The money tree or Pachira Aquatica is a tropical plant that is native to most regions of Central and South America. In its natural habitat, the money tree can grow as tall as 60 feet. So it’s not that surprising that when kept in a house the plant can grow big really fast.
Regular pruning is a must with these indoor plants. From the article, you’ll learn how to prune a money tree, when to do it, and how to do it so that it was beneficial for the plant.
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Money trees
The money tree is a quite popular indoor plant. There are several reasons for that.
First, it just looks cool. I personally really like it. A braided money tree has this exotic almost alien look.
Second, some people think that it brings luck and money. I don’t know what came first, the name of the tree or the belief about its positive influence on one’s income. I am not a superstitious type myself and keep the tree because I like how it looks.
Third reason. The money tree is quite easy to take care of. It’s a perfect tree for beginners or for plant owners who can’t afford to spend much time looking after their plants. Thus pruning a money tree is also a very straightforward task.
How to prune a money tree
In this section, you learn when’s the best time to prune your money tree, what kinds of pruning are there and what tools you’ll need.
Pruning time
Pruning is a stress for any plant, including the money tree. Even though in the long term this procedure will be very beneficial for the plant, it also might be very harmful if done the wrong way or at an inappropriate time.
The best time for pruning a money tree is late spring to early summer. In this aspect, money trees are not different from other plants.
Spring is the growing season. That’s when the tree is at its peak. All resources are mobilized, the juices are overflowing, and the regenerating capabilities of the tree are maximized. In the growing season, a money tree can easily afford to lose a couple of stems or leaves.
In winter most plants enter a hibernation phase. They preserve their energy and don’t invest it into new foliage. So it’s better not to perform major pruning in the winter months.
Some light maintenance pruning is ok all year round. If you notice a yellow leaf or a branch, remove it without any second thoughts. This will only help your tree to reallocate resources to the healthy leaves and will also stop the spread of possible infection.
Tools
- Pruning shears
- Rubbing alcohol for sterilizing the tools
Your tools should be as sharp as possible. All the cuts must be performed in one swift move. If you need to apply significant force while cutting or If the edges of the cuts are uneven, you have to sharpen your shears. Or just buy new ones.
Before pruning you must sterilize the shears with rubbing alcohol of 70%. If you don’t sterilize your instruments you might spread infections from one plant to another.
Pruning
Once you’ve prepared your tools it’s time to start the pruning.
It is important to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve with the pruning. You might wanna mark the branches and stems you’re planning to cut off.
Big branches and stems should be the first to go. Make clean, smooth cuts at a 45-degree angle. This will encourage healthy growth and faster regeneration.
Look for V-shaped branches. The V form in places where the new growth splits from the main stem. The base of the V shape is called a node. What you wanna do is to cut off the branch about half an inch above the node.
You can either cut the bigger stem or the new growth or even both depending on what your end goals are. If you want your money tree to grow taller then trim the unwanted growth on the sides. If, on the other hand, you want it to be bushier in appearance, prune the top branches more.
New growth
Don’t forget to cut off the yellow and dead leaves and branches, if there are any. This will rejuvenate your tree and encourage healthy new growth for the plant will have more resources for the new stems and new buds.
Types of pruning
As I said, it is important to have a clear goal and a plan before you start pruning.
Do you just want to cut overgrown branches because the plant is occupying too much space? Do you want to change the shape of a tree, because you don’t know how it looks? Or do you have some concerns about the health of your money tree and think that pruning might help?
So let’s closely look at some types of pruning so that it was easier for you to decide on your strategy.
Structural pruning
Structural pruning involves cutting significant portions of the money tree. You might need it if your tree has grown too big or if you just don’t like the way it looks.
Another reason to do this big pruning is to give the tree a more balanced shape. Sometimes money trees tend to grow more foliage on one side. Eventually, the main stem might start bending because of the imbalance and the tree might even fall over.
After cutting the branches that destabilized the tree it is essential to find out why this problem occurred in the first place. In most cases, a plant starts growing in one specific direction because it is trying to reach a more lighted area.
If that’s the case, and your money tree is indeed standing in a dimly lit part of the room considered moving it. Rotating the plant might also help to some extent, but it is only a temporary solution. Find a place where your money tree would be equally well-lit from all sides, or where different sides of the tree would be lit throughout the day.
During the structural cutting, you remove almost a third of the branches without any harm. Moreover, these cuttings encourage growth of your money tree. Avoid over pruning though. About a third of the tree’s green mass not more.
Maintenance pruning
Maintenance pruning can be done at any time of the year because it doesn’t cause any stress for your money tree plant. Whenever the necessity arises, wilting leaves and or branches. Occasionally, you can also pinch a new bud that grew where you don’t want it. Just pinch with your thumb and your index finger. It should be enough to prevent its further development.
Tip: If there’re too many wilted leaves, it might be a sign that your tree is suffering from some disease. One of the most common diseases is called root rot. It might be caused by overwatering or by bad potting soil. Just put some fresh soil in the pot, or repot the plant.
FAQ
Can you cut the top off a money tree?
How far back can you prune a money tree?
Where do you cut money tree leaves?
Conclusion
I hope this article was useful and now you know a little bit more about how to take care of your money tree. As you can see pruning is not that difficult. The money tree is a tough plant. So if you prune them at the right time, have a clear plan, and don’t cut too much, you should be fine. Read how to make a live moss wall in the article
