How Much Water Should I Give My Money Tree
This Money Tree Intendance Routine is Ideal for Newbie Institute Parents
Prized for its lush beauty and the legend of bringing prosperity and proficient fortune, this braided tropical plant delivers luck by surviving with minimal intendance.
Photograph: istockphoto.com
Popularized by feng shui practitioners who believe information technology will bring positivity and good fortune, the money plant is a surprisingly hardy tropical tree that can withstand a sure amount of neglect. It demands simply some light and fairly consequent watering, which makes it a adept plant choice for inexperienced growers.
First used equally a houseplant in Taiwan in the 1980s—in part considering it'southward 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 nearly whatever interior space, the money tree establish typically features v trunks braided together, topped by bright green palmlike leaves. Not every plant this attractive is so easy to grow.
Coin tree intendance isn't especially difficult considering the constitute is forgiving. That said, at that place are some weather condition that they observe deleterious to their health. Once you acquire how to have intendance of a money tree, you lot'll be rewarded with the skillful fortune of flourishing fresh greenery in your home. The key to growing a money tree indoors is to provide the right amount of light, h2o, and humidity.
Money Tree Care At a Glance
Common Name: Money tree
Scientific Name: Pachira aquatica
Soil: well-draining with neutral to acidic pH
Light: vivid, indirect light
Water: deep, but when the acme ii to four inches of soil feels dry
Nutrient: twice yearly with houseplant fertilizer at one-half the recommended strength
Temperature and Humidity: at least fifty percent humidity; prefers temperatures between 60 and lxxx degrees
Propagation: stem cuttings in soil or h2o
Safety: nontoxic to pets and humans
Money Tree Plant Characteristics
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 S America, where it grows in marshy wetlands and bats tin pollinate it, the coin tree produces yellowish-white flowers that evolve into big seedpods containing peanut-similar basics. Outdoors, this majestic tree tin can achieve 60 feet, but indoors, expectations range from 6 to 8 anxiety, although it besides can be trained to grow equally a bonsai.
Even though the coin tree is enough attractive as a houseplant, virtually people purchase information technology because of its feng shui connection, hoping for the positive energy and skillful luck information technology's rumored to bring. That fable derives from the fact that it grows five shiny, star-shaped leaves on each stem—5 being an important number in feng shui, since it represents the 5 elements: water, woods, burn, earth, and metal.
More recent behavior hold that the coin tree can reduce stress and feet and relieve sleep disorders.
Selecting Soil for Money Plants
Money tree soil in a container should exist moist simply non 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 coin plant.
Typically, a money tree will require repotting about every 2 years. Choose a pot one or two sizes larger than it'southward been in—and make sure the container has a drainage pigsty. 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 establish back in the same container with fresh soil.
Related: 9 Things That Tin Bring Good Fortune to Your Home
The Right Light
Although the money tree can tolerate direct sunlight when grown outdoors, the indoor-grown plants should receive bright to medium indirect light for at least half dozen hours a twenty-four hours. Be certain 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 dark-brown. Conversely, too little light results in yellowing leaves.
While it prefers bright natural light, the plant can adapt to bogus light given off past fluorescent or LED grow lights.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Watering Money Tree
Outdoors, 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. Avert 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 drib and decease. However, soil that is also dry, as well every bit depression humidity, can atomic number 82 to yellowing, browning, or drooping leaves that fall off.
Money tree watering is not complicated; just give it water when the top 2 to four inches of soil feels dry. Unremarkably, the plants need more water during their growing season in the spring and summer. Y'all can cut back on water in the fall and winter because the plants go dormant and don't demand water for growth.
Fertilizing Money Tree Plants
Whatever basic liquid houseplant fertilizer works well for a coin tree, but it should be diluted to half the recommended force. You can feed your coin tree plant as seldom as once in early on bound and once in midsummer, simply a meliorate programme is to feed it monthly throughout the growing season. In most climates, y'all can skip fertilizing in the wintertime.
For the ultimate money establish food, use compost tea. Compost tea numberless 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 than nutrients.
Bonsai wearisome-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.
Related: xi Signs of an Unhappy Houseplant (and How You Can Aid)
Setting the Temperature and Humidity
In its natural environment, the money tree grows in hardiness zones 10 and eleven. 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 nearly drafts, such as by outside doors or heating and cooling vents.
Most indoor situations are significantly drier than the money tree's natural home. Considering the plants like around 50 percent humidity, information technology's a expert idea to increment the humidity around the plant by placing it on a pebble tray filled with water, setting a humidifier nearby, or misting the leaves regularly.
Photograph: istockphoto.com
Propagating Money Tree Plants
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 precipitous knife, cut a stem about 4 to v 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.
Some other option is to place the cutting in h2o (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 ain planter.
Safety Considerations
The 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 gustation like peanuts (hence the plant'due south nickname: the French peanut). In addition, the flowers and leaves can exist cooked like vegetables for human consumption. Oil from the plant's seeds even exist used to make soap.
About the simply creatures adversely afflicted past the plant are sand fleas. People have been known to disperse the seeds on the footing to repel the pests.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Related: vii of the Best Trees You Can Grow Indoors
Potential Pests and Diseases
The money tree plant is susceptible to common insects such as aphids and spider mites, which drain the constitute's moisture by sucking the sap out of it. In addition to those pocket-size 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 utilize an insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Red spider mites suck the sap from the leaves, resulting in curled, discolored leaves that autumn off. These creatures spread quickly and are easily detected by the tiny cobwebs. Isolate an infested plant and care for with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Increase the humidity to continue them from returning; the pests prefer dry weather condition.
These plants are especially susceptible to mealybugs and scale in indoor atmospheric condition. Treat infestations with mild insecticidal soap or neem oil. Mucus gnat babies eat the roots of money trees; the adults swallow the fungus that has been growing in damp soil. The issue is yellowing or wilting of the leaves. Be sure to permit the soil dry out betwixt waterings and check to ensure the pot is the right size and has adequate drainage to forbid insect infestations.
FAQs About Money Tree Care
Nevertheless accept questions about how to intendance for a money tree? Here are answers to some common questions.
Q. How much lord's day does a coin tree demand?
Money trees require bright, indirect sunlight. Direct light can burn down their leaves, but insufficient calorie-free results in poor growth.
Q. How exercise I take care of a money tree indoors?
Knowing how to care for a coin tree indoors requires mimicking their native growing atmospheric condition: bright calorie-free, plenty of moisture, well-drained soil, and lots of humidity.
Q. Practice coin trees like to be misted?
Money trees love high humidity, then they will appreciate frequent misting.
Q. Where should I place my money tree indoors?
Place a money tree nearly a window where it volition receive bright, indirect light. Once y'all detect a spot that works, try not to move the constitute. For feng shui, identify it in the southeast corner of your office for financial prosperity or in an eastward window for health.
Source: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/money-tree-care/
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