Why are the leaves of the fortune tree turning yellow?

Reason 1: Improper watering

The money tree likes a warm and humid climate. Too much or too little watering will cause the leaves to turn yellow.

If you water too much, the soil in the pot will often remain too wet, the roots of the money tree will not be able to breathe smoothly, the rhizomes will rot, and then gradually spread to the branches and stems, and finally the leaves will turn yellow, wither and fall off, and in severe cases the whole plant will die. If you water too little, the soil on the top will be moist but the bottom will be dry, which will not only affect the absorption of nutrients, but also cause the leaves to become dull and gradually turn yellow and fall off from the bottom to the top. The money tree is protesting silently against your laziness.

Solution: ventilate, repot or add water in time.

When watering too much, place it near the window for good ventilation and loosen the soil. If the soil in the pot cannot dry in a short period of time and becomes muddy, you can put a layer of absorbent cotton cloth at the bottom of the pot. If it gets wet, replace it with new soil or blow it with a fan. If you've tried everything else and the soil isn't drying out, change the soil.

When watering is too little, the soil surface will crack. If the soil has not turned completely yellow, add water gradually. First moisten the soil surface, water a little every hour, and gradually water it thoroughly. Avoid watering thoroughly at one time to prevent the roots from absorbing water and swelling, which will affect growth.

Reason 2: Improper lighting

The money tree likes sunlight, but cannot tolerate direct sunlight. Exposure to the sun or long-term shade will also cause the leaves to turn yellow.

Placing the money tree in the corner of a room and paying too much attention to the ornamental effect will cause the money tree to be in a shaded environment for a long time, which will cause the new branches and leaves to grow yellow and leggy, while the old leaves will become dull and fall off in large numbers. In the hot summer, you can only turn on the air conditioner in the house. How can the money tree withstand the impact of the scorching sun? If you forget to move it to a shady place at noon, you will have to accept the miserable sight of yellowing leaves.

Solution: Move to semi-shade.

If the leaves of the money tree turn yellow due to sudden exposure to sunlight, the chances of saving it are slim. The leaves turn yellow due to excessive exposure to the sun, and the moisture in the leaves evaporates severely, making it difficult to recover in a short period of time. It is recommended to move them to a semi-shaded place. With proper watering, the yellow leaves will slowly fall off and new buds will grow.

Reason 3: Too much fertilizer

You must be worried that the money tree will become malnourished due to lack of fertilizer, right? But excessive fertilization is not good either. The nutrients absorbed by the money tree are quantitative. If too much fertilizer is applied, after the plant absorbs sufficient nutrients, the remaining fertilizer will burn the roots and stems of the money tree, causing the leaves to turn yellow.

Solution: Root pruning and soil replacement.

Excessive fertilization will cause the roots of the money tree to rot. Remove the plant from the pot, clean up the rotten parts, replace it with new soil, and replant it. Or by watering, dilute the nutrients in the soil and reduce its fertility.

Reason 4: Unsuitable temperature

Some people hate summer and winter because one is too hot and the other is too low. In fact, the same is true for plants. The suitable temperature for the growth of money tree is 20℃~30℃. Too high or too low will affect its growth.

If the temperature in the growth environment of the money tree is too high and the transpiration is too strong, the roots will be insufficiently supplied with water and nutrients, and the leaves will gradually dry up and turn yellow. However, if the temperature is too low, such as below 16°C in winter, the leaves will easily turn yellow and fall off, and it is very easy to die below 10°C.

Solution: Increase the temperature.

In summer, the leaves of the money tree turn yellow due to high temperature. Move the plant to a cool place in time and sprinkle water to cool it down. If the yellowing is not serious, it will slowly resume growth. In winter, increase the maintenance temperature appropriately to prevent the plants from frostbite.

Reason 5: Pests and diseases

The money tree is attacked by fungi and bacteria, causing leaf spot disease, local necrosis of the leaves, and yellow patches or spots. In severe cases, the entire leaf turns yellow and falls off.

Not only are there pathogens that covet the money tree, but there are also many pests such as red spider mites and scale insects that can cause the leaves of the money tree to turn yellow, so be sure to observe carefully.

Solution: Spray the medicine.

