- Cash timber are common in feng shui as a result of they symbolize the follow’s 5 parts.
- As houseplants, cash timber have braided trunks that don’t happen of their pure habitat.
- This houseplant has lengthy been stated to carry good luck and fortune, in accordance with lore.
You would possibly consider feng shui, the traditional Chinese language follow and philosophy of arranging items in a dwelling area to carry concord and stability, as solely referring to furnishings. Vegetation, nonetheless, are important to feng shui practitioners for bringing in a connection to the pure world.
One of the common vegetation utilized in feng shui is the charming cash tree, which represents the 5 parts of feng shui — wooden, water, fireplace, metallic, and earth. It’s also an emblem of excellent 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 tips so any cash tree can preserve ushering in good luck and fortune.
Figuring out a cash tree
Cash timber will be simply recognized by their lengthy, palm-like leaves and distinct braided trunk. Whereas their interlaced trunks might appear to be a naturally occurring characteristic, cash timber with braided trunks had been woven this fashion by farmers or gardeners of their younger kind attributable to their pliable stems by braiding three or extra separate stems into one cash tree.
“Of their native habitat, the trunks of cash timber will not be braided,” says Marino. “That is one thing that is turn out to be the norm over time for these vegetation 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 most well-liked: Pachira aquatica and Pachira glabra. Whereas P. aquatica is used because the umbrella species title 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 pink stamens.
“Each vegetation are aesthetically comparable when cultivated as houseplants and their scientific names are synonymous with the frequent title ‘cash tree,'” says Marino.
At a look
- Botanical title: Pachira aquatica, Pachira glabra
- Generally often known as: Cash tree, water chestnut, Guiana chestnut
- Hardiness zone: 10-11
- Poisonous to pets: No
- Watering frequency: As soon as each 7-14 days
- Soil kind: Succulent combine
- Mild publicity: Vibrant oblique to medium gentle
Water
Use a humidifier or frivolously mist a cash tree each week to water it.
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Regardless of their tropical origins, cash timber will be delicate to overwatering and overly moist soil. To take care of consistency, Marino recommends retaining a humidifier round a cash tree or gently misting them weekly.
“The most effective 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 typically in brighter gentle, and fewer typically 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 will 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 light-weight
To duplicate the nice and cozy, tropical setting of the cash tree, it’s best to provide it loads of constant lighting, rotating it weekly for all leaves to get the identical quantity of daylight.
“Cash timber thrive in shiny 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 cold and warm drafts, like AC models, heaters, or open home windows and doorways.”
Frequent issues
Neem oil or insecticide can be utilized to guard cash timber from frequent plant pests.
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Like most indoor houseplants, cash timber might fall sufferer to typical issues comparable to overwatering and underwatering. Marino suggests searching for leaf drop, which often means not sufficient daylight or water; yellow leaves and/or black stems, which often means overwatering; and curling leaves and/or additional dry soil, which often means underwatering.
“As for pests and illnesses, cash timber are prone to most typical plant pests,” says Marino. “Most, if caught early on, will be handled with neem oil or an insecticide.”
Fast tip: To maintain a cash tree wholesome, Marino suggests continuously inspecting the plant when watering it, checking stems and below the leaves for any early indicators of pests. As soon as noticed, quarantine the contaminated plant away from others to keep away from pests spreading.
Propagation
Propagating a cash plant will be finished by way of a easy reducing course of. To start, Marino instructs to take a wholesome reducing from the underside a part of the plant that has a number of leaves and nodes (factors of attachment that seem like small bumps), which can be the place new roots will start.
Subsequent, Marino recommends dipping the underside of the reducing in a rooting hormone chemical to advertise root growth, however solely the part that can be planted, after which stick it right into a recent, pre-moistened potting combine.
Lastly, safe the plant in recent potting soil in a brand new pot by patting down across the base. Hold it in a heat spot, with oblique shiny to medium gentle, and water when dry.
Insider’s takeaway
For a cash tree to remain wholesome and thriving, it is necessary to observe the watering schedule and stop overwatering, whereas additionally retaining it in a brightly lit space with well-draining soil. With this easy care routine, this hardy houseplant can reward anybody with years of excellent luck, success, and constructive vitality.
