Comments on: Money Tree – Pachira Aquatica

By: Deirdre

Deirdre — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:31:30 +0000

These plants would be trees out in Nature. They want to grow, grow, grow! My guess is that your plant is getting pot-bound. The roots are filling the pot and choking. Hence, the leaves are dying off, too. Perhaps the new little leaves are from new roots that found a little space to grow in the maze of roots in the pot.

You have two choices. Well, three, if you count doing nothing. You can (1), repot the plant into a bigger pot. This will give all the roots more room to grow, and the top should get new leaves to replace the old. It’s recommended to go only to a slightly bigger pot, not a huge jump in size.

(2), if you want to keep the plant the size that it is, you can take the plant out of the pot and prune the roots. Yes, I wrote, prune the roots. Not many people do this, because it seems “dangerous”, but after a period of adjustment, the plant will grow new leaves to replace the old.

The little guys at the bottom can stay or go, depending on whether you want a neat tree-look or not. Blessings to you!

By: nadia

nadia — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:58:11 +0000

Hi, we have a money tree and it is doing okay. But, there are shoots coming out of the bottom of the tree. With these shoots coming out, I think that they leaves at the top are dying. Are we supposed to take off the new shoots at the bottom, so more shoots can grow at the top? Help, please!

By: Deirdre

Deirdre — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:59:34 +0000

Hi James,

Yeah, ha ha… Cats still love to “kill” and eat things. Plants are handy victims. Then, according to http://www.essortment.com, Pachira is non-toxic to pets, but eating it may cause vomiting or diahhrea, just as grass might.

By: Deirdre

Deirdre — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:30:40 +0000

Greg –
http://www.plant-care.com says that “Wilting is a natural response to water stress.” It goes on to say that if the soil is dry, water it, and if it’s moist, don’t. Duh. But the website suggests you check the soil and/or drainage holes. My thoughts: Was the water maybe too cold or too warm at one watering? Also, … Root rot is slow to see on the surface, so you definately want to check it out. If your plant is a “Soggy Bottom Boy” (apologies to “Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou”), get drastic! Lay it on it’s side outside of the pot to let the soil dry out. Use your fingers to loosen up the soil. You may want to even remove all the soil from the roots and repot it in brand new soil. I’m a new Pachira owner but a long-time plant lover. It sounds like this plant would like really well-draining soil (e.g. sandy) with thorough waterings. I personally like clay pots with a layer of broken clay pot in the bottom. Fast drainage, good air circulation.

By: Deirdre

Deirdre — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:10:24 +0000

Hey Kara, Kinda seems to me the answer to your question about pruning/braiding is that it’s a personal preference thing. I haven’t owned my pachira very long, but if you like your’s the way it is, that’s cool. If you notice it’s starting to look like a weeping willow tree, with the branches bending downward, you may change your mind and decide to prune and braid it.

By: greg goebel

greg goebel — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:46:47 +0000

was wondering why my leaves on my money tree are limp. They are green and healthy but for two weeks now they remain limp and dont get sturdy. By now they should be stronger

By: James

James — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:00:25 +0000

I don’t own a cat, but I would LOVE to know why so many people search for the answer to this question.

Do cats often chew trees or something? What makes you nervous enough to ask this? Believe me when I say a LOT of people are asking Google this question.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:58:22 +0000

We have just purchased a Money Tree and need to know if this little beauty could have any toxic poison effects on our cats.
Thanks, someone, for your help!

By: Angela Lowe

Angela Lowe — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 05:40:40 +0000

Does the plant base always grow in the braided fashion? or do you need to tie it together to get it to grow that way?

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:35:54 +0000

I pruned mine again after the leaves and stems fell off, then they re-grew. Try to twist the main trunk as it grows, smallers shoots will grow out from the main trunk and upper branches