How to Prune a Money Tree (Complete Guide and Details)

Last Modified

March 13, 2023 by Hirah Ehsan

 A money tree needs to be pruned once it grows too wide or too high for its pot. However, many people do not know how to prune a money tree.

If you have never pruned a money tree before, the experience might seem a little intimidating. We can all be worried about accidentally damaging the plant’s branches or cutting too much from the plant.

But you don’t have to be, since we will show you how to safely and quickly trim your tree.

How to Prune a Money Tree

To prune your money tree properly, follow these steps:

1. Preparation of pruning tools

Make sure that all of your pruning tools are gathered in the room where you will be cutting your plants. The plant should be cut in a well-lit room on a surface that will not require you to bend too much.

You need to sterilize your pruning shears or pruners with rubbing alcohol before using them. Allow them to air dry for a few minutes. The shears can actually transmit leaf-rotting plant diseases to the money trees-so making sure they’re clean is essential.

You should ensure that your pruners or shears are sharp before trimming the plant. Check their effectiveness on a small piece of the tree’s branch. You can use a diamond file, sharpening block, or whetstone to sharpen them if they are not sharp.

2. Trim the branches that are too large

If you wish to trim the largest branches first, start from the bottom of the tree. Ensure that your cuts are clean and that the node (the area where the new branch emerges) is about half an inch above them. The branches should be cut at a 45-degree angle for better branch growth.

3. Branches on top need to be trimmed

Cut the branch by placing your finger over the area where you wish to snip it with your pruners. Select the other two branches above the one you just cut. It is important to cut the tree into a V-shape so that it grows evenly.

4. Trunk trimming

Take your pruning saw and cut a half-inch above the V-shaped branches above the trunk of the plant. Take your pruners and hold them at a 45-degree angle. Ensure that your cut is smooth and straight-the edges should not be jagged.

5. Get rid of the top branches

It is necessary to trim all the branches at the top of the tree. Trim overgrown branches to an equivalent length on the other side. Always leave 1/2-inch over each V-shaped branch on the trunk when cutting.

6. Get rid of any dying leaves

After trimming the branches with pruners, remove any yellow, brown, or wilted leaves. It is vital to cut the dying leaves at 45° and at the stem. It will take time for the leaves to grow back full and healthy.

7. Trim the remaining branches

Look at the shape of the tree from a distance. Once you’ve done this, you can return to any areas that seem uneven or overgrown and trim them. Trim your trees slightly at a time to prevent over-pruning, which can damage your trees and limit their growth. Making the tree uniform is crucial.

8. Pinch the branches

You should take a look at the branches of your money tree after you’ve completed your pruning session. Pinch any new buds that start forming on the branches with your fingers and thumb. The pinching of branches prevents your money tree from overgrowing, and you can do it with every pruning session.

9. Provide a stable environment for the tree

Once your money tree has been pruned to perfection, it’s time to return it to its original location. It is important to remember that pruning your plant temporarily weakens it since it will immediately begin repairing the damage (replace the dead branches with new ones).

During this time, it is crucial to create an ideal environment for the plant to thrive. Temperature, humidity, or sunlight should not change suddenly.

Money trees: Why they need to be pruned 

A Money Tree is actually a type of tree, as its common name implies. These plants grow in the woods and deliver edible chestnuts when they’re growing in the wild.

 The most common name for Money Trees is Pachira Aquatica, but they are also known as Guiana Chestnuts, Malabar Chestnuts, and Saba Nuts, among others. Plants such as money trees are native to South and Central American wetlands, where they grow.

 Due to this, Money Trees require well-draining soil and plenty of sunlight. It can, however, handle low light levels and infrequent watering, making it an ideal plant for beginners.

The plants can grow as tall as 60 feet outdoors, but they will grow much shorter in a houseplant. In spite of this, the plant has the ability to reach ceiling height if equipped with the proper conditions.

Therefore, people who raise this plant indoors frequently find that they need to prune it back to a more manageable size.

