The Chinese money tree, also known as the Chinese money tree, is a real gem. It is playful, very pleasant and quite easy to care for.
The tree grows like crazy and then sprouts little babies, so you can share it with your friends! Every time I look at me, I can’t help but smile. Their odd shape is unlike other plants.
The plant slowly spread through its “children,” and over the past few years it has made its way to the United States. I love learning/reading the history of this plant. You can literally track it down to its exact location and who brought it and shared it.
In addition to being an aesthetically pleasing plant, it is also very easy to care for and quite hardy! Here are some tips for pile care:
Vote
I’ve found that repotting can really encourage growth — giving it some wiggle room will encourage the pups to spread out. To help prevent root rot, use a pot with a drainage hole.
If you have a pot you love and it doesn’t have holes, these drills very suitable for drilling a hole in the bottom of the earthenware pot. I love reliable people terracotta pot because they are practical and simple. Terracotta is great because it is natural clay and will let the soil breathe a bit (unlike plastic pots).
Don’t get me wrong, you can use a plastic pot or a thick enameled pot with drainage holes, but if you accidentally flood your water pile, terracotta is more forgiving because it dries a little faster. If you have a decorative pot that you love, simply stick the terracotta pot inside your decorative pot.
I would take the terracotta pot out of the decorative pot to water, let it drain completely, and then reattach it to the decorative pot.
To repot your pot, pour some small stone about 1 inch deep. Rocks aid in drainage and will help keep your plants from root rot. For the soil, I use a quality, well-draining potting mix.
Your local greenhouse should have this, or you can buy some at your local hardware store. My mix has a bit of fine sand in it. Where I live there are quite wet months (in southern Missouri), so the sand helps the plants dry a little faster.
Sprinklers
You have to water your pile of water moderate, but do not over-water. They like to dry out between waterings and they don’t like being soggy. I stick my finger in the soil and lift the pot to see if it’s still heavy after the last watering.
If it feels dry to the touch, I water it again. Let it dry between watering but make sure it doesn’t dry out (it’s pretty hardy and manageable though). I water once a week.
If I check the plant and it feels like it’s still damp, I’ll wait a few more days and check again. The other day, a friend texted me a picture of her legs sagging quite a bit. We came to the conclusion that it needs to be watered. It’s been drying a little too long!
The factory will tell you what it needs and when it needs it, so you just need to keep an eye on it. I asked a local greenhouse about the lawn and watering and they said that one of the only ways to kill it is to over write.
When you water your compost pile, never let it get submerged in water. Once you’ve watered it, make sure you empty out any excess water left in your bottom plate. If the soil is wet/soggy for too long, the roots will actually rot, which can lead to plant death.
I’m prone to overwatering, and it took me a while to curb the need to “feed” (aka over-water) the plants.
Light
The piles love the light! Bright indirect sunlight is what it takes. What does it mean? If you put the stake in front of the porch with the sun shining down it will be direct light and it will burn.
Keep them indoors near a bright window (which is indirect light). I put mine in the brightest window in my house and they love it. My mom has a pile on her dining table (low light) and it’s starting to get longer and longer — a very long trunk in the middle with only a few branches.
It’s trying to reach the light and it doesn’t look like it will last much longer. She put it outside under her covered porch, where it gets plenty of indirect light and it’s thriving again. It’s no longer long and leggy! It’s amazing how adaptable they are once you figure out what they need.
I’ve run out of window space in my house and I’ve put some of my poles outside under a covered porch. They seem to love the summer air and are growing beautifully! As soon as the temperature starts to drop, I’ll put them back in.
Another light trick is that the stake will follow the light and start leaning towards it. It’s funny to see them reach for the window like they’re trying to get out!
I rotate each watering and that helps keep them straight and balanced. Keeping the leaves covered with dust also helps them get more light. Use a damp cloth and rub gently to keep the leaves healthy and shiny.
Propagate
One of the best parts of a stake is the seedling’s reproductive rate! As adults, the young will pop out of the soil or grow out of tree trunks (near dirt). These babies are known as “little mice”. The pups actually grow from the root system and pop out of the top layer of soil.
When the pups start to grow, you can cut them off from the parent plant or let them grow. Letting them grow will produce a complete (beautiful) mother plant!
It’s crazy how fast and full they will grow when you don’t take any cuttings. I also have a dedicated “share” pile that I will spread the word about and give away to friends. I like to wait until the dog is at least three inches tall before I cut it. My favorite tool to use is a x-acto . knifebut any sharp tool will work.
Rinse your cutting tools before cutting into the pile. I’ve heard that you should think of pruning or propagating your plants like real surgery, and always clean your tools first. When you’re ready to cut off a pupa, be aware that the root system is very fragile.
No need to pull or pull the dog. Gently cut the dog where it meets the dirt and it will sprout right up. Once you’ve cut it, you can either dip the capsule in water or soak it in dirt.
I prefer the watering method because I enjoy watching the roots grow through the glass. For best results, stick your small glass jar in bright, indirect sunlight. When you see some roots growing, you can plant it in a pot.
Fertilization
If you want to give the piles extra growth, you can fertilize in the spring and summer months. There is some debate about fertilizers, but I prefer to use 10-10-10 recipe. I prefer a liquid fertilizer because it spreads evenly throughout the plant.
When I water, I pour some liquid fertilizer into the watering can. Make sure you check the back of the fertilizer and follow the instructions on the label.
If you like podcasts, Radio blooms and develops was super informative and fun!
Be sure to leave a comment if you have any favorite tips or recommendations for caring for your piles! xo, Janae
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Credit // Author and Photography: Janae Hardy.
