How to Care for Money Trees in Winter
As a popular indoor foliage plant, caring for money trees during the winter can be a challenge for plant enthusiasts. Issues like low temperatures, dryness, and insufficient light can all affect their healthy growth. Master the following five core techniques to ensure your money tree survives the winter safely.
1. Temperature Regulation System for Maintenance
1.1 Basic Temperature Control
The optimal growth temperature for money trees is between 20-32°C. They need to maintain temperatures above 10°C to survive the winter. It is recommended to move them indoors before the first frost and use a thermometer to monitor the ambient temperature in real time. In regions with heating, keep them more than 1.5 meters away from radiators.
1.2 Emergency Heating Techniques
When encountering cold spells that drop the room temperature below 8°C, you can use the plastic bag insulation method: wrap the plant with a transparent plastic bag, puncture holes for ventilation, and ventilate for 2 hours daily. It is recommended to use foam board as a pot mat to insulate from the cold ground.
2. Scientific Water Management Plan
2.1 Quantified Watering Standards
Watering in winter should be reduced to one-third of the summer amount, using the "three-look judgment method": look at the surface soil (dry to a depth of 3cm), look at the leaves (slightly drooping), and look at the weather (continuous sunny days). Each time, pour 50-100ml of room temperature water along the pot edge.
2.2 Watering Time Selection
Strictly follow the "noon watering principle," choosing the 11:00-14:00 time slot, and using magnetized water at about 25°C. It is recommended to use a long-spout watering can for targeted watering to avoid water accumulating in the leaf heart.
3. Photosynthesis Enhancement System
3.1 Light Intensity Control
In winter, ensure 4-6 hours of scattered light daily, use a lux meter to monitor light intensity, and maintain it between 3000-5000lux. A south-facing window is ideal, and the pot should be rotated 180 degrees weekly to ensure even light exposure.
3.2 Application of Supplemental Lighting Devices
During continuous rainy or cloudy weather, install LED plant grow lights (wavelength 450nm blue light + 660nm red light), and provide supplemental lighting for 2-3 hours daily, keeping the lights 40-50cm away.
4. Nutrition Management Guide
From November to the following February, stop fertilizing completely. In early March, apply "reviving fertilizer": bury 5 slow-release fertilizer pellets around the pot edge, combined with 500 times diluted HB101 vitality solution for root watering. Special care should be taken not to use organic fertilizer in winter to avoid fertilizer damage.
5. Advanced Maintenance Techniques
Monthly, wipe the leaves with a soft cloth dipped in beer solution (1:50) to remove dust and supplement amino acids. Regularly check the condition of the corm, gently press the potting soil to determine if there is waterlogging, and maintain an environmental humidity of 40%-50%.
By precisely controlling the three elements of temperature, light, and water, combined with a scientific fertilizing pause strategy, your money tree can not only survive the winter safely but also store energy for explosive growth in spring. It is recommended to bookmark this article and establish a maintenance log to record daily environmental parameters and plant conditions.