How do i take care of my money tree
Money Tree Care - How to Grow a Lucky Money Tree Plant
If you think it's time to add a little extra life and greenery to your space, consider getting a money tree plant. Not only are do they have a statement-making appearance, but they're actually pretty easy to care for. Provide a money tree with the right amount of water, light, and humidity, and it's sure to thrive. Here's what you need to know about the popular houseplant, from the symbolism behind it to the nitty-gritty of keeping it alive and growing.
First Things First: Are Money Trees Lucky?
Money trees, aka pachira aquatica, are considered a symbol of luck and prosperity, but they haven't been for all that long. According to Bloomscape, this doesn't date back centuries, as you might expect, but rather to the 1980s. The braided money tree as we know it was actually first cultivated by a truck driver in Taiwan and quickly became popular in Japan and East Asia. It also became associated with the Chinese practice of Feng Shui.
The braided trunks are thought to "trap fortune within its folds," Bloomscape explains, while the five leaves seen on each stalk are thought to represent the five elements of earth, water, fire, wind, and metal. And if you just so happen to find a money tree plant featuring a stalk with seven leaves—a major rarity—it's considered to be even luckier.
Basic Money Tree Plant Care
Sunlight:
According to ProFlowers, money tree plants like a mix of direct and indirect sunlight. As with most houseplants, too much direct sun can scorch the leaves. To achieve the right balance with your money tree, turn or rotate it regularly for more even light distribution. Just make sure to not move it all over the place so as to not disturb it too much. Another thing of note? Money trees can handle fluorescent lighting, so you're safe to keep one in your office as long as you take adequate care of it.
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Soil:
It's important that you maintain nutrient-rich potting soil with good drainage, according to the experts at Miracle-Gro. To achieve this, you'll want to use a well-draining potting mix or add some sand and gravel for extra porousness.
Water:
The best way to keep a money tree plant happy? Give it a good watering every one to two weeks, allowing the soil to dry in between, according to The Sill. Of course, if your plant is getting more light, you'll also need to up its water intake so that it doesn't get too dried out. This is a plant that requires a lot of water but not all of the time.
Temperature and Humidity:
Money tree plants do best in warmer environments, so you'll want to keep them in an area that's between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
But, the good news is, money trees are also pretty flexible and forgiving. They can still handle temperatures that go 10 degrees below or above that ideal range. As far as humidity goes, money trees thrive with extra moisture, so make sure you mist your plant regularly. Bloomscape suggests putting your money tree plant on a pebble tray to increase humidity in the winter.
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Braiding, Pruning, and More
While money tree plants don't have to be braided, most of the modern pachira aquaticas you'll find on the market are braided when you buy them. Braided money trees are actually multiple plants that have had their trunks woven together during growth while they're flexible. If you'd like to braid your plant, try as GardeningGuides.com suggests: Weave the trunks together gently and loosely tie a string around the top to keep it together. As the tree grows, you can continue this process.
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Like most houseplants, money trees also require regular pruning. First, you'll want to keep an eye out for any dead, damaged, or dying leaves and snip those. The best way to do this is to use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears (and make sure you wipe them off between cuts!) and clip them just past a node. You can also prune them to be a specific shape if you prefer. Money tree plants are traditionally round on top, but you can also let your plant do its own thing and just prune problematic parts to keep your plant thriving and encourage new growth. You can also prune your plant to keep it small if you'd like, as money tree plants can grow quite tall (according to Garden.org, they can grow up to 60 feet in their natural habitat!).
Common Money Tree Problems
Since money tree plants require a lot of water all at once, they can be prone to root rot.
Root rot, if you're unfamiliar, is when there's too much water in your plant that causes the roots to decay and die. When you're watering your plant, make sure you don't see extra water sitting in the saucer under the drainage holes. If you do, clear it out to avoid root rot. Your best bet is to use a pot that isn't too big (the bigger the pot, the more room it has to hold water) and has excellent drainage. Place it on a saucer that you can easily remove, and dump out when it fills with water.
Money tree plants can also attract pests like aphids and mealybugs, but not to worry—Epic Gardening suggests applying neem oil to the soil to repel any pests and removing aphids with water. All of these pests can cause major damage to your plant, so make sure you deal with them as soon as you see them to avoid loose, drooping, dying leaves.
