How to Care for a Money Tree
As a star houseplant for attracting wealth and fortune, the money tree is deeply loved for its upright shape and auspicious meaning. To keep it lush and green all year round, it is essential to master scientific cultivation methods. This article provides a comprehensive analysis from basic care to advanced techniques to help you create a flourishing "Golden Tree."
Elementary, the Four Elements of Scientific Cultivation of Money Tree
1.1 Golden Potting Soil Ratio Rule
Choose a shallow ceramic pot with a diameter 5cm larger than the root ball, and mix a growing medium of 3:2:1 decomposed leaf soil, river sand, and perlite. Add 100g of bone meal and 50g of slow-release fertilizer per cubic meter of soil, ensuring no need to change the soil for three years.
1.2 Intelligent Water and Fertilizer Management
In spring and autumn, use the "dry-wet" method. In summer, combine morning and evening foliar spraying. During the growing season, water with a diluted solution of mature soybean cake at a ratio of 1:800 every 15 days, and switch to potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer in winter. Remember to place 3cm of ceramic stones at the bottom of the pot to prevent waterlogging and root rot.
1.3 Secret of Light and Shadow Control
Ensure 4 hours of scattered light daily, and rotate the pot 180° every 10 days for even light exposure. Use shade cloth from 10:00 to 15:00 in summer, and allow full sun in winter. If the lighting environment changes suddenly, adapt for 3 days.
1.4 Precise Temperature Control
Maintain the optimal growing temperature of 18-28°C. In winter, use the "double film insulation method": an outer layer of transparent plastic film and an inner layer of non-woven fabric, combined with a foam pad at the bottom. Place a humidification tray under the plant in air-conditioned rooms to maintain humidity above 40%.
Advanced Techniques for Shaping Money Trees
2.1 Best Timing for Repotting
Repot within 15 days after the "Jingzhe" (the day when insects resume activity) every year, retaining 1/3 of the protective soil. Trim 1/3 of the fibrous roots to promote new root growth, and apply wood ash to the cut ends to sterilize. Place the repotted plant in a shady area for 7 days to recover.
2.2 Artistic Pruning Techniques
Use the "three cuts and three retains" method: cut inner branches and retain outer ones, cut vertical branches and retain horizontal ones, and cut diseased and weak branches and retain strong ones. Make 45° angle cuts 0.5cm away from the bud point, and spray with carbendazim after pruning for protection.
2.3 Three-dimensional Pest and Disease Prevention
Alternately use abamectin and pymetrozine to prevent pests every month. For root rot, apply metalaxyl at the early stage, and use mancozeb for leaf spot disease. Set up yellow and blue sticky traps to monitor pest conditions.
Through systematic care and management, not only can the money tree grow healthily, but it can also form a unique artistic shape. Remember the principle of "three parts planting and seven parts care," and adjust the care strategy according to seasonal changes, and your money tree will surely become a premium green plant with both ornamental value and feng shui meaning.