The braided trunk of the money tree is one of its most unique and symbolic features. So when those twisted stems start turning brown, it can be worrying. Brown money tree stems are often a symptom of an underlying issue. With the right troubleshooting and care though, you can nurse your plant back to health.
Why Money Tree Stems Turn Brown
There are several potential causes for money tree stems to brown, dry out and die back
-
Underwatering – Allowing the soil to dry out too much between waterings can lead to desiccated, shriveled stems. Leaves may also yellow and drop. This was mentioned 2 times.
-
Overwatering – Excess moisture around the roots causes root rot This spreads up the stem base making it brown, mushy and foul smelling Overwatering was mentioned 3 times.
-
Sunburn – Direct hot sunlight can scorch tender young stems Leaves may also exhibit scorching This was mentioned once.
-
Pests – Spider mites, mealybugs and scale can infest money trees. Their feeding damages stems. Look for webs, sticky residue or bugs. Pests were mentioned 2 times.
-
Diseases – Fungal or bacterial diseases like botrytis cause rotting stems. Isolate affected plants to prevent spread. Diseases were mentioned 3 times.
-
Cold Damage – Exposure to very cold drafts or temperatures under 50°F can make stems shrivel and blacken. This was mentioned 2 times.
How To Revive A Money Tree With Brown Stems
Don’t give up on your money tree just yet! With attentive troubleshooting and care, recovery is often possible:
-
Remove any dead or diseased parts of the trunk to prevent rot from spreading. This was mentioned once.
-
Repot in fresh, sterile and well-draining soil to reset the root system. Repotting was mentioned 3 times.
-
Apply copper fungicide spray to kill disease organisms if necessary. Fungicide was mentioned 2 times.
-
Use horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps to eliminate damaging pests. This was mentioned once.
-
Place the money tree in bright, indirect light for ideal growth conditions. Lighting was mentioned 2 times.
-
Maintain warm temperatures between 65-80°F. Temperature was mentioned 3 times.
-
Water thoroughly only when the top inch of soil is dry. Don’t saturate. Watering was mentioned 4 times.
-
Increase humidity around the plant by misting and using a pebble tray. Humidity was mentioned 2 times.
-
Apply a diluted liquid fertilizer to support recovery. Fertilizer was mentioned once.
-
Be patient! With time and care, new stems can emerge even after significant damage. Patience was mentioned 2 times.
What Causes Each Type of Stem Damage
It’s important to understand the underlying causes of money tree stem issues in order to properly treat them:
-
Underwatering – Leads to shriveled, desiccated stems and leaf drop. Water more frequently. This was mentioned 3 times.
-
Overwatering – Causes root and stem base rot. Repot, space waterings and improve drainage. Overwatering was mentioned 4 times.
-
Sunburn – Direct sunlight scorches tender stems. Filter light and move plant back from windows. This was mentioned 2 times.
-
Pests – Mites, mealybugs etc. damage stems by feeding. Treat with horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps. Pests were mentioned 3 times.
-
Diseases – Fungal or bacterial infections cause rotting. Use copper fungicide and remove diseased matter. Diseases were mentioned 4 times.
-
Cold Damage – Chilling drafts and temperatures below 50°F blacken stems. Keep plant away from cold areas. This was mentioned 3 times.
With attentive troubleshooting, appropriate restorative care, and a bit of patience, it’s often possible to nurse a money tree back to full health even after significant stem damage. Don’t give up too soon on your twisted trunked friend!
The money tree is extremely adaptable to most conditions, making it a fabulous indoor plant. However, things can still go wrong. Why do stems on the braided trunk die, and how can you help the tree recover?
Underwatering
Dehydration is one way the stem can die. If the stem is too dry for too long it begins to shrivel. Each trunk of the money tree is an individual plant, so when there’s not enough water, each plant has to compete for resources and this typically results in one of the plants (or trunks) dying. By the time you notice, it’s often too late to save the dried-out stem, but it is possible to save the other few money tree stems. Read on for money tree trunk revival tips.
Overwatering
The second cause of a money tree’s stem dying is it being overwatered. This can cause root or crown rot, which can be extremely damaging or fatal. Money trees can handle more water than most houseplants, however, if the roots sit in water for too long it can cause them to turn brown and mushy. You can tell if the money tree is suffering from root rot if the leaves begin to wilt, discolor, or drop, if you notice a rotting smell from the soil, or if the base of the stem is soft and mushy.
How To Remove A Dead Money Tree Trunk
If one of your money tree stems is dead, don’t worry! You can still save the other stems before they decline, too.
First, you will need to separate the dead stem from the other stems. You should be able to accomplish this with your hands and some patience. It can also be helpful to have a pair of pruners to cut the dead stem into chunks as you carefully unravel it from the living stems. If you do use pruners, make sure that they are sterilized between cuts as a contaminated tool can spread disease. Shop different tools in the Bloomscape Care Tools shop.
Watch Your Watering
Going forward, make sure to test the soil and water when 50-75% of the soil volume has dried out. Water thoroughly until you see water flow out of the drainage hole and discard any excess water in the saucer.
5 Money tree plant Problems & Solutions
FAQ
Why is my money tree stem brown?
Brown leaves are typically caused by under watering, sunburn, or overwatering. If the leaf tips are turning brown and crunchy, the soil likely became too dry for too long in between watering. The brown leaf tips will not turn back to green but you can trim the brown edges to get the plant back to looking healthy.
Should I remove dead stems from a money tree?
If one of its stems isn’t supporting any leaves, it is likely that part of the trunk is no longer living or is close to death. In that case, it’s time to take action. Removing dead plant tissue is important to encourage overall plant health and to prevent disease or root rot from developing.
What does an overwatered money tree look like?
When your Money Tree receives too much water, its root system and leaves will stretch out, causing those beautiful green leaves to brown and fall. Luckily, while Money Tree overwatering is an easy mistake to make, it’s an even easier one to correct.