How to Save a Money Tree with Rotting Roots
As a representative evergreen indoor plant, the money tree is deeply loved for its upright shape and auspicious meaning. However, the most troublesome issue during its care is the root rot problem, which not only affects the plant's growth but can also lead to the death of the entire plant in severe cases. Mastering the correct emergency techniques for rotting roots can bring your money tree back to life.
I. Identification and Emergency Preparation for Root Rot
1.1 Standard Procedure for Pot Removal
When leaves turn yellow and stems become soft, stop watering immediately. Prepare gardening gloves and sterilized knives, tap the pot wall to loosen the soil, and slowly remove the pot while supporting the main stem. Retain 1/3 of the original soil on the outer layer of the root ball for observing the root condition.
1.2 Standard for Removing Decayed Tissue
After rinsing the roots with high-pressure water, the brown soft rot roots must be completely cut off. When more than 1/3 of the main root is decayed, use a saw blade sterilized with alcohol to cut flat until white fresh tissue is exposed. The cut surface can be coated with carbendazim powder to prevent infection.
II. Systematic Treatment Operation Guide
2.1 Potting Mix Ratio
Choose a new pot 5 cm larger than the original one, and lay a 3 cm layer of ceramsite at the bottom. The matrix should be mixed in the ratio of coconut bran: perlite: decomposed leaf soil = 2:1:1, with 5% bone meal added to enhance breathability. When planting, keep a 3 cm distance between the root neck and the pot edge.
2.2 Postoperative Care Schedule
The root water should be watered thoroughly with a 1000-fold diluted carbendazim solution. For the first 15 days, keep it in a scattered light environment with a daytime temperature of 25-28°C. From the 16th day, gradually increase the light, and after 30 days, you can apply a liquid fertilizer containing fulvic acid.
III. Preventive Maintenance Plan
3.1 Accurate Watering Rules
Water once every 10-15 days in spring and autumn, and reduce to every 7 days in summer. Use the bamboo stake method for testing: insert a 30 cm bamboo stake into the potting soil, and only water when the tip is slightly moist after pulling it out. Maintain the substrate moisture ≤30% in winter.
3.2 Key Points of Environmental Control
Maintain an air circulation rate of >0.3 m/s and use a humidifier to keep the humidity at 60%. Rotate the pot 90 degrees monthly to ensure even light exposure. Use plant grow lights when the temperature is below 15°C, with 6 hours of daily illumination.
Through a scientific treatment process and meticulous care, more than 85% of money trees with root rot can recover. The key is to grasp the golden 72-hour rescue period, deal with the decayed roots in a timely manner, and create a suitable recovery environment. Regularly check the potting soil condition, establish a maintenance log to record growth data, to maintain the plant's healthy state in the long term.