Money trees are well-known houseplants with bright green leaves and trunks that are braided. People have long thought that these plants bring luck and wealth.
As your money tree grows older, you may see new stems and shoots coming out of the braided trunk. Sprouting is a normal part of plant growth, but it can mess up the pattern of the braided flowers. There are different ways to deal with money tree trunk sprouts.
Why Money Trees Sprout from the Trunk
There are a few reasons why money trees send out new growth from the trunk:
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Normal Growth: Money trees naturally get bigger and fuller over time by sprouting new leaves. There are many dormant buds on the trunk that open to make new stems and leaves.
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Pruning Response: Cutting back branches triggers the trunk’s dormant buds to grow as the plant strives to replace lost foliage.
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The lower buds on the trunk of money trees wake up to make new branches and leaves as the tree ages. This helps the plant stay full as it gets older.
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Light Exposure Intense light reaching the trunk encourages new shoot formation as plants aim growth toward light sources.
So in most cases, sprouting from the trunk is completely normal and expected as money trees mature It is not a cause for concern.
Managing Trunk Sprouts on Money Trees
When new sprouts emerge on your money tree’s braided trunk, you have options:
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Remove the Sprouts – Pruning off new shoots preserves the ornate braiding by stopping messy growth. It also controls size.
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Leave the Sprouts – Allowing new stems to develop makes the plant fuller and bushier over time.
Consider factors like aesthetics, plant size, balance, and your personal preference. Pruning unwanted sprouts helps guide the money tree’s shape. Leaving them maximizes foliage.
How to Prune New Growth from the Trunk
Follow these tips to neatly and safely prune new shoots from money tree trunks:
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Use clean, sharp bypass pruners to avoid crushing stems. Never tear sprouts off by hand.
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Identify where each shoot connects to the trunk and snip it off at the base.
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Make smooth cuts without leaving stubs to prevent dieback.
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Time pruning during active growth in spring and summer for quick recovery.
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Sterilize pruners between cuts with isopropyl alcohol to prevent disease transmission.
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Apply a wound sealant like cinnamon to any large pruning wounds over 1 inch across.
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Remove only young, green shoots. Avoid cutting thick, woody stems.
Regular inspection and prompt pruning keeps trunk sprouts controlled. But take care not to over-prune, as excess pruning stresses plants.
Caring for Money Trees with Trunk Sprouts
To encourage strong, healthy growth from new trunk sprouts, care for your money tree properly:
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Provide bright, indirect sunlight from a southern or western window.
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Water thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil become dry.
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Mist the leaves daily to increase humidity around new shoots.
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Turn the plant periodically for even light exposure on all sides.
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Stake heavy new stems until they develop woody trunks that can support themselves.
Meeting its basic needs reduces stress and helps new sprouts thrive into mature foliage.
Using Trunk Sprouts to Propagate
Instead of pruning new sprouts, you can let them grow to propagate your money tree:
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Allow the shoots to develop several leaves, roots, and a woody base before removing.
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Keep the soil slightly drier to encourage faster rooting.
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Once mature, detach the rooted sprout from the trunk using a clean, sharp knife.
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Pot up the new plant in fresh potting mix and care for it like an adult money tree.
This layering method has higher success rates than trying to root stem cuttings. Letting sprouts mature on the parent plant first provides the best results.
When to Seek Help with Money Tree Trunk Issues
Contact a plant expert if you notice:
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Oozing sap, discolored fluid, or foul odors from the trunk
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Squishy spots, cracks, holes, or excessive swelling on the bark
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Large splits or cracks in the braided trunks
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Webbing, cottony growths, unusual spots, or other signs of disease/pests
Rapid or severe trunk changes like these may indicate underlying problems needing diagnosis and treatment. Don’t hesitate to enlist professional help to get your money tree back on track.
Enjoying Money Trees’ Distinctive Trunks
With their showy braided trunks, money trees have undeniable visual appeal. Managing the natural tendency to sprout from the trunk helps maintain their ornamental look. But sprouts can also be used for propagation or allowed to grow for a bushier plant. With attentive care, your money tree can thrive while showcasing its signature twisted trunk for years to come!
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The Money Tree Plant is a popular houseplant known for its braided trunk and lush, green foliage. This plant is native to Central and South America but is also very popular in Taiwan and other East Asian countries. It is often seen as good luck, making it a dearly loved addition to homes and offices. This article will explore how to grow a money tree, ways you can thicken your money trees trunk, and tips for creating and maintaining its signature braided look.
How to Care for a Money Tree
A Young Money Tree Sprout – by J. Camuz from Pixabay
Money tree care requires understanding its basic needs in order for your plant to thrive:
Money trees thrive in bright, indirect light. Too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, and not enough light can slow the trees growth and cause the leaves of your money tree to turn yellow. To make sure this doesnt happen, place your money tree near a window with filtered light or in a room with plenty of natural light.
