Money trees are well-known worldwide as good luck trees that are believed to bring their owners great fortune.
A money tree may grow to be over 10 feet tall. This necessitates regular structural pruning — to keep the shape aesthetically pleasing and encourage healthy growth.
So if you have a money tree that requires re-shaping, read on for a step-by-step guide on money tree pruning.
How to Trim a Money Tree
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Trimming money trees helps encourage new growth, maintain a balanced shape, and prevent overgrowth.
Here are a few simple steps you can follow to effectively prune a money tree:
Decide When you Want to Prune your Money Tree Plant
Lightly pruning your money tree all year round and leaving major pruning to the growing season (early spring and early summer) is a great way to keep your plant healthy.
When deciding when to trim your good luck trees, consider the following factors:
How long ago did you conduct the last maintenance pruning?
Is the money tree showing signs of overgrowth?
Does the money tree have a significant amount of unwanted growth?
Considering these factors before trimming the money tree prevents over-pruning issues.
Gather the Necessary Equipment Required for Pruning
Before pruning your money trees, you must gather all the necessary equipment.
Some of the best tools to have on hand for pruning include:
Pruning Shears or a Sharp Knife
Garden shears or a sharp knife allow you to effortlessly prune your money tree without putting too much pressure on the plant.
Gloves
Gloves help safeguard your hands from skin irritation from contact with the soil or pesticides.
Zip Lock Bag
A zip-lock bag is necessary to collect and dispose of any infected cuttings.
Keeping the infected money tree cuttings in a zip-lock bag will help eliminate the chances of the infected cuttings contaminating your other houseplants.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is a great natural pesticide to have on hand. You can use it to eliminate pest infestations in your plants without having to worry about chemical exposure which may occur due to the use of commercially sold pesticides.
Examine your Money Tree
Once you have gathered everything you need in one place, you should examine your money tree. Look for signs of dead growth, damaged branches, and yellow, brown, or wilted leaves.
This is also a good time to decide on the shape you want to give your money tree. Would you like to maintain a tall money tree or create a bonsai effect?
Deciding on a structure ahead of time allows you to prune in a way that helps generate that effect and bring your vision to reality.
Look For Two V-shaped Branches Extending from the Main Stem
Next, you want to look for two V-shaped branches extending from the trunk.
Trimming your money tree this way will help you to maintain an aesthetically pleasing shape and healthy new growth.
Clip the Trunk 1.3 cm from above the V-shaped Branches
Now place your fingers 1.3 cm above the V-shaped branch and cut at a 45-degree angle.
Making a 45-degree angled cut helps encourage more growth. It also helps protect your plant from disease and water damage.
Clip the Branches Located at the Sides and Top of the Tree
Start by trimming any overgrown or damaged branches from the top or sides of the money tree. This will help you cut in a proper shape.
Trim any stem sticking out that may be ruining the plant’s shape, and trim it to match the size of the surrounding stems.
Focus on Pruning Branches with Brown and Dry Foliage
Like any plant species, a money plant goes through the natural process of dispelling old leaves to make room for new stems and leaf nodes.
The purpose of pruning is to help encourage the growth of new buds by removing any brown or dry foliage.
Also, watch for pests, clip any severely infested foliage, and store it in a zip-lock bag. Next, cover the plant in neem oil to eliminate pest growth.
Trim no More than Half the Tree’s Size
Pruning may be a satisfying process for many plant owners. However, it may be easy to get carried away and over prune.
Over-pruning can take away from the overall appeal of your money tree and cause stunted growth issues.
The easiest way to ensure you are now over-pruning your money tree is to make it a point to trim no more than half of the tree’s size.
Also, take a break between pruning every once in a while to examine the tree and ensure you are not over-pruning.
Prevent Infection
Pruning generates a wound in your money tree, making the plant more susceptible to infections. This is why it is critical to disinfect your pruning shears before trimming.
You can also treat the wound with powdered cinnamon by applying cinnamon to the prune cuts.
Cinnamon is a robust all-natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent that can help you effectively prevent infections in your plants.
Generously Water the Money Tree
Watering your money tree thoroughly after trimming is crucial to its health since your plant may lose a significant amount of sap during pruning, leaving it dehydrated.
By offering adequate water to the plant, you may not only refill its reserves but also encourage healing.
Experts advocate adding a quarter-strength dosage of liquid fertilizer to the water after pruning to promote recovery and new growth.
Replace the Old Soil with Fresh Soil
Old potting soil may lack the nutrients needed for a money tree to recover after pruning. So this is a great time to empty your pot and load it with fresh soil.
This will help your plant heal quickly and encourage new stem and leaf growth.
Disinfect your Pruning Tools
As discussed above, money trees are more susceptible to disease between and after pruning. So you want to ensure you disinfect your pruning tools with rubbing alcohol before and after pruning.
Doing so will help you maintain clean pruning tools and ensure that your tools are clean before you move on to pruning the next plant.
After Care Measures
Pruning a money tree plant may be quite stressful. This is why extra care for the plant is vital to accelerating the healing process. One of the top factors to take care of after pruning is watering.
Even though having a consistent watering schedule all year round is important for your plant’s health, maintaining a proper watering schedule becomes even more crucial in the days after the pruning.
You can set the alarm on your phone as a reminder to water the plant or download free apps like Waterbot to do the job.
Keeping the plant in a bright spot is also a great way to ensure the plant is getting sufficient lighting for photosynthesis. However, ensure the spot is not too bright or has direct light, which can burn your plant.
Final Verdict
Following the steps discussed above, you can effectively prune a money tree plant and encourage growth all year round.
However, resist the impulse to over-prune and follow appropriate aftercare measures such as watering, offering proper lighting conditions, and changing out the soil to assist the plant in recovery.