Pachira (Money Tree) Prune and Growth Progress

14 years ago

Hello!

I got a Money Tree a little over a year ago. It was doing well at first and then I repotted it into a bigger container resulting in me watering it too much (before I knew better). Leaves began to yellow and fall off, so I was left with tall green trunks with no leaves. Well, I started to take better care of it and read up on its watering needs. It grew more leaves but was still bare from where it had lost leaves before, this gave it an odd uneven look, in my opinion. So I decided to prune. Its still very bare but I think that this was better for it in the long run and the plant will become more full and will have a better growth pattern than before. More robust as opposed to lanky and tall.

Here is a before photo: As you can see, there are small lower leaves, nothing in the middle (where the leaves died off) and then big leaves at the top. I didn't like the bare middle so I decided to trim for a fuller look...also the new growth at the top was too big for the lower leaves to receive sunlight so the trunks ans leaves remained small.

{{gwi:82512}}

This photo was taken after the prune. There is already new growth on the trunks, its the small green nodes on the sides by my fingers.

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Here is its on the 15th of this month. Still a very bare but loads of new growth! The branches lower than where I pruned are very thin (lack of sunlight), which makes me wish I had pruned all the way down to where the braid ends. Should I trim these back even though they have new leaves sprouting from the tip? I was afraid to trim them when I had pruned the larger trunks because I didn't want to shock the plant too much, also I didn't know if anything would sprout from the larger trunks after the prune.

{{gwi:82514}}

I transplanted it into a slightly smaller pot, I think there was too much space for the soil to stay wet. The reason I say this is because I didn't have problems with my plant until I repotted it into the blue pot you see in the first 2 photos.

{{gwi:82515}}

From the looks of it, and thinking far into the future, I think this plant will look great even though I didn't trim very far down. In my opinion, once the trunks thicken the tree will have a very full look. What do you think? Should I prune it more?

Thanks

Ashley

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Comments (8)

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
14 years ago
Ashley, it's looking great!
I would have responded sooner, but I wanted the Thread to stay at the top of the page for
everyone to see. That last distance shot really shows off the tight, wide braid! I also like the new container!

I think I would let it grow for a while. Then, next time you prune, you might get a little more drastic!
(Of course, I'm no one to talk...I haven't pruned my Pachira yet...). ;)

Josh
drvongirl
14 years ago
Hi Ashley,
I think your money tree will be just fine. I did the same thing to mine about 3 weeks ago. It was shaped just lovely and looked beautiful, wish I had taken a picture. It was about 3ft tall, I'd had it over a year. I wanted the trunk to get thicker so that's why I pruned it. I was scared! I pruned it down to about an inch from where the braids are twisted. I thought to myself " I hope this isn't a big mistake. Well, a couple of days ago I started seeing new growth! That was the first time I ever pruned a plant back so drastically. I'm really excited now to see how it grows out. Ellen
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ashley_plant_addict
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks Josh! I wish I had been a bit more drastic but I'm happy with it now. I'll need to update with another picture, the new growth is much bigger now. :)

Too bad you didn't take a photo Ellen, but by the way it sounds your plant will be even more full than before! I think everyone feels the way you did when they first prune a plant but it usually works out for the best in the end. :)

Ashley
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years ago
Hey, Ashley!
I hear you've been busy.... ;)

I wanted to let you know that I liked your pot so much that I had to hunt one down! Does this look similar?
I had to drill a hole in the bottom, but otherwise it's perfect - not too big, not too small, with a smooth terra cotta finish.

I got it last weekend, along with a 3 gallon bag of pumice ($4 - total score!). I also mixed soil for a re-potting...
but I'm nervous, since the Pachira is actively growing:

{{gwi:82516}}

Josh
ashley_plant_addict
Original Author
13 years ago
Hey Josh! Thanks for the pot compliment! Haha!

I like the one you found. And what a steal! Your pot looks like mine except my base isn't rounded off. I also have little horizontal dashes all over it. I'll get a better shot of it when can get my photos on my comp...having issues right now.

I'll get an update of this soon!

Ashley
ashley_plant_addict
Original Author
13 years ago
So its been a couple months now since I pruned my Pachira. I'd recently ran into computer issues an have been unable to post photos but things seem to be working now.

These aren't the most recent photos...wow, I just looked at the date and I took these on the 28th of May. I will definitely post newer photos possible tomorrow or next week.

{{gwi:82518}}

The prune job was a success! New growth is beautiful and flourishing!
{{gwi:82519}}

The one down fall to my prune job is that I didn't prune as far down as I should have, as you can see in the 3rd photo. I was afraid that new growth would not growth from the stems that were already hard with bark....but maybe next time I'll chop more....we'll see.
{{gwi:82520}}

Josh, here's a better shot of the pot you liked. Ours are very similar! I do like how yours is rounded at the base though, very nice.
{{gwi:82521}}

Thanks for looking!

Ashley
Merissa Benton
8 years ago
hey Guys so my mom had this money tree for 5 or more years and she had given it to me as a gift. It just never seems to be lush or have and growth in the center. Looks pretty bald but still green. Doing some research and now im unsure if its size is actually doing it any good or should i just chop the top and start over. Its so beautiful bald and all but looking at other photos something isnt right lol. Any advice or tips i can use to help strengthin this guy? Thanks so much!! Also would love some more info on cloning him! didnt know it was possible!! thanks again.
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
8 years ago
Hello, Merissa.

Your Pachira is starved for light. I would put it right up against the brightest window you have in order to limp it through the winter. Next spring, late February or March, start fertilizing. Then, in mid to late May, chop it way down to start the canopy over. If you can, put it in outdoor shade during the summer and it will regain vitality and become the plant you've always wanted it to be ;-)

Josh

Pachira (Money Tree) Prune and Growth Progress

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greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a

drvongirl

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Pachira (Money Tree) Prune and Growth Progress

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greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a

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