QuestionHi,
I have 2 indoor money plants about 5 years old. Last year, I transplanted them into 12" pots and they both took off. One is 6' tall and it just one tall, skinny trunk,no branches until
about 2 1/2'. The other is also 6' but has a twisted trunk with lots of leaves and branches. My 1st question is can I cut them back as they are almost hitting the ceiling. If so, can you please tell me exactly where I should cut.
2nd question, Can I use the cuttings to make new plants?
Thanks so much for your help
AnswerBetty,
You can cut them back but if you cut all the green leaves off of a branch chances are it will not regrow. 7 feet is the usual height for an indoor pachira aquatica. Out side in nature it can grow to 40 feet or more.
You can easily trim it back some - it will bush outwards as result. The stems that you prune off can be rooted in soil using rooting hormone - so you'll end up with multiple plants. You can either leave them single or braid them together like large plants are done.
To root successfully, the stem cutting needs to have at least two nodes on it. the nodes are the little bumps that the leaves grow from. I'd dip the cuttings in some rooting hormone powder before planting them. Let sit in the dry soil for a week/10 days and then water well. Then get on a regular watering schedule - it'll be a little different than the original plant as you'll be dealing with something forming roots and it'll likely be in a smaller container as well. Do not transplant the cuttings to more than 4-6" diameter pots until they fill that first pot with roots. Do not transplant your larger tree to a bigger pot or it will outgrow your home. You can, when you think it needs repotted take it out of the pot and cut an inch to an inch and a half off the root ball all the way around using a pruning saw or large sharp knife then repot it with some fresh soil around it. Then also give it a hair cut on top too. That is how bonsai artists keep plants small and it works for plain old houseplants too. Good luck.
Darlene