Considering Buying a Money Tree?
Get started with one of these top online picks, or head to your local nursery.
Money Tree Plant With Two-Tone Pot
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Money Tree in Ceramic Pot
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$110 at 1-800-Flowers
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Costa Farms Medium Money Tree
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BLOOMSCAPE Mini Money Tree
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Wild Interiors Money Tree
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Money Tree With Ceramic Planter
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Money Tree Care 101: This Plant Care Routine is Ideal for Newbie Plant Parents
Photo: istockphoto.com
Popularized by feng shui practitioners who believe it will bring positivity and good fortune, the money plant is a surprisingly hardy tropical tree that can withstand a certain amount of neglect.
It demands only some light and fairly consistent watering, which makes it a good plant choice for inexperienced growers.
First used as a houseplant in Taiwan in the 1980s—in part because it’s believed to create positive chi, or energy, in the home—the money tree makes a statement with its distinctive look. Imparting a tropical vibe to almost any interior space, the money tree plant typically features five trunks braided together, topped by bright green palmlike leaves. Not every plant this attractive is so easy to grow.
Money tree care isn’t especially difficult because the plant is forgiving. That said, there are some conditions that they find deleterious to their health. Once you learn how to take care of a money tree, you’ll be rewarded with the good fortune of flourishing fresh greenery in your home. The key to growing a money tree indoors is to provide the right amount of light, water, and humidity.
Money Tree Care At a GlanceCommon Name: Money tree
Scientific Name: Pachira aquatica
Soil: well-draining with neutral to acidic pH
Light: bright, indirect light
Water: deep, only when the top 2 to 4 inches of soil feels dry
Food: twice yearly with houseplant fertilizer at half the recommended strength
Temperature and Humidity: at least 50 percent humidity; prefers temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees
Propagation: stem cuttings in soil or water
Safety: nontoxic to pets and humans
Photo: istockphoto.
com
In addition to its scientific name—Pachira aquatica—the money tree goes by many other names: Guana chestnut, Malabar chestnut, saba nut, Bombax glabrum, monguba, and French peanut.
In its native habitat in Mexico and Central and South America, where it grows in marshy wetlands and bats can pollinate it, the money tree produces yellowish-white flowers that evolve into large seedpods containing peanut-like nuts. Outdoors, this majestic tree can reach 60 feet, but indoors, expectations range from 6 to 8 feet, although it also can be trained to grow as a bonsai.
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Even though the money tree is plenty attractive as a houseplant, most people buy it because of its feng shui connection, hoping for the positive energy and good luck it’s rumored to bring. That legend derives from the fact that it grows five shiny, star-shaped leaves on each stem—five being an important number in feng shui, since it represents the five elements: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal.
More recent beliefs hold that the money tree can reduce stress and anxiety and relieve sleep disorders.
Selecting Soil for Money PlantsMoney tree soil in a container should be moist but not wet, so a well-draining potting mix is suitable. To enhance drainage, you can add cactus soil, or some sand or gravel. But this plant also likes nutrient-rich soil, so a peat moss-based mixture also works. A pH-neutral or slightly acidic soil provides the best conditions for a money plant.
Typically, a money tree will require repotting about every 2 years. Choose a pot one or two sizes larger than it’s been in—and make sure the container has a drainage hole. If you don’t want your money tree to grow too fast, you can remove part of the root ball when repotting. Then place the plant back in the same container with fresh soil.
Related: 9 Things That Can Bring Good Fortune to Your Home
The Right LightAlthough the money tree can tolerate direct sunlight when grown outdoors, the indoor-grown plants should receive bright to medium indirect light for at least 6 hours a day.
Be sure to rotate the plant each time you water it so its growth is straight.
Ideally, place your potted money tree near a sunny window, but keep an eye on it; too much sunlight burns the leaves, turning them brown. Conversely, too little light results in yellowing leaves.
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While it prefers bright natural light, the plant can adapt to artificial light given off by fluorescent or LED grow lights.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Watering Money TreeOutdoors, money trees grow in areas that flood and near bodies of water, which probably explains the “aquatica” in its name. Although the plant likes water and it’s difficult to overwater a money tree, it is possible. Avoid leaving the pot in standing water, which can lead to root rot if the soil is too soggy. Overwatering or insufficient drainage can result in leaf drop and death. However, soil that is too dry, as well as low humidity, can lead to yellowing, browning, or drooping leaves that fall off.
