Green 5 in. Money Tree Plant in Ceramic Pot

A:  Hi, Thank you for reaching about your money tree. When it comes to the brown leaves it can be caused by a number of issues. Browning leaves can be a symptom of a lot of different things, dehydration, root rot, sun scorch, lack of humidity. Since your leaves are curling under it is most likely dehydration. Money Trees prefer soil that is damp, not soaked. They do not like the soil to become bone-dry. The frequency and amount of water used in a watering session is determined by the state of the soil – by how long or short it takes before it most of it seems dry. Water about a day after it seems like the top 2/3rds of the soil is dry. An average healthy watering cycle can be around six to eight days between waterings; this depends on weather, humidity, temperature, day length, and – of course – the amount of water you use. That sounds complicated and scary, but really it just means that if your area is a bit drier you should water a little more often than if your area was very humid. This means that you have a chance to experiment with watering until you feel you have struck a balance. Sometimes you are using the right amount of water, just too often, or not often enough. It is perfectly reasonable to take the time to find a schedule where you water a little more, after a longer period, or a little less after a shorter period. This can be a large range of time, the shorter end being around every 5 days, the longer end being several weeks between waterings. Money Trees are very tolerant to heavy waterings (effectively soaking the soil) followed by a long period of time until the next watering session. This style of watering caters towards the several week range. They can also be happy with smaller, gentler waterings that occur more frequently, catering towards the 6–8-day range. Soil that is dry enough for a new watering session will generally be dry for the first 2 to 4 inches down in a pot – this is a good rule for smaller pots, for larger ones you should check deeper. Damp soil feels a little bit wetter and cooler than dry soil (and is noticeably darker), but if you were to squeeze it, you would not get much water pouring out of it. When you do water, make sure you spread it evenly around the base of the pot so that all the roots and soil have a chance to be hydrated. A frequent problem for Money Tree care is over-watering. Sometimes the soil can seem very dry at the top, but still have too much standing water at the base. We recommend you regularly check to ensure there is no standing water in your pot. Constantly soaked soil is a recipe for root rot. We understand this a lot of information, so if you have any more question, please reach out to us at plantcareteam@justaddice.com - Just AddIce, a Green Circle Growers brand

A:  Hi, Barb! Money trees prefer well-draining soil and potting conditions. A ceramic pot with a drainage hole at the bottom is a good fit for your plant. Mesh inserts come in many varieties with many purposes. If you are concerned whether or not to include one, we recommend your decision be based on if it would affect your money tree's root system or cane intertwining. If you can be confident that your money tree's soil will continue to drain well, and that the canes ("trunks") will continue to be held together, you can choose to either include, or exclude a mesh insert at your discretion. Hope this helps! If you have more questions, we would love to hear from you at Plantcareteam@justaddice.com - Just Add Ice, a Green Circle Growers brand

A:  Hi, Jenn! Thanks for the question. Your Money Tree prefers bright indirect light and moderate temperatures. Being kept outdoors in Central or Eastern Florida poses some challenges for appropriate lighting and temperature, in most cases we would recommend keeping this plant indoors. Exceptions can be made if the outdoor location is well shaded, and the area is not regularly above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Hope this helps! - Just Add Ice, a Green Circle Growers brand

A:  We recommend watering with 2 ice cubes (or 3 tablespoons of water) once per week. Money Trees need bright but indirect sunlight (near a shaded or slightly away from an open window).