved by many people, and is an indispensable plant for office settings and storefronts. Placed in a living room or bedroom, the money tree matches different home decor styles and reflects the owner's dream of striving toward their goals. Putting the money tree beside the TV can better reflect an eco-friendly and healthy style.

  The money tree, also known as the Malabar chestnut, symbolizes the hope of gaining wealth by growing this tree, so many people are willing to plant one at home. In today's fast-paced life, not everyone has that much time to care for these plants, so it can also get sick and show symptoms such as yellowing leaves. Today let's learn together what to do when the money tree's leaves turn yellow.

  1. Alkaline soil

  Soil is an essential factor for the growth of the money tree. Most areas in the north have soil with a relatively high salt and alkali content, but the money tree prefers acidic conditions. Being unable to adapt to the soil is a serious matter: when the soil lacks the iron the money tree needs, the result of malnutrition is yellowing leaves.

  2. Soil acidification

  The money tree is suited to growing in acidic soil, and promptly changing the soil's acidity or alkalinity can rescue a yellowing money tree. There is no need to remove it from the pot or change the soil; you only need to apply a certain amount of ferrous sulfate to the soil, sprinkling it directly into the flowerpot. This both increases the soil's fertility and acidifies the soil, achieving two goals at once. When acidifying the soil, note that you should not use vinegar. Table vinegar can indeed quickly make the soil acidic, but because the method is too aggressive, it will damage the organic matter in the soil and lower the soil's fertility.

  3. Harsh sun exposure

  Although the money tree is drought-tolerant, if during the hot summer you forget for some reason to move it to a shady place, then after it has been exposed to strong sunlight for a period of time, the money tree's leaves will also turn yellow, so everyone should pay attention to this too.

  4. Insufficient light

  Actually, the money tree very much likes sunlight; it is just that during the scorching summer weather you cannot leave it exposed to the sun. But if you keep it in a shady place for a long time without any sunlight, it cannot carry out normal photosynthesis, and thus cannot grow normally, which will also cause the money tree's leaves to turn yellow.

  5. Unsuitable temperature

  Some people dislike summer and winter because one is too hot and the other too cold. Actually, plants are the same way. The suitable temperature for the money tree's growth is 20°C~30°C; too high or too low will affect its growth.

  If the temperature in the money tree's growing environment is too high, transpiration becomes too strong, the roots cannot supply enough water and nutrients, and the leaves will gradually dry up and turn yellow. But if the temperature is too low, for example when the winter temperature falls below 16°C, the leaves easily turn yellow and drop, and below 10°C the plant very easily dies.

  6. Overwatering

  The money tree is a potted plant, so you cannot water it too much or too frequently, because when you overwater, the soil in the pot stays overly wet, which makes the soil lack oxygen. Once the soil lacks oxygen, some of the money tree's roots will rot, and the money tree cannot carry out normal "breathing" and nutrient absorption, so its leaves will turn yellow. So as long as everyone is a little more careful in daily care, watering only when the surface of the soil in the money tree's pot has basically dried out, you can easily solve the problem of what to do when the money tree's leaves turn yellow during the renovation of a 70 sq m two-bedroom, one-living-room home.

  7. Underwatering

  Although the money tree does not like too much water, if you do not water it for a very long period, or after a long time you give it only a small amount of water, creating a state where the top is wet and the bottom is dry, then its roots cannot absorb nutrients. So this is also one cause of the money tree's leaves turning yellow.

  8. Too little fertilizer

  No matter what kind of plant it is, if you do not fertilize it for a long time, the soil in its pot will lack nutrients such as nitrogen. Once there are no nutrients, the money tree's branches and leaves will become increasingly thin and weak, and then symptoms such as yellowing and dropping leaves will appear.

  9. Excess nutrients

  When you notice it has become thin and small because it has not been fertilized for a long time, and then to compensate you give it a large amount of fertilizer, if that is really what you do, then you are greatly mistaken, because that will be too much for it to handle and will also make the money tree's leaves turn yellow.