Money tree watering is not complicated; only give it water when the top 2 to 4 inches of soil feels dry. Usually, the plants need more water during their growing season in the spring and summer. You can cut back on water in the fall and winter because the plants go dormant and don’t need water for growth.
Fertilizing Money Tree PlantsAny basic liquid houseplant fertilizer works well for a money tree, but it should be diluted to half the recommended strength. You can feed your money tree plant as seldom as once in early spring and once in midsummer, but a better plan is to feed it monthly throughout the growing season. In most climates, you can skip fertilizing in the winter.
For the ultimate money plant food, use compost tea. Compost tea bags soaked in water provide a controlled dose of nutrients for foliage development. This all-natural fertilizer also improves the soil by rebuilding its microbial populations for more nutrients.
Bonsai slow-release fertilizer can help with droopy, yellowing leaves.
Jobe’s Houseplant Food Spikes (available on Amazon) provide essential nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and other trace minerals.
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Related: 11 Signs of an Unhappy Houseplant (and How You Can Help)
Setting the Temperature and HumidityIn its natural environment, the money tree grows in hardiness zones 10 and 11. As a tropical plant grown indoors, the money tree likes warm temperatures and lots of humidity. For best results, keep temperatures between 65 and 90 degrees. Avoid placing the houseplants near drafts, such as by exterior doors or heating and cooling vents.
Most indoor situations are significantly drier than the money tree’s natural home. Because the plants like around 50 percent humidity, it’s a good idea to increase the humidity around the plant by placing it on a pebble tray filled with water, setting a humidifier nearby, or misting the leaves regularly.
Photo: istockphoto.
com
Want to double your luck? Try propagating a money tree by taking stem cuttings in the spring or summer when the plant is growing. Using sterilized pruning shears or a sharp knife, cut a stem about 4 to 5 inches long with a few leaf nodes. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone (optional) and plant it in money tree-appropriate potting soil. Keep the cutting’s soil moist but not too wet for about a month, which is how long it usually takes new roots to form.
Another option is to place the cutting in water (skip the rooting hormone, if you opt for this propagation method). Wait for new roots to grow from the nodes, then pot the new money tree in its own planter.
Safety ConsiderationsThe money tree is nontoxic to pets, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). It’s also nontoxic to humans. In fact, the seeds can be roasted and consumed; they supposedly taste like peanuts (hence the plant’s nickname: the French peanut).
In addition, the flowers and leaves can be cooked like vegetables for human consumption. Oil from the plant’s seeds even be used to make soap.
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About the only creatures adversely affected by the plant are sand fleas. People have been known to disperse the seeds on the ground to repel the pests.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Related: 7 of the Best Trees You Can Grow Indoors
Potential Pests and DiseasesThe money tree plant is susceptible to common insects such as aphids and spider mites, which drain the plant’s moisture by sucking the sap out of it. In addition to those small bugs, mealybugs, scales, and whiteflies love the phloem sap from a money tree. The result is yellowing leaves. To eradicate these bugs, increase the humidity and use an insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Red spider mites suck the sap from the leaves, resulting in curled, discolored leaves that fall off. These creatures spread quickly and are easily detected by the tiny cobwebs.
Isolate an infested plant and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Increase the humidity to keep them from returning; the pests prefer dry conditions.
These plants are particularly susceptible to mealybugs and scale in indoor conditions. Treat infestations with mild insecticidal soap or neem oil. Fungus gnat babies eat the roots of money trees; the adults eat the fungus that has been growing in damp soil. The result is yellowing or wilting of the leaves. Be sure to let the soil dry out between waterings and check to ensure the pot is the right size and has adequate drainage to prevent insect infestations.
FAQs About Money Tree CareStill have questions about how to care for a money tree? Here are answers to some common questions.
Q. How much sun does a money tree need?Money trees require bright, indirect sunlight. Direct light can burn their leaves, but insufficient light results in poor growth.
Q.
