How to Care for a Money Tree Bonsai
Do you know about this? An introduction to caring for a money tree bonsai and the cultivation methods and precautions for money trees will surely be of help to you. Let's learn about it together!
Money trees prefer loose, fertile, and well-draining acidic soil, and enjoy a climate that is sunny, warm, humid, and well-ventilated. The tree itself is not cold-resistant and should be kept indoors during the winter. When the soil is completely dry, water thoroughly until water flows out of the pot bottom. After watering once, wait until the topsoil dries before watering again. During the growing period, apply about 10 compound fertilizers every 30 days to enhance the tree's small, shiny, and lustrous leaves. Pruning and pinching are necessary to highlight the foliage.
Let's discuss the cultivation methods for money trees together.
Soil Preparation
Money trees are acid-loving plants and not all types of soil are suitable for them. 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. A mixture of decomposed 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 well-ventilated conditions. It's best to keep them outdoors during spring, summer, and autumn without shading. In winter, they should be moved indoors and placed near a window to receive some sunlight. Even if kept indoors for extended periods, the leaves will remain green and not turn yellow.
Environmental Temperature
The temperature for cultivating money trees needs to be controlled. Since they are not cold-resistant, they cannot be kept outdoors in winter. The optimal growth temperature is between 20℃-30℃. In winter, when temperatures are low, it's best to move the plant indoors but keep it away from heat sources. The minimum temperature for overwintering should be above 5℃.
How to Care for a Money Tree Bonsai
Watering Method
Water the money tree according to the moisture level of the soil. When the soil is completely dry, water thoroughly until water flows out of the pot bottom. Do not water halfway. During the day, you can spray water on the stems with a spray bottle at noon when temperatures are high to increase humidity, which is beneficial for keeping the leaves shiny and green. In winter, when temperatures are low and the evaporation rate of indoor potted plants is limited, water only when the topsoil is dry.
Proper Fertilization
Money trees do not require much fertilizer and prefer "frequent application of light fertilizers." The simplest method is to bury 9 to 11 long-acting compound fertilizers in the soil away from the roots every month. Be cautious that when the temperature exceeds 35℃ in summer or drops below 10℃ in winter, fertilization should be stopped to prevent fertilizer damage.
Daily Pruning
To highlight the small, shiny, and lustrous leaves of the money tree at home, and to make the leaves even smaller and greener, pinching can be performed in spring and autumn to promote the germination of axillary buds and encourage more branching, resulting in smaller leaves and a more aesthetically pleasing tree shape.
Precautions
Money trees are prone to scale insect infestations, especially during the rainy season when conditions are shady and poorly ventilated. If scale insects are detected, they can be individually removed with a bamboo stick, and then furadan granules can be shallowly buried in the potting soil followed by thorough watering to kill the pests. It is important to ensure proper ventilation.
The above information about how to care for a money tree bonsai and the cultivation methods and precautions for money trees can be referenced by green plant enthusiasts.