These plants prefer an average watering schedule. When watering your plant, allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering this plant can lead to the roots rotting, while underwatering it can cause its leaves to drop. Water thoroughly until water drains out of the bottom, then empty the drainage tray to prevent the roots from rotting. If your money tree leaves are turning yellow, then you may be overwatering it, or, as mentioned before, it may be getting too much sunlight.
Using a well-draining potting mix can prevent water from sitting in the soil and causing the roots to rot. A mix designed for cacti and succulents can be a good choice, or you can use a standard potting soil mixed with sand or perlite.
Money trees prefer temperatures between 65°F and 75°F (18°C to 24°C) and cant handle extreme cold. Their natural environment is also very humid, so placing your plant in a humid room can imitate this humidity and help your plant thrive. You can also use a humidity tray or a humidifier to do this.
The best time to fertilize your money tree is once a month during the growing season (spring and summer) using a balanced liquid fertilizer. During the fall and winter, the plants growth will slow down. When this happens, you should feed your plant less.
A Money Tree with a Short, Thick Trunk – Photo by Feey on Unsplash
Many people tend to want their money trees to have thick trunks. This is because it provides a strong, sturdy base and adds to the plants beauty. Here are some ways you can thicken the trunk of your money tree:
Regular pruning encourages the growth of side branches and results in a thicker trunk. Trimming the top growth can promote bushier growth at the base. Its important to always use clean, sharp pruning shears when doing this to avoid damaging the plant.
Gently bending the trunk and wiring it in place can help encourage growth and thicken the trunk. This technique, borrowed from growing bonsai trees, should be done carefully to avoid breaking the trunk. Wrap the wire loosely to allow for growth, and remove it once the trunk has thickened sufficiently.
Repotting your money tree into a slightly larger pot with fresh soil every two to three years encourages root growth. This growth in turn supports a thicker trunk. Make sure the new pot has good drainage to prevent water-logging.
Giving your plant the right about of sunlight can help your money tree grow stronger and healthier. Make sure your plant receives enough sunlight to support healthy growth without causing damage to it.
A Money Tree with a Braided Trunk – Photo by Daan Rink
One way to make a money tree look better is to braid its trunk. This makes it a popular choice among plant lovers. Braiding should be done when the plant is young and the stems are still flexible. Here’s how to braid your money tree:
- Pick Young Stems: Pick a money tree with three or more young, green stems. It’s easier to work with these young stems without hurting them because they are more flexible. Make sure the stems are healthy and free of any diseases or pests before you start braiding.
- Start the Braid: Bring the stems together gently and start braiding at the base. Place one stem on top of the other, like you would to start a braid. Be careful not to damage the stems as you braid. The stems should just touch each other, not be wound around each other tightly.
- Protect the Braid: To keep the braid in place at the top, use soft, bendable plant ties or garden tape. If you want these ties to fit the stems as they grow, make sure they are not too tight.
- Keep the braid in place. As your money tree grows, new leaves will appear and the stem will continue to get thicker. Watch the braid and make any necessary changes to the ties to fit this growth. If any stems start to grow out of place, add them back into the braid slowly. You may also need to cut off any extra hair that gets in the way of the braided look.
- Patience and Care: Regularly monitor the plant’s health and growth. The process of braiding is slow, and it could take months to get the look you want. It’s best not to push the stems into places they don’t want to go. This can cause stress and damage to the plant.
To ensure the best results when braiding your money tree, consider these additional tips:
- Consistency: Braid the new growth on a regular basis to keep the look neat and even.
- Handling Carefully: Be careful not to break or damage the stems when you handle them.
- Adjustable Ties: To keep the plant’s growth from being slowed down, use ties that are easy to move as the plant grows.
The money tree is a versatile and attractive houseplant that, with proper care, can bring beauty and a touch of luck to your home. By following these tips for growing, making the trunk thicker, and braiding, you can make sure your money tree does well and stays a beautiful focal point.
For more tips on happy indoor and outdoor plants, be sure to check out our other blog posts, follow us on social media, and subscribe to our newsletter. And, of course, call Arborist Now! for professional tree care advice and help in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Money Tree: How to Grow, Trunk Thickening Techniques, & Braiding Tips (Pachira aquatica, P. glabra)
FAQ
Why is my tree sprouting from trunk?
Trees grow water sprouts from the trunk when the tree is under stress. Dormant buds under the bark start growing when the tree has lost its top, if the roots are constricted, or during times when other stressors threaten its life.
Will a money tree trunk grow back?
Theres nothing you can do to ‘help it grow back’ other than normal care. The trunk shouldn’t die. New growth will sprout from just below the cuts in due course.
Can you propagate a money tree from the trunk?
Can You Propagate a Money Tree? Money trees can be propagated from stem and leaf cuttings, as well as from seed. Propagating from seed is the slowest way, while the quickest propagation method is from stem cuttings in water.
Should I remove dead trunks from a money tree?
I would remove the dead plant. Reason: eventually all the trunks are going to fuse together via a process called inosculation. The dead trunk will make the living trunks grow around it, which will stop the fusing process and make bumps and lumps that look bad.