How do I take care of a money tree indoors?Knowing how to care for a money tree indoors requires mimicking their native growing conditions: bright light, plenty of moisture, well-drained soil, and lots of humidity.
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Q. Do money trees like to be misted?Money trees love high humidity, so they will appreciate frequent misting.
Q. Where should I place my money tree indoors?Place a money tree near a window where it will receive bright, indirect light. Once you find a spot that works, try not to move the plant. For feng shui, place it in the southeast corner of your office for financial prosperity or in an east window for health.
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care and reproduction at home, proper transplantation into another pot
Crassula (Money tree) is a plant that is completely unpretentious in care.
Given that it is a succulent, it needs a good flow of direct sunlight, and relatively infrequent watering - 1-2 times a week during the hot period, and 1 time in 2 weeks in winter.
It is these simple care rules that will help the plant develop at home. Transplanting and propagating a fat woman at home are more complex processes, but by following the necessary recommendations, you can easily give life to new plants.
Content:
- Transplantation and care at home
Time to transplant offshoot To another pot Soil Watering the plant after transplanting
- Reproduction at home
Cuttings Leaves
- Useful video
Transplant and home care
Time to transplant
When can the money tree be transplanted?
The most optimal season for transplanting fatwort is the first weeks of spring.
During this period, the plant grows and develops most actively, and it is in spring that the process of changing the pot and soil will pass without any noticeable consequences for the plant.
Is it possible to transplant a fat woman in summer?
But if the plant is purchased in the summer, for example in June, and it needs a larger container for growth, then you can transplant it into another larger pot, not forgetting the necessary sunlight.
In autumn and winter, the plant should be left alone, as there is no active growth and development of the root system, and it does not need additional pot space.
offshoot
How to transplant a money tree offshoot at home?
When transplanting a money tree with a shoot , the first stage is the process of rooting, it lasts about 2-3 weeks.
How to root a fat woman?
It is necessary to pour water at room temperature into a small transparent vessel and place the shoot there.
During this stage it is important to add water, in order to avoid complete evaporation of moisture.
Then plant the rooted shoot in a shallow pot with pre-moistened soil.
After moving the shoot into the soil , carefully cover it with soil and additionally water it with a small amount of water at room temperature.
IMPORTANT! Crassula rooting process is faster in early spring.
In another pot
Since the money tree grows rather slowly, it needs to be transplanted a maximum of 1-2 times a year (the older the fat woman, the less often it is transplanted). Transplanting a mature plant does not take much time.
An even longer interval between transplants is maintained in the Adenium succulent.
How to transplant a fat lady into another pot?
To start with , it is necessary to fill a new pot with tons of soil similar in composition to the previous one, so it will be easier for the plant to take root.
When extracting the jaggery from the old vessel , it is important to leave a layer of earth at the roots, so as not to injure the already fragile root system of the plant.
If watering is abused, some of the roots may suffer, if rotten parts are noticeable during transplantation, they must be carefully removed and the plant left to dry in the open air.
After placing the money tree in a new pot, sprinkle it with earth and water it.
Despite the fact that the fat woman loves the sun, direct scorching sun should be avoided in the first days after transplantation.
ATTENTION! Since Crassula is a rather large and heavy plant, and its roots are short and weak, a heavy, shallow pot should be chosen for greater stability and preservation of the plant's root system.
Soil
As already mentioned, the soil during transplantation should not differ in composition from the previous one.
Same the bottom of the pot must be filled with 1.5-2 cm of drainage, to avoid moisture accumulation and root rot.
When transplanting the Aloe succulent, the soil composition must also not differ from the previous one, otherwise the plant may not take root and die!
Ready mix for succulents and cacti can be purchased from a general store. When using traditional soil, a small amount of sand is added to it, such a mixture is also perfect for a money tree.
Watering the plant after transplanting
Immediately after transplanting, the money tree is watered with a small amount of water (if possible purified and at room temperature). In the following days, watering occurs as the earth dries. Abuse of watering only harms the plant, the roots can rot and the tree will die.
Check out other representatives of herbaceous succulents:
- hoya;
- aeonium;
- rejuvenated (stone rose);
- aichrizon;
- jatropha;
- aptenia;
- delosperma;
- ceropegia;
- bryophyllum.
