Is my money tree salvageable? Idk i was watering it like once a week. It gets semi sunlight for a few hours every day but is in a corner away from windows. It was doing really awesome and then slowly the leaves just started turning brown and ive now noticed one of the trunks is completely squishy and rotted. What can i do?
by yaheaaard
16 Comments
Take it out and look at the roots (checking for root rot)
less watering, wait for the soil to dry out before rewatering and A LOT more sunlight but progressively so you don’t burn it
Probable outcome of a full inspection :
-Center trunk definitely dead
-Left trunk probably dead
-Right trunk suffering from root rot
Option one get the right trunk out of that mess, clean it up and trim any sick roots. Pot down with well draining soil and do not use any top dressing (moss mulch rocks etc)
Option two is chop and prop. This is probably the route I’d take. Start fresh developing a new trunk with your cutting instead of sticking with the twisted formerly braided trunk.
Either way it will drop its leaves but they’re pretty much dead now so no loss. I’d say you got a 60% chance if you chop and prop and slightly worse odds if you try to rescue repot it.
Looks like the squishy trunk is completely rotted and done for, the other two trunks might have a chance.
First step is to check the roots and the bottom of the other two trunks. The squishy trunk will need to be tossed but if the other two trunks are solid they might be salvageable. Using a clean pair of scissors, cut off all root rot (black, squishy, smelly roots). Watch some videos on how to identify it. Also, if there’s a rubber band or string around the trunks CUT IT OFF! Big box stores love to string these things together and it just ends up suffocating them and causing rot (probably so they’ll die and people will buy more).
Second, spray the roots with a 3% hydrogen peroxide and water mixture of 1:2 (one part peroxide, two parts water) Repot in brand new soil and a new pot with good draining holes. I recommend a succulent mixture with extra peat moss and perlite. I usually do 3 parts succulent mix, one part peat moss, and one part perlite. Wait a day or two after repotting and water thoroughly. Ditch the moss on top, it’s trapping in moisture which in turn can cause rot. Water only when the top inch is dry. I have a hard time telling when it’s time to water some of my plants so I used a water meter, they’re cheap on amazon and will tell you how to read the moistness of your soil, making it easier for your to know when it’s time to water. Good luck saving your tree!
Edit: on rewatch, I just noticed the mushrooms
water bulb thing. I don’t have any experience with those and they might be great for plants that like to stay wet, but I would also not use it. Money trees don’t like constant wetness, it causes root rot, they like to dry out between waterings. You’ll also want to place it closer to a window. I have mine sitting in a southwest facing window, so it does get direct sunlight for a few hours, and indirect light all day.
Any drainage?
its fine.
I had to save just one stem of mine. It was all tied together under the soil with rubber bands so no wonder it was dying… two years later and it’s more than twice as tall. I hardly water it too. That moss is probably holding too much moisture.
I say pull it apart. You can’t fix the mushy trunks.
Did you remove the rubber band from around the base?
You’ll need to take it out and remove the dead tree and all its roots. The others will probably be fine once given new substrate.
Too wet, these things thrive on a good bit of neglect and sunlight
Is there any green growth off the squishy trunk? I had one trunk die and did the same thing. I literally just gave it a soft tug and it pulled right out but didn’t affect the others at all.
It’s rotting. You watered it to much
Well someone’s broke af…
I agree with the overwatering consensus. I would repot, removing any rotted roots
First of all l’d take it out of that plastic pot. Plastic pots don’t let roots breath. They tend to create and hold onto too much moisture and then that creates rot and fungus and bacteria.
Also the stuff around the trunk should be removed as it holds moisture in as well and also that’s another place fungus can start.
Use clay pots that breath, and have a large hole in the bottom of the pot place the pot on top of some flatfish stones to allow air to circulate in and out of the bottom as well as the top. Roots that can’t get air suffocate and when over watered rot. It’s a good idea to keep the base (trunks) of these plants (and most plants) free of debris so the water can evaporate.
I would pull it out of the pot and take as much of the soil off the roots as possible. See if any of the roots are still alive. If they are, leave it out of the soil for a day. Buy a slightly larger clay pot, put two or three largish pieces of broke clay pot in the bottom to help keep the hole free of dirt so air can get in and the take a mixture of perilite and potting soil and mix them together (use quite a lot of perilite) add two good shakes of real cinnamon powder to the soul and mix it all together. Cinnamon is a natural anti fungal, but you only need a little. Then re plant but don’t press the soil down really hard, keep it lose and airy. Don’t put the green stuff around the trunk again. Give the soil a little bit of water but not much…leave it in bright but not direct sunlight area. Don’t water again for a couple of weeks. Cut off dead leaves, and don’t replant mushystem part.