You may consider feng shui, the traditional Chinese language observe and philosophy of arranging items in a dwelling area to convey concord and steadiness, as solely referring to furnishings. Vegetation, nevertheless, are important to feng shui practitioners for bringing in a connection to the pure world.
Some of the standard crops utilized in feng shui is the charming cash tree, which represents the 5 components of feng shui — wooden, water, hearth, metallic, and earth. It is usually a logo of fine luck and fortune for a lot of, making it the right housewarming present.
Whereas cash timber are a tropical tree native to Central and South America, they’ve been popularized all through East and Southeast Asia. Erin Marino, editorial lead and plant skilled at The Sill, shares her finest care ideas so any cash tree can maintain ushering in good luck and fortune.
Figuring out a cash tree
Cash timber could be simply recognized by their lengthy, palm-like leaves and distinct braided trunk. Whereas their interlaced trunks could appear to be a naturally occurring function, cash timber with braided trunks have been woven this manner by farmers or gardeners of their younger kind on account of their pliable stems by braiding three or extra separate stems into one cash tree.
“Of their native habitat, the trunks of cash timber aren’t braided,” says Marino. “That is one thing that is grow to be the norm over time for these crops when offered as houseplants. Some counsel it is meant to ‘lock in’ the nice fortune of the plant.”
Two species of the cash tree are the preferred: Pachira aquatica and Pachira glabra. Whereas P. aquatica is used because the umbrella species identify for each species of cash timber, P. glabra grows in lowland rainforests and bloom flowers with white stamens, whereas P. aquatica grows in coastal estuaries and bloom flowers with purple stamens.
“Each crops are aesthetically related when cultivated as houseplants and their scientific names are synonymous with the widespread identify ‘cash tree,'” says Marino.
Water
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Regardless of their tropical origins, cash timber could be delicate to overwatering and overly moist soil. To keep up consistency, Marino recommends protecting a humidifier round a cash tree or gently misting them weekly.
“The perfect watering schedule in your cash tree is each one to 2 weeks, permitting the soil to dry out between waterings,” says Marino. “Anticipate to water extra usually in brighter gentle, and fewer usually in decrease gentle.”
Potting and fertilizer
Whereas Marino says that almost all indoor potting soils will work for cash timber, one with sufficient drainage, like a sandy succulent combine, is most well-liked for this plant.
As for fertilizer, cash timber could be fed about as soon as a month within the rising seasons of spring and summer time with a water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half-strength, following the directions on the fertilizer’s label.
Temperature and lightweight
To duplicate the nice and cozy, tropical atmosphere of the cash tree, it’s best to offer it loads of constant lighting, rotating it weekly for all leaves to get the identical quantity of daylight.
“Cash timber thrive in vivid oblique to medium gentle indoors. It prefers temperatures between 65 and 80 levels Fahrenheit — on the hotter finish is right,” says Marino. “Steer clear of hot and cold drafts, like AC items, heaters, or open home windows and doorways.”
Widespread issues
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Like most indoor houseplants, cash timber could fall sufferer to typical issues equivalent to overwatering and underwatering. Marino suggests searching for leaf drop, which normally means not sufficient daylight or water; yellow leaves and/or black stems, which normally means overwatering; and curling leaves and/or further dry soil, which normally means underwatering.
“As for pests and illnesses, cash timber are prone to most typical plant pests,” says Marino. “Most, if caught early on, could be handled with neem oil or an insecticide.”
Propagation
Propagating a cash plant could be executed by a easy slicing course of. To start, Marino instructs to take a wholesome slicing from the underside a part of the plant that has a number of leaves and nodes (factors of attachment that appear to be small bumps), which will likely be the place new roots will start.
Subsequent, Marino recommends dipping the underside of the slicing in a rooting hormone chemical to advertise root improvement, however solely the part that will likely be planted, after which stick it right into a contemporary, pre-moistened potting combine.
Lastly, safe the plant in contemporary potting soil in a brand new pot by patting down across the base. Maintain it in a heat spot, with oblique vivid to medium gentle, and water when dry.
Insider’s takeaway
For a cash tree to remain wholesome and thriving, it is vital to watch the watering schedule and forestall overwatering, whereas additionally protecting it in a brightly lit space with well-draining soil. With this straightforward care routine, this hardy houseplant can reward anybody with years of fine luck, luck, and constructive vitality.