how to grow Pachira Aquatica from seed
derpstein
18 years ago
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Bill
18 years agojasonsfury_aol_com
17 years agoRelated Discussions
Convert braided trunk pachira aquatica to single trunk
Comments (83)That is a tragic story, indeed! I have done this very procedure many times, so have courage. You can go about this two primary ways: the first is simply to repot the entire tree; the second is to cut off the healthy top and root it, and also repot and hope the trunk and rootmass survive. I think it is imperative that you use a free-draining potting mix. I use bark, perlite, lava rock, and just a little potting mix as a binder/moisture retentive ingredient. And when I say "a little potting mix," I mean less than 10% of the overall mix. If you can't mix your own, I recommend a fine-grade Orchid Mix, to which you will probably add some coarse Perlite. Repot keeping the roots moist at all times, thoroughly water and saturate the new mix when done, and place the tree in outdoor shade if available - no direct sun. Keep the mix uniformly moist with light waterings for at least a week after repotting. You can either repot the tree first, and the cut the top off....or you can cut the top off and repot the tree all at once. It's a bit of a gamble, as I don't know the vitality of the tree, but I have confidence from repeated experience that the top will root (if it is healthy as you describe). I place the cut top in a vase/jar of water, and I wait for white root primordia to appear. As soon as they appear, I transfer the cutting into a container of the same moist, free-draining mix, and I keep it moist while the cutting continues to root. I use #1 nursery containers....See MoreIt hursts so that my Pachira Aquatica "money tree" plant is hurting so
Comments (5)Your plant is providing you with indications it has an unhappy root system (I looked at the video), and a healthy plant isn't possible unless the roots are happy. FWIW, the overwhelming % of growers who arrive here seeking help are here because of issues related to poor root health/function. If you can't water your soil to the point where it's fully saturated and at least 15-20% of the total volume of water you applied during the watering process has exited the drain hole, your soil is a limiting factor and you'll be fighting it for control over your plant's health until you get the plant into something more appropriate. Simply adding a large fraction of perlite to an already inappropriate soil is a step in the right direction, but all you end up with is an inappropriate soil with a lot of perlite in it. Additionally, you have the fact that Feb thru Apr are probably the worst months to consider repotting to work around. The extra soil volume you added is counterproductive at this point (increases the impact of issues related to excess water retention), so I think I would probably remove the recently added soil and return the plant to it's old pot, after inspecting the roots for rot and correcting any issues I discover. Then, I would flush the soil thoroughly and learn how to deal with the excess water retention until mid to late Jun when I would repot into something more appropriate. There is more to talk about and more specific instructions, but I'll hold on that until I learn whether or not you're interested in following a course that approaches the situation from the plant's POV, which is essentially making sure the things that are most likely to be limiting your plant are fixed. Al...See MoreHow to grow Pachira aquatica's tall
Comments (2)The plant is naturally apically dominant, so it's programmed to grow tall. There are 2 things that can slow vertical growth - terminating the leader by removing it's apical meristem (growing tip) or providing cultural conditions that limit all growth. Removing individual leaves is a self-defeating action because leaves produce the food that allows the plant to add linear growth. Removing leaves also produces a thinner, weaker trunk that may bend under the weight of the canopy. Concentrate on keeping the roots happy and the plant will favor you by doing the rest. Al...See MoreHow to save my pachira aquatica?!
Comments (1)It looks as if the three discolored trunks have died, but I can't quite see if those trunks have shoots or leaves. If I were to hazard a guess to the reason you are having trouble based on the soil in the photo, it would be overwatering. If the outside pot has no drainage and the tree is sitting in water, that is big time bad news. If there is no growth on the discolored trunks, they are probably dead. This plant and most plants like well daining soil that does not retain too much water. The tree should be watered only when you stick a wooden skewer deep into the roots and it comes out dry, and you must make sure the tree never sits in water....See Moreiguaque
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