Question

money tree yellow leav   QUESTION: Hi,
I have my money tree for almost 3 years, this summer it was my second time I re-plant it into bigger pot. At first everything was good, it started to grow fast and give big new branches with leaves but recently I notes couple of yellow leaves, I just removed them, than more and more yellow leaves appeared now I got scared because A LOT of them are yellow and big one too - most of them at the bottom (new leaves are still green and fresh ) but its more and more yellow!! I took a pictures of couple I just took from my plant! I am wondering if maybe by chance I overwatered it? I got more plants recently which I water more regulary so maybe I watered more this one too or maybe something wrong witha pot?? The stem seems a little white next to the soil. What should I do?? Thank you so much!!

ANSWER: Elena,
You probably did not need to repot it...Money trees can stay in the same pot for many years...They like to be potbound...When you repot them they have a tendency to look ragged until the roots reach out to the side of the new pot...Money trees do not like a lot of direct sunlight(early morning light is OK)...They will do well in a bright room...Remove yellow and/or brown leaves as they appear...


Do be careful how often you water it...
They do like to go quite dry between waterings.... Water your plant based on how much it weighs when thoroughly watered VS when it is ready to be watered again. Plants die from too frequent waterings, not from how much water you give them at one time. Pick up or lean the pot and feel how heavy it is after watering it thoroughly. Don't water it again until it feels considerably lighter and the top of the soil is light in color. Depending on plant types, sunlight exposure and pot size plants will need water at many different rates from once a day to once a month or more...
Good luck...

Hope this helps.
Rick in southern NJ...


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi,
Thank you for your answer but my question is what should I do now? I think I overwatered it probably - is there any way I can safe my plant now? I do not water it already 2 weeks but more and more yellow leaves appears...
Thank you so much!
Elena.

Answer
Elena
The only way you can probably save the plant is to water it as I instructed (by weight)...It sounds like you went from one extreme (too frequent watering) to another ((too dry before watering again). I am 90% sure this is your problem. That is why I told you to water by weight. I have taken care of money trees (mine had an intertwined braided trunk). Their bottom leaves do yellow periodically. Keeping them wet all the time will kill them. So will letting them stay dry too long between waterings...Using the water by weight method makes it a lot easier to determine the watering needs of most plants.
It is also good to fertilize it periodically with a good plant fertilizer (Miracle Grow, Peters, etc.). Get to your local garden center (not chain store) and ask them what fertilizer they recommend...