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Is there reason to worry when you see the money tree leaves turning brown? Yes, but it’s not too late for your beloved houseplant. The first step to take is to understand the probable cause, which will then lead you to the right solution.
The ornamental money tree is easy to find and it’s a popular gift option. However, not all owners of this houseplant know what to do once the money tree brown leaves appear. “My money tree is dying,” they might think.
But the truth is that leaf discoloration doesn’t mean you can’t do anything. Just like any other plant, bonsai money trees need to meet certain conditions to thrive. So if their foliage starts appearing brown or yellow, you should remember how exactly you maintain your money trees.
One possible reason for the browning of the leaves is leaf scorch. Otherwise known as sun scorch, this means that your money tree is receiving more sunlight than it needs. Excess amounts of direct sunlight can lead to severe damage to the leaf tissues — affecting their edges until they die.
To prevent this, you should keep your money tree away from direct sunlight. You should also not place it near your cooking stove or home furnace. And if the weather is hot and dry, consider watering your money tree more than the usual amount.
For money trees, too little sunlight is just as bad as too much of it. These are still tropical plants that need full sunlight. So what exactly should you do? The key is to provide indirect sunlight, enough to keep the foliage from turning brown and eventually falling off.
A good location for your money plant is near the windows. As long as there aren’t any thick curtains that outright block the sunlight, it should get all the indirect sunlight it needs.
Seeing your money tree plant dying is awful, but what if the cure is water? To be more specific, the problem and the solution might be the amount of water. Apart from full but indirect sunlight, these ornamental plants also need sufficient water.
Water them regularly, but don’t go overboard with the amount. An overabundance of water clogs the soil — preventing it from forming pockets where air can go in. So while your money trees have more than enough moisture, their roots become deprived of oxygen and the leaves turn brown.
Of course, insufficient water is disastrous for your houseplants as well. This leads to soil compaction that affects how efficiently plants can take up nutrients in the soil, which causes the leaves to wilt and lose their healthy green color.
Sometimes, the problem comes down to scale insects that consume the sap of many houseplants. This causes the foliage to wilt and develop a shade of yellow or brown. Worse, these pests harbor and transmit plant diseases.
Failure to act on an infestation could very well lead to your money tree dying. Thankfully, it’s easy to know when they’re around because they leave a substance known as honeydew. Apart from using insecticidal soap, you should also prune the affected areas.
On a related note, you might also spot white spots on your ornamental plants. In this case, the culprit is powdery mildew. It’s a plant disease that usually affects money trees and causes leaf curling and wilting. You can get rid of them with fungicidal soap and warm water.
Money trees are prone to a variety of health problems, but they’re relatively easy to fix once you know the exact issue. We hope this article helped you take care of your houseplants. Feel free to send us a comment for any questions.
