How to fertilize a money tree in summer? Improper operation easily causes root rot and yellow leaves

The money tree (Pachira aquatica) likes a growing environment with high temperature, high humidity and good ventilation. When summer arrives, the temperature naturally keeps rising, so watering must keep up at the beginning, but do not overwater, and after watering you also need to strengthen ventilation. Generally, you can combine it with misting, which can lower the temperature and retain moisture, making the environment more suitable for the money tree's growth. The money tree also sprouts and grows leaves in early summer, so nutrients cannot be lacking.

However, fertilizing a money tree in summer is full of risks, and you must keep track of temperature changes in real time. Because when the temperature is too high, the money tree enters a dormant or semi-dormant state, so its growth becomes very slow. If you do not stop fertilizing at this time, it will inevitably cause fertilizer burn and lead to root rot and yellow leaves. So fertilizing a money tree in summer requires particular attention, and you should fertilize cautiously; when it is time to stop fertilizing, stop in time, otherwise improper operation will cause root rot and yellow leaves.

In early summer, the money tree usually still grows fairly vigorously, constantly sprouting, sending out branches and unfolding leaves, so it still consumes a fair amount of nutrients. Therefore at this stage you should fertilize it, but it is best to apply decomposed organic liquid fertilizer or a general-purpose nutrient solution, keeping to once every 15-20 days. This can well meet the money tree's nutrient needs for rapid growth.

However, as summer temperatures keep rising, when the ambient temperature reaches as high as 35°C, we must stop fertilizing in time. Because at this temperature the plant has basically entered a dormant or semi-dormant state, its growth becomes very slow, it no longer sends out branches or unfolds leaves, so its nutrient consumption is also very small. Even if we apply fertilizer, it cannot absorb it quickly; instead, with the higher temperature and faster water transpiration, the applied fertilizer will burn the plant's root system due to too high a concentration, thus causing the branches and leaves to turn yellow and drop.

At this time it is generally the height of summer, and the money tree is in a state of rest and recuperation, becoming very fragile. It is not only prone to root rot from too much watering, but if you continue fertilizing, it is also very easy to cause root rot, so at this time you need to stop fertilizing in time. We can wait until after autumn begins and the weather turns cool to resume fertilizing it, and after the plant absorbs nutrients, it will soon or may resume rapid growth, becoming more lush with branches and green leaves.

But for fertilizing after autumn begins, it is recommended to use fermented, decomposed organic liquid fertilizers such as rice water and cake fertilizer water, applying a dilute fertilizer solution once every 10 days to half a month. In this way, the money tree that has gone through summer dormancy will, after fully absorbing nutrients, quickly return to a vigorous growth state. In summer, it is generally only suitable to fertilize during the early summer period; once the height of summer arrives and the plant begins to go dormant, you must stop fertilizing in time.