Money trees, scientifically known as Pachira aquatica, are popular houseplants admired for their distinctive braided trunks and lush foliage. These tropical plants, native to Central and South American wetlands, grow vigorously indoors. Regular pruning is beneficial to maintain their health, appealing shape, and manage their size, encouraging robust growth.
Why and When to Prune
Pruning a money tree promotes vigor and visual appeal. Removing older, yellowing, or damaged leaves and branches redirects the plant’s energy towards new, healthy growth. This also improves air circulation within the canopy, reducing the risk of fungal issues by preventing excessive density. Regular pruning maintains a desired size and shape, preventing leggy or overgrown plants.
The optimal time to prune a money tree is during its active growing season, typically in spring or early summer. Pruning during this period allows the plant to recover quickly from cuts and stimulates a flush of new growth. While major structural pruning is best done at this time, you can remove dead, diseased, or yellowing foliage at any point in the year as soon as it appears. Signs that a money tree needs pruning include elongated, sparse stems, a general untidy appearance, or discolored leaves.
Essential Pruning Tools
For effective and clean pruning, use sharp bypass pruners or a clean pair of scissors. Sharp tools ensure precise cuts, minimizing plant tissue damage and allowing faster healing.
Before and after each pruning session, sterilize your tools with rubbing alcohol. This prevents the spread of diseases from other plants or within your money tree, contributing to its overall health and recovery.
How to Prune Your Money Tree
First, assess your money tree for dead, diseased, or crossing branches and leaves; these are primary targets for removal as they hinder health and aesthetics. Also identify leggy stems or those growing in undesirable directions. Plan your cuts to achieve a balanced and appealing shape.
Always cut just above a leaf node, the small bump on the stem where new growth emerges. Make a clean, precise cut at a 45-degree angle, approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the node. This angled cut prevents water from pooling on the wound, which could lead to rot.
To encourage bushier growth, pinch back new growth tips by removing the very end of a stem; this signals the plant to produce multiple new shoots from lower nodes. For shaping, remove branches that extend too far or disrupt the desired silhouette, aiming for a uniform canopy. If your money tree is tall and leggy, “top” the main stems by cutting them back to a manageable height to encourage lower branching.
It is important to avoid removing too much foliage at once, as this can stress the plant. A general guideline is to remove no more than one-third of the plant’s total growth during a single pruning session. For heavily overgrown plants, it is better to prune in stages over several weeks or months rather than making drastic cuts all at once. Regularly stepping back to observe the plant’s overall shape helps guide your pruning decisions, ensuring a symmetrical and healthy outcome.
Post-Pruning Care
After pruning, proper aftercare supports your money tree’s recovery and new growth. Water the plant thoroughly, ensuring the soil is evenly moist but not waterlogged; adequate hydration is important for recovery.
Place your money tree in bright, indirect sunlight, which provides energy for new shoots and leaves. Avoid immediate fertilization, as the plant needs time to heal. Instead, monitor for new growth or signs of stress.
Common Pruning Mistakes to Avoid
Over-pruning is a frequent error. Removing more than one-third of the plant’s growth causes significant stress, hindering its ability to recover and produce new leaves. Excessive pruning can also lead to stunted growth or plant decline.
Another common mistake is using dull or dirty pruning tools. Dull tools can crush stems, creating jagged wounds that are difficult for the plant to heal and make it more susceptible to diseases. Dirty tools can introduce pathogens, leading to infections. Always ensure your tools are sharp and sterilized before use.
Pruning during the plant’s dormant period in fall or winter can be detrimental. During dormancy, the money tree’s growth slows, and it has less energy to recover from pruning wounds, leading to increased stress and poor regrowth. Incorrect cuts, such as leaving long stubs or cutting too close to the main stem, also negatively impact the plant’s health and appearance. Avoid these by always cutting just above a leaf node to promote proper healing and new growth.