Strengthen ventilation and spray pesticides in time. For different diseases and insect pests, choose the corresponding fungicide and spray it once every 5 to 7 days. The disease will basically be cured after 3 to 4 sprayings. (Recommended drugs: Carbendazim, Thiophanate-methyl, Flower Protector)

Reason 6: Too dense branches and leaves

The money tree has a strong growth ability, so its branches and leaves grow vigorously. If you don’t have the habit of pruning it regularly, the branches and leaves hidden at the bottom will turn yellow and droop due to insufficient light and lack of ventilation.

Solution: Prune promptly.

The money trees in many flower lovers’ homes have grown into straw hats, but they are not trimmed. As an ornamental foliage plant, lush branches and leaves are important for the money tree. But if there are too many leaves and they hinder the growth of the plant, then you are wrong.

The money tree grows quickly. For potted plants with lush branches and leaves, you can trim some of the branches. Don’t be reluctant. New buds will grow soon and the plant will grow more lush.

If you can't bear it, just look at how flower lovers prune the money tree →→ "Illustrated" How to prune the money tree

Reason 7: The soil is alkaline

Soil is an indispensable factor for the growth of the money tree. The soil in most parts of the north contains more saline and alkali, but the money tree prefers acidic soil. Acclimatization is a big deal. The soil lacks the iron element that the money tree needs. The result of malnutrition is yellowing of the leaves.

Solution: Acidify the soil.

The money tree is suitable for growing in acidic soil. Changing the acidity and alkalinity of the soil in time can remedy the yellowing of the money tree. There is no need to remove the pot or change the soil. You only need to apply a certain amount of ferrous sulfate to the soil and sprinkle it directly in the pot. This can increase the fertility of the soil and acidify the soil, killing two birds with one stone.

Be careful not to use vinegar when acidifying the soil. Vinegar can indeed make the soil acidic quickly, but because of the radical change it makes, it will damage the organic matter in the soil and reduce the fertility of the soil.

How to prevent leaves from turning yellow

Control watering amount

In order to prevent you from crying because the leaves of the money tree turn yellow, we must do everything before it turns yellow, starting with the amount of watering. When watering the money tree, you should follow the principle of "don't water unless the soil is dry, and water thoroughly when you do". Under normal maintenance, you only need to water it once every 15 to 20 days.

Reasonable lighting

To care for the money tree, you must do your best every day. Starting from late April, choose a sunny and warm noon, move it outdoors or to the balcony, and expose it to sunlight. Start with 1 to 2 hours, and then gradually extend the time. You will get unexpected results.

Of course, in summer it is best to plant in the morning or evening, when the sunlight is milder and will not cause harm to the money tree.

Moderate fertilization

When fertilizing the money tree, you must follow the principle of "thin fertilizer and frequent application" and apply fertilizer according to the growth of the plant. Apply liquid fertilizer or mixed flower fertilizer every 1 to 2 weeks during the growth period, and add decomposed base fertilizer in time when repotting the plant.

Controlling soil pH

In fact, the soil in most households is bought directly from the market, and the soil in the pots is acidic. But why does the yellow leaves still appear? This is related to our watering and soil changing. When watering, try to choose acidic water (rainwater, river water, tap water that has been left standing); in addition, you can also water with ferrous sulfate solution at ordinary times to ensure that the pH value of the soil is within an appropriate range.

Clean branches and leaves regularly

First, prune in time to cut off dense, overgrown, and diseased branches to enhance the light transmittance of the plant. Second, clean the dust on the leaves. Too much dust on the leaves not only affects the appearance, but also reduces photosynthesis and causes the leaves to turn yellow.

Timely prevention and control of pests and diseases

When growing money trees indoors, diseases and pests are difficult to avoid due to ventilation, light, and humidity. The key is to take preventive measures. Except for rainy days and winter, it is necessary to ensure smooth air flow in the maintenance environment; in seasons with excessive high temperatures, spray fungicides once a day to take preventive measures.

Maintaining the right temperature

The money tree is sensitive to temperature. It turns yellow when it is hot and it also turns yellow when it is cold, so the right temperature is very important. The suitable growth temperature of the money tree is between 22 and 35 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is higher than 35 degrees Celsius, the growth will slow down. The lowest temperature in winter is 16-18℃ (basically the same as the indoor temperature). Below this temperature, the leaves will turn yellow and fall off, and the plants will easily die below 10℃.