From what I've gathered is if the pot is to big the plant will focus on growing roots and the top won't really grow. Also Ive read some plants like to be root bound. I'm pretty new so I could be totally wrong,sorry if I am. I forgot to add that the pot being to big will also mean it holds more water which in turn means will stay wet longer which usually isnt what you want.

This post was edited by scootsybootsy on Thu, May 15, 14 at 23:41

Yes, the big pot with a heavy mix will hold moisture for too long, depriving the roots of oxygen.

If the coarse Orchid Mix is too coarse, you might not want to use it. Can you post a pic or describe the size of the bark pieces in particular? That'll really help.

I also recommend that you add a slow-release fertilizer (such as Osmocote) to the mix.

Josh

Here are the Charcoal and Coarse Orchid Mix, the charcoal is avg. 1/4 - 3/8", the orchid mix is a range from mainly crumbs to 1/4"-5/8" chips, then 10% you find a big chunk 1+" (which I took out as much as I could when I was mixing to the soil).

Here is what the final mix looks like. I did put some Osmocote in it, maybe 3 teaspoons. I could see the MG mixes already has a very little bit in there, hope I didn't over do it.

As for the oversize pot - generally speaking, how much bigger should the pot be compare to root-ball? When the root-ball is placed into pot, 1", 2" all around?

Mine was 3", which I was surprised. It was growing so much last year, I thought the root would be bigger/longer. The root-ball looked the same as I got it. - should I go find a smaller pot?

Thanks again guys!

A pot that is 1-2" bigger should do fine. I don't think that money trees grow very extensive root systems. My money tree is over 6' tall, and when I first went to repot it, I went ahead and kept it in the same pot that it was already in. Because, even tho it was healthy and growing, the roots were still relatively small, compared to the rest of the plant. What roots it did have were mostly concentrated towards the very bottom ends of the trunks. So what I did was to just raise the plant itself up higher within the pot. Giving them plenty of room to grow, without actually having to use a bigger pot. I had to place a few large stones in the top of the pot, to support my money tree until it could get reestablished and support itself.

Are you "potting up" your money tree (moving the rootball into a larger pot and filling in soil around it), or actually repotting it to a larger pot (removing all of the old soil and replacing it with a fresh mix)? I don't think money trees mind being repotted, just as long as you're gentle and try and minimize root breakage. One trick I use is to wash away the old soil with the sprayer on my water hose. It loosens the roots up and cleans them too, without breaking them. Then just go about repotting it.

I potted up when it first came home last year. But as you suggested, I am going to find a smaller pot.
What do you think about my soil mix?

THANKS!!!

I can't tell much from the picture of the mix...looks quite black, though. I would have added more Perlite, I think. After watering the plant in, what did the mix look like?

Pachira can grow in small containers, but the roots will become congested for sure. Pachira do grow extensive root-systems, however most are grown in heavy, poorly aerated mixes, and so the roots don't grow much, leading folks to think that they naturally have a small root-system.

Right now, I would just let the plant adjust to the new mix, which will certainly be better than the last mix.

Josh

Thanks Josh,
I got a smaller pot, but still have trouble locating the pumice/gravelly mix (will keep looking). I'll wait a week or 2 to see how the tree does. The mix looks dark after watering. If I can't find gritty materials, I'll add more Perlite when I down-pot in the next couple weeks.

Hi guys,
It's been 3 weeks. Tree is still recovering, on average a couple leaves keep turning yellow... 2,3 trunks out of the 5 are doing well, leaves come out looking much healthier and bigger. However, 1 trunk (the one that was drying from top down) is not doing too well, no leaf came out, it now seems to shrivel down the trunk, the very outer layer seems soft half way down, but further down there are 2 tiny green buds.

Anything I can do to stop it from dying?

By the way Josh, the pic of soil mix was taken after watering.

THANKS for helping :)

Snip the drying tip of the trunk off, and hope the shriveling stops there. If there are leaves below, then there's still a chance that the trunk will survive.

Have you fertilized?

Josh

Thanks Josh,

Here are some photos, I already cut pretty far down to where the braid starts, it still has a green branch, though the leaves are not developing. It's trying to make green buds, and at the same time the trunk is shriveling almost half way down to the base.

I added Osmocote in the soil, last few times I watered it with regular MiracleGro All Purpose (small scoop per gallon). The 2 trunks that are fine produce good looking leaves finally. Couple leaves are larger than a foot across, and continuing to make new leaves.

shrivel part

That shriveled trunk looks like a loss - and I'd remove it.
What you could do is cleanly cut off that healthy leaf above the shriveled part, and put it into some well-draining potting mix, and attempt to root it.

Josh

Half way down the braid, the skin was so soft I broke it.

Top of that green branch, still trying to make leaves. Leaf got to about 4" across (see the one with 4 leaves but very skinny), then it would turn slight yellow then fall off.

Base of that trunk is still hard, 2 tiny green buds.

Cut off the soft part, and hope for the best :-)

Josh

It's 1" diameter at that spot, how do I seal it.
I've heard people use cinnamon, is that powder you buy from supermarket?

THANKS again Josh :)

Cinnamon helps prevents rot...yep, the cooking stuff :-)

I wouldn't bother sealing the wound....but you could mix woodglue 1-1 with water to make a sealant. If I'm misquoting Al on that, I hope someone will correct me.

Josh