What Happens When a Money Tree Loses Leaves
Today's mini experience sharing: an introduction to the reasons why a money tree loses leaves and the nine causes of yellowing leaves, detailed below for your information.
Do you also have a money tree at home or in your office, hoping it will bring you luck and wealth? But have you noticed that sometimes the leaves of the money tree turn yellow and even fall off, making you worried and unsure of what to do? Below, I will analyze the nine reasons and solutions for the yellowing and falling leaves of the money tree, teaching you how to grow a lush and green fortune tree!
1. Excessive or Insufficient Light
The money tree is a plant that enjoys light, but it cannot tolerate direct strong sunlight. If you place the money tree in a high-temperature area during summer and expose it to direct sunlight, it will lead to leaf tip and edge scorching or leaf yellowing and falling. This is because excessive light can damage the chlorophyll in the leaves, affecting photosynthesis.
Solution: Move it promptly to a well-ventilated, shady place, avoiding direct sunlight. If possible, use a shading net or curtain to block some light, allowing the money tree to receive moderate scattered light.
Conversely, if you place the money tree in a dark or poorly lit area for a long time, it can also lead to yellowing leaves. This is because insufficient light prevents the leaves from performing normal photosynthesis, causing nutrient deficiencies.
Solution: Move it promptly to a place with some scattered light, allowing the money tree to receive sufficient light. If it is indoors, you can move the money tree outside for some fresh air periodically, increasing light exposure. However, be careful with the adaptation process and avoid moving it suddenly from shade to direct sunlight to prevent wilting and death.
2. Overwatering or Underwatering
Watering is an important part of plant care, but it must be done in moderation. Both overwatering and underwatering can cause the money tree's leaves to turn yellow.
Overwatering can lead to the potting soil remaining moist for too long, causing soil oxygen deficiency, some roots to rot, and obstructing normal respiration and nutrient absorption. This can cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off.
Solution: Water in moderation and observe the moisture level of the potting soil. Generally, insert your finger 2-3 centimeters into the soil, and water only when it feels dry, avoiding constantly wet soil. If the soil is too wet, you can promptly loosen the soil for better aeration or change to new, loose, and breathable soil. If root rot is detected, cut it off promptly and消毒 with sulfur water or thiophanate-methyl water before replanting.
Underwatering can lead to excessively dry soil, affecting the plant's nutrient absorption and easily causing leaf discoloration and wilting. This is because water deficiency causes the leaves to lose moisture and vitality.
Solution: Water promptly and thoroughly. Generally, insert your finger 2-3 centimeters into the soil, and water when it feels dry, avoiding constantly cracked soil. If the soil is too dry, you can soak the pot in water for a while to allow the soil to absorb enough moisture before watering normally.
3. Over-fertilization or Under-fertilization
Fertilizing is to provide nutrients for the plant to promote growth. However, fertilizing should also be moderate, as over-fertilization or under-fertilization can cause the money tree's leaves to turn yellow.
Over-fertilization can lead to high fertilizer concentrations, burning the money tree's roots, causing leaf yellowing and even death. The characteristic is that new leaves are thick, glossy, and uneven, while old leaves have dry tips and fall off.
Solution: Control fertilization and water adequately to dilute fertilizer concentrations. For burned money trees, change the soil promptly, cut off damaged roots and leaves,消毒 with sulfur water or thiophanate-methyl water, and replant.
Under-fertilization can lead to poor soil, lacking in nutrients such as nitrogen, causing weak branches and leaves, and yellowing. The characteristic is that young leaves and tender stems turn yellow first. If fertilization is not timely, it can lead to yellowing leaves throughout the plant and even death.
Solution: Fertilize promptly and choose suitable fertilizer for the money tree. Generally, apply a balanced compound fertilizer or organic fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium once a month during the spring and summer seasons. For nutrient-deficient money trees, avoid applying a large amount of concentrated fertilizer at once, which can cause root burn. You can first spray diluted liquid fertilizer on the leaves and stems and then gradually increase the fertilization amount and frequency.
What Happens When a Money Tree Loses Leaves
4. High or Low Temperature
The money tree is a plant that enjoys warm and humid conditions, and high or low temperatures can cause adverse effects. High temperatures can lead to rapid water evaporation, causing leaf scorching; low temperatures can cause growth stagnation and leaf yellowing.
Solution: Adjust the position and environment of the money tree according to seasonal and temperature changes. Generally, the optimal growing temperature for a money tree is 20-32°C. In winter, it should be kept above 5°C to avoid frostbite, and during severe winter, it should be kept above 15°C with sufficient light for continued growth. If the temperature is too high, use a shading net or curtain to block some light or place it in a well-ventilated, shady area. If the temperature is too low, increase indoor temperature or move it to a south-facing balcony, or even cover it with a plastic bag for insulation. Avoid large temperature fluctuations and prevent sudden cold or heat.
5. Poor Ventilation
Although the money tree can be grown indoors, it also needs proper ventilation to maintain fresh and humid air. If kept in a closed or poorly ventilated area for a long time, it can lead to yellowing and falling leaves. This is because a lack of fresh air can affect the money tree's respiration, causing metabolic disorders.
Solution: Move the money tree outside for some fresh air periodically or open windows for ventilation to allow air circulation. Also, avoid the invasion of harmful gases like smoke and gasoline, which can damage the leaves. If placed in an office, choose a location away from air conditioner outlets or smoke outlets.
6. Unsuitable Soil
The money tree prefers loose, breathable, fertile, and humid soil. If the soil is too heavy and sticky, it can lead to yellowing leaves due to poor soil aeration, affecting water and nutrient absorption.
Solution: Choose suitable soil and a pot. Generally, mix leaf mold, garden soil, and sand in a ratio of 3:3:4 to make potting soil, or use commercially available specialized soil. Choose a ceramic or plastic pot with drainage holes at the bottom. If the soil is too sticky, add some sand or perlite to increase aeration.
7. Diseases and Pests
Although the money tree has a strong resistance to diseases and pests, it is not completely safe. Infection by fungi, bacteria, viruses, or damage by pests such as scale insects, red spiders, and whitefly can lead to yellowing leaves or the appearance of spots, patches, and wilting.
Solution: Spray pesticides promptly for prevention and control. Generally, use Bordeaux mixture, carbendazim, or thiophanate-methyl to control fungal and bacterial diseases, antiviral agents for viral diseases, and insecticides like omethoate, dichlorvos, and fenvalerate for pest control. When spraying pesticides, be careful to avoid skin and eye contact and wash your hands after application.