here's the root

close up

close up

what it used to look like :(

what it used to look like :(

{{!gwi}}

Hey, Konni, let me stop you before you run to the store.....do NOT buy peat moss, just mix the perlite into the potting soil you have now at at least a 50/50 ratio, or, go heavier on the perlite. Forget about the pebbles at the bottom of the pot. If you must use them, mix them in with the rest of the mix. Does your pot have drainage holes? Others will chime in soon....

Nancy

Thank you Nancy!
I did not buy the peat moss, I got cactus, palm and citrus soil (fast draining) instead, they said it was better than perlite as apparently a pachira is a palm..?
I haven't potted it yet, it has been sitting on newspapers in a paperbag all day drying. I'm really worried and wonder if I should try to propagate, I bought root grow in case you guys say it's okay and it won't kill the tree.
I did get a smaller plastic pot with holes for drainage to put inside the ceramic pot.

A Pachira is not a palm.

Nancy is right - go real heavy on the Perlite, if you must use that type of potting mix,
and no pebbles at the bottom of the pot.

This isn't the best time of year to re-pot. The plant might sulk for a long time.

Josh

Hi Konni,

I wanted to add that I think your idea to propagate might be a good one, for insurance, in case your plant doesn't recover well. In my experience, Pachira cuttings hold very well in water over the winter. I would take a few cuttings from the young/green-colored stems. Water-rooting isn't the most efficient way to start plants, but, again in my experience only, it's the easiest way, with this plant, at this time of year.

Amanda

Also wanted to add:
do not let roots on a Pachira dry out. Re-potting should be done as quickly as possible,
out of direct sun or wind, on a cool or cloudy day. Bare-root with water, and spritz the roots
if the process takes longer than a minute or two. Get those roots tucked back into the mix pronto,
then stabilize the tree so the roots aren't moving in the mix.

This plant may be set back considerably at this point.

Josh

thank you Josh and Amanda!
I planted the tree in a smaller pot with lots of perlite, the roots weren't dried out yet.
I did take a stem and put in root grow and in a tiny pot with the same soil perlite mixture, I also took a smaller stem and put in water - crossing my fingers that they will both take and of course the tree survives.
I did notice last night that it has been getting colder inside than usual so I put paper in in between the plastic pot and the ceramic pot (which is much larger) to keep it warm.
Thank you again!
Konni

Konni,
It sounds like you are on the right track but I would like to add that I think you might want to take at least two more cuttings so that you will have enough to start a new braid and have one extra in case one of them does not take root.

Here is a link that might be useful: Money tree care

Thanks to TheJungle,

I read the article.
I took a couple of extra leaves, put one in water and one in the soil mix, so now I have 2 of each, crossing my fingers that they will take.
I added a little bit of charcoal to the tree and off spring, I guess it is good for drainage along with the perlite. I removed the paper between the inner pot and ceramic pot and lifted the inner pot up onto a few rocks to get more air flow.
I stuck a rod into the dirt for a couple of minutes and found it completely dry so I watered and gave it a little nutrition as well, some of the stems were getting droppy too. All of the roots look good and are hard and don't smell, however a couple of the trunks are a little soft and flaky in the middle of the stems...
I was going to add bark as well, but I don't want to disturb the roots anymore, so I think I will do that in the spring or summer.
I'm crossing my fingers.
Thank you
konni

I've rooted Pachira leaves; in fact, my Pachira was grown from a single leaf off my brother's plant. Only the healthiest of leaves seem to root, and you must have the entire petiole (leaf-stem that attaches to the trunk). The petiole is eventually what becomes the trunk. Do not disturb the leaves or cuttings while they root; you want a well-established root-mass before re-potting.

As for the soft trunks...that is a bad sign, I'm afraid. I've never known a Pachira trunk to survive once it goes soft. A healthy trunk should be firm at all times.

Did you put pebbles on the bottom of the pot? I hope not, as that will reduce drainage and lead to certain problems down the road (if not immediately).

Josh

Hi Josh,

yes, I found your story of how you grew your tree and got inspired, I snapped off healthy leaves with leaf stem at the base of the larger trunk.
No pebbles in the pot, just 4 large ones underneath to raise it up in the ceramic pot it is sitting in. Someone on this website said it was great for air flow and drainage.
If the soft trunks get softer I will unbraid and toss, but currently the root is okay and one of the soft trunks have a new green shoot - it's going to be hard to unbraid so I'm hoping it will survive or wait until it gets a little warmer and won't hurt the tree as much
Thank you
Konni

Oh excellent, I'm glad you found the story :-)

I'm also glad that the rocks are creating circulation for the pot, very good indeed.

If you have to remove a trunk, just cut it into sections. They come apart pretty easily...most of the time, that is.

Give a light dose of fertilizer a couple weeks after re-potting.

Josh

ok thank you!