Are your Money Tree’s leaves turning brown?
I believe house plants are essential to our general wellbeing. They give you something outside of yourself to care for, watch grow, and enjoy. To kill two birds with one stone, you can get plants that also make you rich. One of the most important things you can do to build wealth is to have a healthy growing Money Tree Bonsai in your home.
Okay no, not actually…a Money Tree will not bring you financial riches (probably not anyway). However, if you have a Money Tree and its leaves are turning brown it can feel like a bit of a bad omen. Fortunately, saving this popular house plant is usually pretty easy as it is a rather resilient plant. Read this before it’s too late!
What is a Money Tree Bonsai?
A Money Tree’s scientific name is Pachira Aquatica. It is a commonly sold houseplant, but its natural state is as a tropical evergreen. It grows in tropical rainforests and freshwater swamps and is native ranging from Mexico to South America. In the wild, Money Trees can grow to 60 feet tall, however they will be far smaller as a house plant – more like 6-8 feet tall. It also has flowers that will bloom for one day, however you will rarely see that with a houseplant.
The name Money Tree comes from an old tale that a poor man became rich selling the plant’s seeds. It is now said to bring good luck to anyone that has one in their home!
Knowing the Money Tree’s natural environment and conditions should give you some insight on how to properly care for your plant! Think tropical rainforest – not a lot of direct sunlight, very humid, thorough waterings. If your Money Tree’s leaves are turning brown, it is usually due to something being wrong with those conditions. Here are the reasons your tree isn’t looking it’s best:
Watering
Over or underwatering will both be detrimental and ultimately lethal to your Money Tree. Underwatering is an easier fix. If you’ve been overwatering, hopefully you stop before causing root rot. Once the roots rot from being too wet, it can be too late.
Signs you are underwatering
- Leaves are dry and brown
- Dirt is pulling away from the side of the pot
- Leaves are curling up
Signs you are overwatering
- Leaves are brown but not dry
- Pot is sitting in water
- Top of the dirt is wet (aside from initial watering)
Proper watering
Ideally you want to water every 1-3 weeks. I know, not very specific but it really depends on a lot of different conditions. Temperature of the home, how much sun the Money Tree is getting, how dry the air is, size of the pot, etc. A good rule of thumb is you want the top inch or so of dirt to dry up before watering again. You should have a pot with drainage holes to allow excess water to run out.
Humidity
Money Trees like humid conditions. Bathrooms are a great location for your plant! A sign that your Money Tree’s brown leaves are from a lack of humidity is if just the edges of the leaves are brown. If you cannot add more moisture to the air, the best solution is to mist the plant with water consistently.
Pests
The final likely culprit of brown leaves on your Money Tree is pests. Take a look at the soil to see if there are Fungus Gnats. Check the plant for webbing or other visible signs of pests. If you find any, you want to isolate the plant from other houseplants. From there, you can treat accordingly for what you find. Fungus Gnats often show up in overly wet soil, so that can be another indication that you are overwatering.
Aging
The final reason for brown leaves can simply just be aging, which is perfectly fine and normal. If the brown leaves are mostly on the bottom of the plant, and the top is growing and healthy, it is likely just aged leaves. You can trim these off with some sharp scissors or pruning tools.
Ideal Conditions
To have the healthiest Money Tree, you want to keep the plant between 53°F and 77°F. Ideally, you have a humid environment for the tree and if not, can provide daily mistings with water. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves, so you want to have your plant placed where it receives indirect sunlight.
A Money Tree is a rather resilient plant. Speaking from experience, it can loose nearly all of its leaves and make a full comeback. Hopefully this guide helps you revive your Money Tree!