Reproduction at home
Indoor plant Money tree, being in the house, perfectly cleans the air, therefore it is useful to have several plants. The plant can be propagated: cuttings or leaves, or planted at home already available.
There are two ways to propagate chubby at home and we will consider them below.
Cuttings
How to transplant money tree cuttings?
This method is quite simple and safe for the plant. You can plant both rooted and ordinary cuttings in the ground.
If the process of propagation by cuttings will take place in spring or summer, cuttings will quickly give roots and take root in the soil, will grow rapidly and give juicy leaves.
And how to properly form the crown and trunk of a fat woman, read this article.
In general, the process of propagation of Crassula by cuttings is the same as when transplanted by a process.
Leaves
This method of propagating Crassula with leaves will not give a quick result even with proper care. But nevertheless the plant grows healthy.
To begin with, a freshly picked leaf is dried for a couple of days to dry the cut. The leaf can then be rooted in a small transparent container for 1-2 weeks.
To form roots, can also be placed in a damp mixture of peat and sand.
Then, as the plant grows, it is transplanted into larger pots.
Transplantation and reproduction of the Crassula is quite simple, the main thing is not to do it too often and only in the most suitable seasons for this - spring and summer.
Useful video
Attention, only TODAY!
Materials from the Fat Woman section
Subsections: Caring for the Crassula
Diseases and pests of the Money Tree (Crassus): the leaves wither, fall off and turn yellow, photo
Useful and healing properties of the Crassula (Money Tree) succulent and contraindications at home
Types of Crassula succulent (money tree): bizarre plants on the windowsill
Money tree: how to plant it and possible growing problems
How to properly shape the crown and trunk of a fat woman, creating a bonsai from a money tree
Money tree: how to grow, how to care for it
The most striking talisman of financial well-being is the money tree, otherwise it is called a tree fat woman.
It can be purchased at a florist's shop. It differs from other plants in a thick trunk and small round leaves resembling coins. Like any other plant, a tree brings to the house not only comfort, but also prosperity. However, the fat woman will bring wealth only if the plant looks healthy and its leaves are shiny and juicy.
Achieving this state is very simple: surround your "pet" with affection and love and know a few secrets of care.
Growing a money tree yourself
If you want to create a money talisman, then grow it yourself, and do not buy an adult plant in a flower shop. A tree to attract finance multiplies quickly, even from one leaf you can grow a large plant. Break off a small petiole or leaf from an adult tree and put it in water - the shoots will take root. To make the power of the talisman more powerful, then tear off the shoots secretly. Around the world, there are about 300 varieties of the money tree, they all differ from each other in properties and form.
Money tree, in our concept, is called the South African plant crassula arborescens (or Crassula arborescens) It is better to plant a tree in a shallow but wide pot. You can prepare the soil for plants yourself by mixing sand, ash and leafy soil, or you can buy a ready-made soil mixture designed for succulents and cacti.
Before planting in a pot, leave the stem for some time in the air. After planting, cover the pot with cling film or a jar to allow the plant to take root. Do not forget to remove the film from time to time or lift the jar to allow the plant to breathe. Try to find a place for your talisman away from cacti so that your wealth is not interfered with by minor problems and troubles that resemble their thorns.
Caring for the money tree
In order for a plant to really possess the mysterious power of attracting money, you need to talk to the tree, expressing your desires to it, filling it with your energy. For normal growth and development, a tree needs a sufficient amount of sunlight, but it does not like direct sunlight.
From time to time it is worth turning the pot so that the plant does not stretch in one direction. Settle your talisman on the southeast window, it is this Feng Shui direction that is responsible for prosperity and wealth in the house. Water for irrigation experts recommend insisting on small coins. Do not try to water the plant every day, the earth should have time to dry out.
Once a month, preferably on a new moon, you need to feed the tree so that it looks full of health, because this is how you want to see your prosperity. In the warm season, the fat woman can be moved to the balcony, and in the cold season, removed to a shaded and cool place. The money tree can easily be given the appearance of a bonsai, for this you need to pinch off its top when the tree reaches 20 cm. you should put 7 coins of different denominations and 3 paper bills on the windowsill under the pot. To prevent paper bills from getting wet from water and moisture, they can be wrapped in cling film or put in a plastic bag.
