Wow, I think I have the world's friendliest pachira lol. Mine likes to stay lush, and comfort me when I have done something stupid which has angered my other plants, lol. I've had it for years and it tends to be on the more cooperative end of everything I'm growing. It's true what everyone is saying about less water than a typical tropical though. I don't water mine until the soil is dry all the way down to the knuckle of my pointer finger when I stick it in, and then i flush the soil completely. I also think maybe a little less than full sun too, Mine tends to bake and wilt if the light is too strong, and does fine in the winter under some growlights inside. I've never fertilized it, or done anything in particular to encourage it, but I I do give it lots of love and chat with it while I'm making my rounds about my plants. Anyway, Best of luck!! and PS, I love the nest-egg analogy Zenthumbs!!

If your sticky substance is honeydew, which is what a lot of the typical "sucking" type pests excrete, you should beable to find the actual insects. You'll usually find them on the bottom side of the leaves, and in the tight joints where the leaf stems join the main stems. Be mindful that plants can excrete sap also, so glops of sticky stuff could be sap, and not honeydew. My Pachira does this, as well as a few other plants. As for your plant's decline, I suspect a light or watering issues. Pachira likes bright light, and will shed leaves if put in low light conditions. Also, overwatering and underwatering are big culprits of leaves that go from yellow to brown to floor. If you're using peat based soil, like Miracle Grow, you must know that after 6 months, it begins to break down, eventually turning into a very poorly draining soupy mess. This leads to a poor root system, which leads to rot. The plant then can't take up enough moisture, giving signs of underwatering. The typical response is to water more, which rots the roots more, until your plant dies. It'd be helpful to know your light situation, watering scheme, type of soil, fertilizing plan, etc. Joe

Hi - Hoping I can get a some help to save my tree... I took some pictures which are below. Only one of my four stems seems to be healthy and growing new leaves. The other three are in various levels of sick. Help! I usually only water when the soil is dry. Lately I've let it dry out a lot because I thought maybe I was over watering it. The tree means a lot to me and I really don't want it to die! Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.This is the only healthy branch. This is the one that's the most sick. You can see that it's started to change color and wrinkle/twist. This one's leaves shriveled up. This is the only healthy branch. and here's the whole tree... looking sad. After reading a lot of these threads, I've stopped watering it. I think I over watered it this winter. I'm not sure if the wrinkled branch is dead or not. Is it possible to cut the tip of it off? Will it regrow? What about the one with the wrinkled leaves? Hoping someone has some advice! Thanks! Carlos

how about a pic of the tree... the pot/planter .... etc ... you should always plant into damp media ... you should not plant into dry material ... and then hope you can properly water all of it from the top ... trees like a sip of water.. and then near total draining ... most of the water runs right thru ... which you wont know.. because your pot retains the water ... i would like a pic of the gizmo that holds the water.. can it be left out of the pot ... ??? i cant think of any tree.. that needs to be fed every 2 weeks ... is this a houseplant [now that i googled it]??? ... if so.. i wonder if you might find some peeps with direct experience.. in that forum ... it would be a different equation.. if its outdoors in a large pot .. the trick here.. is that as your proper media.. washes water out the bottom.. you need to put it back in the pot ... and that is a tough equation .... i guess i would start with an equivalent pot size.. and practice with it after ... presuming the plant has not been touched yet .... what difference would it make.. if you waited a month while practicing with your media ... the biggest problem with trees in pots .... is too much water ... as the roots tend to start rotting .... you say the roots are weak.. but you dont say.. the plant has been affected ... is it.. hence the pic request ... look at this link for the section on water and fert ... unless i read it wrong .. let it dry to an inch depth .. and fert it once or twice per year... if growing it as a bonsia... which i presume he means as a houseplant ... https://www.epicgardening.com/money-tree-plant/ you have to make sure ... with trees in pots ... that you dont love them to death .... and it starts with watering .. or better put.. drying ... ken ps: note what the link says about media ... and it also says... if you repot.. dont be surprised with some leaf losses due to the process ...