Question
I recently bought a small Pachira tree in a small pot for my office and now some of the leaves have started wilting and turning yellow.

I'm in California and my office is fairly dry inside and always kept at 70 degrees.  I've been following the directions that came with the tree - I've been watering it occasionally with time in between to let the soil dry a little and it's located about 10 feet away from a southern facing window which spans the entire wall.

Do you think it's getting too little/too much water or sun?
Does it need fertilizer?

I can take a picture if that would help.

Thanks!
Emanuel  

Answer
Hi Emanuel,

A few lower leaves turning yellow is normal and may reflect your Pachira's adjustment to its new environment. More extensive yellowing would be due to improper watering or inadequate light. Dry air and normal room temperatures are not a problem for Pachira. Fertilizer is not going to make any difference.

Try reducing the distance to the window by half and make sure the window is uncovered throughout the day. Without seeing the plant and pot, I cannot advise you on proper watering. A photo sent to my address below would help. Please include this correspondence with the photo.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]