Money Trees are pruned for a variety of reasons. Depending on your tree’s size or condition, you may be trying to accomplish one of three things:

1. Limiting the size

Money Trees are pruned for a variety of reasons. Depending on your tree’s size or condition, you may be trying to accomplish one of three things:

One of the reasons why people prune Pachira Aquatica plants is because of their size. Structural pruning is a pruning technique that involves removing large swaths of your money tree.

Unlike most other plants, money trees don’t mind trimming, but removing large swaths of the plant can be stressful to them. The best time for this type of pruning is in the warmer months when your vision is clear.

The money tree grows upwards. It might even reach your ceiling if left unattended. The plant’s top produces thin stems that sprout randomly.

These stems can be removed using sterilized shears. It’s crucial that you only make cuts above the nodes since this will allow for new growth.

2. To Improve Shape

Money trees don’t keep their original shape after we buy them. To avoid this, money trees must be pruned to improve their shape and create a more attractive appearance.

Trees near the trunk will have their most significant growth. This wild stem needs to be cut close to the trunk to avoid damaging the trunk itself. The node can be cut above a certain area to promote growth. There will be new leaves growing from the cut node.

3. The removal of old, damaged, or dead growth is necessary in order to maintain a healthy appearance:

This plant needs to be regularly pruned to remove all yellowing or dry parts. In this way, the plant appears neat and focuses its resources and energy on healthy growth. It is also possible to grow a Money Tree indoors without pruning it.

Species of Pachira Aquatica will have their own growth patterns, as with any plant. The way this plant naturally grows, you do not have to force it into severe pruning. If you see any unhealthy leaves, just pinch them out and leave the plant to develop its own growth pattern.

When is it Time to Prune a Money Tree?

There’s a good chance you’re right if you think it’s time to prune your Money Tree plant. When you buy these plants in garden centers, they are usually already pruned into a pleasing shape that resembles a small shrub or tree with several trunks twisted together.

However, this plant can start growing in a different pattern than it did when you first bought it. Alternatively, your plant may sprout a tall, spindly stem growing sideways from the plant. These abnormalities can enhance the beauty of a plant or make it look scruffy.

 Money Tree pruning is mostly done to improve the plant’s appearance, though some pruning can also be beneficial to its health (as you will see below). Pachira Aquatica can be pruned to get the look you want as this plant is not harmful when pruned.

Any major pruning should be done in the spring or early summer, regardless of the reason. At that time, your plant will be actively growing. During the cooler months of the year, when temperatures drop, most plants go dormant and conserve their energy for the summer.

Pruning near the start of the growing season will allow your plant to focus on healing, rather than being stressed by stress from the cutting. When it comes to removing a leaf or two that has begun to turn yellow or brown, this can be done anywhere. Your plant will not be stressed if you simply pinch back its leaves.

Among the things you will need are:

• Shears for pruning
• A pot for plants
• PVC bags
• Alcohol rubbing
• Scissors for trimming
• Mixture of soils

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you trim a stalk so that no leaves remain? Does it regrow?

A plant can be trimmed all at once, which is easier. Be careful how you prune a stem if you are trying to direct it in a specific direction. It is important to face the 45-degree angled prune cut in the direction of new growth since this action encourages it. You can make a new stem grow by placing angled cuts on top of the stem.

What Is the Best Way to Make A Money Tree Bushier?

Pinching and trimming the money tree’s tips can speed up new growth (as can repotting the plant when its roots begin to enclose the pot). Money trees generally require regular pruning to keep their foliage dense and bushy. As a result, its leaves will grow less frequently and at a slower rate, making the plant appear slimmer and taller.

Conclusion

While most people do not realize that growing a Money Tree indoors is a form of bonsai, it is actually quite simple. In order to grow an indoor tree, you need to modify its shape and size to fit your preferences.

This type of cultivation is suitable for money trees because they can be pruned well and can stay compact for many years.

Although you shouldn’t go overboard the first time you prune your Money Tree, many people have done extensive pruning on this plant and had excellent results. Be sure to trim your Money Tree with your pruning shears.