How to Cultivate Money Tree
This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to cultivate money trees and the environmental requirements for growing these green plants. Keep reading for more information!
Money trees prefer loose, fertile, and well-draining acidic soil. They thrive in a sunny, warm, and humid climate with good ventilation. The trees themselves are not cold-resistant and should be kept indoors during winter. When the soil is completely dry, water thoroughly until water flows from the pot bottom. After watering, wait until the topsoil dries before watering again. During the growing period, apply a compound fertilizer with 10-15 granules every 30 days. To highlight the tree's delicate, bright, and glossy leaves, pruning and topping are necessary for the potted plant.
Let's explore the cultivation methods for money trees together.
Soil Preparation
Money trees prefer acidic soil. Not all types of soil are suitable for growing them. The potting soil should be rich in organic matter and have good water permeability and aeration. The soil should be slightly acidic to ensure healthy growth of the tree. A mixture of decayed leaf soil, peat soil, coal slag, and coarse sand in a ratio of 5:3:1:1 can be used as the potting soil.
Sunlight Requirements
Money trees enjoy full sunlight and a ventilated environment. It's best to keep them outdoors during spring, summer, and autumn without shading. In winter, move them indoors near a window to ensure they receive some sunlight. Even if kept indoors for an extended period, the leaves will remain green and not turn yellow.
Environmental Temperature
The temperature for cultivating money trees needs to be controlled. Since the trees are not cold-resistant, they cannot be kept outdoors during winter. The optimal growth temperature is between 20°C and 30°C. During winter, when temperatures are low, it's best to move the trees indoors but keep them away from heat sources. The minimum temperature for overwintering should be above 5°C.
How to Cultivate Money Tree
Watering Method
Water money trees based on the moisture level of the soil. When the soil is completely dry, water thoroughly until water flows from the pot bottom. Avoid watering only halfway.
During the day, especially when temperatures are high, you can use a spray bottle to mist the branches and trunk to increase humidity, which helps keep the leaves moist and glossy. In winter, when temperatures are low, and the potted plant indoors has limited evaporation, water only when the topsoil is dry.
Proper Fertilization
Money trees do not require a lot of fertilizer and prefer "light and frequent" fertilization. The simplest method is to bury 9 to 11 granules of long-acting compound fertilizer in the soil away from the roots every month. Be careful to stop fertilizing when temperatures exceed 35°C in summer or drop below 10°C in winter to avoid fertilizer damage.
Daily Pruning
To emphasize the delicate, bright, and glossy leaves of the money tree, and to make the leaves even more vibrant, you can pinch the tips during spring and autumn to promote the growth of axillary buds and increase branching. This will make the leaves of the potted plant much smaller and create an aesthetically pleasing tree shape.
Precautions
Money trees are prone to scale insects, especially during the plum rain season when conditions are shady and poorly ventilated. If you notice scale insect infestations, you can use a bamboo stick to pick them off one by one. Then, bury the carbaryl granules shallowly in the potting soil and water thoroughly to soak the roots and kill the pests. It's important to ensure good ventilation.
This article shares specific cultivation methods and environmental requirements for money trees for reference by netizens.