Mini Money Tree Care

Moisture

The most common cause of yellowing leaves among Money Trees is improper soil moisture, particularly from watering the plant too frequently. Your Money Tree prefers deep but infrequent watering when the soil volume is 50-75% dry. When watering your Money Tree, be sure you provide enough water so that liquid flows from the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and into the saucer.

It’s extremely important to discard any excess water in the saucer and not to let your plant sit in any standing water. Money Trees don’t like “wet feet,” which will cause the roots to rot and lead to the eventual death of the plant. Yellow and browning leaves are the first sign that root rot may be occurring.

Your Humidity Level

Low humidity and dry soil can cause leaves to droop and brown on their edges, which can later be followed by entire leaves turning yellow, brown, or shed completely. Your Money Tree will appreciate a boost in humidity from regular misting using a mister, a humidifier, or the use of a pebble tray. To learn how to increase the humidity for your houseplants, check out our blog.

Improper Light

Your Money Tree will grow best when placed in bright indirect sunlight, but it will tolerate medium light. When exposed to direct sunlight for too long, the foliage will burn, so be sure to avoid placing your Money Tree in direct sun.

Your Money Tree can adapt to low light areas, their growth may slow. If placed in very low light, yellow leaves may develop. To combat this, use a Grow Light to provide bright indirect light in less-than-ideal lighting conditions in your home.

Pests

A weakened or stressed Money Tree is more susceptible to insect infestations. Sap-sucking bugs like spider mites can drain your plant of moisture. This problem quickly manifests itself by yellowing leaflets and fronds, but can be combated by using an insecticide like Neem Oil.

Scale, mealybugs, and spider mites occur frequently in indoor conditions. If not killed early on, these small pests proliferate and move all along frond parts into nooks and crannies. The piercing mouths of the insects exhaust your plant and accelerate yellowing, especially if your Money Tree is already unhealthy from poor lighting, a nutrient deficiency, or improper soil moisture.

Some Yellowing Is Natural

Is your Money Tree producing new growth? If there is new growth on your plant and the yellowing leaves are older, particularly at the bottom of the plant, this yellowing is natural. Your plant sheds its old leaves and sends energy to new growth.

Inconsistent soil moisture

Your Money Tree prefers to be watered when 50% of the soil volume has dried out. You can test the soil with your finger or something like a wooden chopstick and if it comes up dry, you can water it. Be careful not to let the soil go bone-dry because ill-timed watering can cause roots to die back and lead to discolored leaves. Be sure that your watering schedule is consistent. 

If you accidentally let your Money Tree’s soil dry out completely, it may need a soak in the sink or tub to properly rehydrate the soil. Keep in mind that when the soil goes from bone-dry to saturated, it can cause stress for your Money Tree and cause leaves to drop.

Not enough humidity

Your Money Tree will thrive in slightly humid environments. Increase the humidity around your plant by misting the leaves on a regular basis, using a pebble tray, or moving a humidifier nearby.

Was the plant just moved, shipped, or otherwise shocked?

Generally, houseplants don’t like change. They can be cranky for a few days or even a few weeks after they arrive at your home, or after a move to a new location within your home. Give your plant some time and it will likely recover by itself if all other care requirements are met.

Most of all, be patient!

Let nature take its course – if you’re seeing new growth, keep doing what you’re doing!

Underwatering

Dehydration is one way the stem can die. If the stem is too dry for too long it begins to shrivel. Each trunk of the money tree is an individual plant, so when there’s not enough water, each plant has to compete for resources and this typically results in one of the plants (or trunks) dying. By the time you notice, it’s often too late to save the dried-out stem, but it is possible to save the other few money tree stems. Read on for money tree trunk revival tips.

Overwatering

The second cause of a money tree’s stem dying is it being overwatered. This can cause root or crown rot, which can be extremely damaging or fatal. Money trees can handle more water than most houseplants, however, if the roots sit in water for too long it can cause them to turn brown and mushy. You can tell if the money tree is suffering from root rot if the leaves begin to wilt, discolor, or drop, if you notice a rotting smell from the soil, or if the base of the stem is soft and mushy.

How To Remove A Dead Money Tree Trunk

If one of your money tree stems is dead, don’t worry! You can still save the other stems before they decline, too.

First, you will need to separate the dead stem from the other stems. You should be able to accomplish this with your hands and some patience. It can also be helpful to have a pair of pruners to cut the dead stem into chunks as you carefully unravel it from the living stems. If you do use pruners, make sure that they are sterilized between cuts as a contaminated tool can spread disease.

Watch Your Watering

Going forward, make sure to test the soil and water when 50-75% of the soil volume has dried out. Water thoroughly until you see water flow out of the drainage hole and discard any excess water in the saucer.