A money tree is a fairly robust plant that is quite forgiving of slight care mistakes. Diseases are not that common, but they do occur if you don't take proper care of the houseplant. What diseases do you need to watch out for and what can you do if they occur?

A well-groomed money tree extremely rarely gets sick

Diseases that can occur in money trees

  • fungal diseases
  • root rot
  • shoot rot
  • mildew

Fungal diseases are caused by pests

If the leaves of the penny tree have round spots, a fungal disease can be the cause. It is triggered by aphid excretions.

Remove all affected leaves and put them in the trash. Control pests on the plant.

Then you should treat the money tree with a fungicide from the garden store as a precaution.

What to do with root rot or shoot rot?

If shoots or roots rot, it is always due to too much moisture in the root ball. If the shoots are already very soft, the plant can hardly be saved.

If the rot is not that far advanced, you can try to cut off the affected shoots and keep the money tree drier in the future.

If you suspect that the money tree is affected by root rot, remove it from the pot and look at the roots. If these are very soft and rotten, you will likely need to discard the penny tree. At best, you can try repotting the money tree in fresh substrate after you have cut off all the rotten roots.

Identify and treat powdery mildew

White or gray coating on the leaves is a sign of powdery or downy mildew. Cut off the affected parts of the plant and dispose of them with household waste.

Use a fungicide to kill the remaining fungal spores. You can achieve good results with powdery mildew if you sprinkle the leaves with a solution of fresh milk and water. You have to repeat this process several times.

tips

If your money tree spends the summer outdoors, there is a risk that aphids will feast on the leaves. Treat the plant as soon as possible. Before you overwinter the penny tree in the house, it must be free of all kinds of pests.

Category:

Vegetable garden