Question
I have a Pachira aquatica or money tree with all the trunks that intertwine.  I am not a gardner and the plant is still living so I am rather shocked. But I am planning on repotting it soon as it is growing fast and i noticed that up at the top before it starts to split off to the branches there is a small tie/wire/something holding all the trunks together.  Should i leave that there or should I remove it?  I am afraid that either the wire will cut off the water supply to the leaves or the branches will fall over and not hold the trunks together?  Thank you.

Answer
Rachel,

First of all, do not repot the tree until after April first when the days are longer and the roots are actively growing Tropical house plants should only be repotted between April 1st and July 15th and no other time of the year.

Also plants should only be moved to a pot with a diameter that is 2 inches larger than the diameter of the pot that the plant is being moved out of.

Yes, you should remove the wire immediately so it does not cut off the circulation to the branches and leaves. However if the branches appear to separate you will need to replace it with a new wire that is larger and preferably plastic coated wire. As the tree grows you will need to replace it whenever it seems too tight. Good luck.

Darlene