  10. Pollution and irritation

  In this rapidly developing society and life with severe air pollution, when plants are exposed to some toxic gas pollution it will affect their lifespan, or on a hot day you suddenly water it with cold water; these can all cause the money tree's leaves to turn yellow, and if the situation is serious it may even lead to the death of the whole plant, so everyone should pay attention to this too.

  11. Overly dense branches and leaves

  If your money tree grows very lushly and looks very healthy, then at this time you should do some pruning and the like, so that its branches and leaves look good but are not too dense, because if you do not prune its branches and leaves for a long time, the leaves will become too luxuriant and block sunlight from the inner branches and leaves, and over time this will also make the money tree's leaves turn yellow.

  12. Root damage from repotting

  As the money tree gradually grows, some people will want to give it a more suitable container. At this time you need to be careful: when transplanting and changing the soil, we should try not to damage its roots, otherwise it will also cause the money tree's leaves to turn yellow.

  13. Pests and diseases

  Everyone knows that when we feel unwell we go get injections and take medicine, so what about when plants get sick? When the money tree suffers from pests and diseases, its leaves will turn yellow and develop spots, and in serious cases symptoms such as leaf drop will appear. At this time, you should know that your money tree has already gotten sick, so remember to buy it some medicine.

  How do you prevent the money tree's leaves from turning yellow? In the process of growing the money tree, you will always encounter some unexpected situations, such as leaves turning yellow, drooping, falling off and so on. Huahua will not just watch your treasure die, so below we will share with everyone the causes of yellowing leaves on the money tree and the solutions.

  1. Control the soil's acidity and alkalinity

  Actually, most household soil is bought directly from the market, and the soil in the pot is acidic. But why do yellow leaves still appear? This is related to our watering and soil changing. When watering, try to choose acidic water (rainwater, river water, tap water after standing); in addition, you can usually water with a ferrous sulfate solution to ensure the soil's acidity and alkalinity are within a suitable range.

  2. Reasonable lighting

  When caring for the money tree, you should do your best every day. Starting in late April, choose a clear and warm midday and move it outdoors or onto a balcony to receive sunlight, starting with 1~2 hours, then gradually extending the time, and you will get unexpected results. Of course, in summer it is best to schedule this in the morning or evening, when the sunlight is gentler and will not harm the money tree.

  3. Maintain a suitable temperature

  The money tree is relatively sensitive to temperature: hot makes it yellow, cold also makes it yellow, so a suitable temperature is very important. The suitable growing temperature for the money tree is 22~35°C; above 35°C, growth slows. The lowest winter temperature is 16-18°C (basically equivalent to indoor temperature); below this temperature the leaves turn yellow and drop, and below 10°C the plant easily dies.

  4. Control the amount of watering

  So that you do not cry bitterly because the money tree's leaves turn yellow, we should do everything well before it turns yellow, starting first with the amount of watering. Watering the money tree should follow the principle of "do not water if not dry; when watering, water thoroughly." Under normal care, watering once every 15~20 days is enough.

  5. Moderate fertilization

  When fertilizing the money tree, follow the principle of "light fertilizer, frequent application," fertilizing according to the plant's growth condition. During the growing season, apply a liquid fertilizer or mixed flower fertilizer once every 1 to 2 weeks, and when repotting the plant, promptly add fully decomposed base fertilizer.

  6. Clean the branches and leaves regularly

  First, prune in time, cutting off overly dense, leggy and diseased branches to enhance the plant's light penetration. Second, clean the dust off the leaf surface; too much dust on the leaves not only affects appearance but also reduces photosynthesis, causing the leaves to turn yellow.

  7. Timely prevention and control of pests and diseases

  When growing the money tree indoors, because of ventilation, light and humidity, pests and diseases are hard to avoid; the key is to take preventive measures. Except on rainy days and in winter, ensure the care environment has good air circulation; in hot and humid seasons, spray a fungicide once each time to prevent problems.