Pachira aquatica

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health CareUncategorized
Written By Peter Morris

Introduction

Also called “money tree” and it is one of the most common houseplants ever!  And wouldn’t you know – one of the easiest to care for.

Growth

In nature it grows as a single stalk tree of about 20 feet.  Most of what you buy is actually several plants braided together.  At home it can easily reach 8-10 feet in the proper lighting.

The leaves or leaflets all come together in one place – this is called palmately compound.  Placement on the trunk is sparce in low light  – so in the home it tends to have a tall lanky look.

Where are they from ?

It’s a swamp plant native to South America - and does well in full sun or shade.  So that means keep the soil evenly moist at all times.

Keep in mind – you want to control the frequency of watering and not the quantity.  Give it a good soak and after a few days (or more) when the top soil feels slightly dry then you can water it again.  Too frequent watering leads to root rot.

Ethnobotany

Its name is from its apparent ability to bring good luck and prosperity. Hence why it’s called the money tree. I’m getting one today !

Toxicity

NOT TOXIC !

Pests

Yes – this one is prone to spider mites, and sometimes it can get mealy bugs. You will need to keep an eye on it. If you take it to the sink and wash it down and wipe the leaves once a month you should be able to keep most bugs under control.

We can get you one – it’s never too late to seek good luck !

We at Plant Specialists are all for good luck !

PLANT SPECIALISTS

GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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