The money tree or Pachira Aquatica originates from the tropical region and enjoys bright light and lots of water and humidity. Misting is often a way by which plant owners add some moisture around their plants. But is misting suitable for money trees? Should you mist your money tree Let’s find out.
It would be best if you didn’t mist your money tree; however, you need to find other methods to increase the humidity around your money tree. The money tree prefers humidity levels of at least 50%, which needs to be maintained. If you are living in a dry area, you can try misting the money tree.
Misting can come with both pros and cons. You must consider both before you start misting your money tree. Let’s discuss everything you need to know about misting and the humidity requirements of the money tree.
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Does money tree like humidity?
In the tropical regions of South America and Central America, the money tree receives ample humidity. This allows them to grow up to 60 feet in their natural environment.
When the money tree is grown as a houseplant, it will not grow as big, and it will do well in at least 50% humidity level.
However, the humidity level can drop down during the winter season, which can be a problem for the money trees. If you live in the colder region, you might be having humidity issues all through the year.
As much as money tree enjoys high humidity, the low humidity can be as harmful to the plant.
If your money tree is exposed to cold drafts or frost during the winter season, it can get severely damaged. Therefore, consider placing the plant away from the window to protect it from the harsh conditions of winter.
The cold air coming from the Aircon can also damage the money tree as it will dry out the plant. Avoid placing the money tree directly in front of an Aircon.
If you want to increase the humidity for your money tree, you can place it in the bathroom, basement, or kitchen that is likely to get more humidity than the rest of the rooms of your house.
If your money tree is already getting enough humidity, it won’t require misting. Instead, use an alternative method, such as placing the plant on a pebble tray or using a humidifier.
Does my money tree need misting?
The money tree requires a lot of humidity, and misting can add that humidity to the plant.
In a dry area or during winter, misting the leaves with a spray bottle can increase the humidity around the plant.
However, misting might not be sufficient as the water can evaporate fast, which will not help increase the humidity for your plants.
You need to look for alternate methods that are more efficient than misting.
If you still want to mist your money tree, you need to consider the placement of your plant.
If the money tree is placed near a window with sufficient indirect light, it will need misting more often. However, if it is placed in the bathroom or the kitchen, it might already be getting enough humidity and not require misting.
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Pros and cons of misting
Misting the money tree has its own advantages and disadvantages.
There is a mixed opinion regarding misting as some plant owners state that misting has been beneficial for their plants, while some say that they have seen adverse effects of misting.
Let’s take both the pros and cons before you decide to mist your plant.
Pros of misting
You need to pour water in a spray bottle to mist your plant’s leaves, so it is a relatively easy method of increasing humidity for the plants.
Misting can also help to clean the leaves of the plant. For example, after you mist the money tree leaves, you can wipe them with a cloth. Cleaning the leaves will help the plant to photosynthesize efficiently.
While misting the money tree, you can add neem oil to the water and spray the solution on the plant. This will prevent pests without causing any harm to your plant.
Cons of misting
There can be many disadvantages of misting if you are not careful about it.
First of all, if you start misting your money tree without checking the humidity level in your house, you will damage the plant.
If the air is dry, the water will start evaporating fast from the leaves, and misting will not be able to provide enough humidity to your plant.
Misting can spread fungal or bacterial infections in your plant. If your plant has an area affected by fungus or bacteria, misting the leaves will help them travel from one leaf to the other, thus spreading the infection.
Misting can keep the leaves wait for long that can encourage the growth of fungal and bacterial infections. A low light area will amplify the situation for your money tree.
If you are misting the leaves of your money tree with tap water, the minerals present in that water, such as chlorine fluorine or calcium, will accumulate on the leaves and block them from soaking moisture.
If you are already facing these issues after misting your money tree, you can:
Stop using tap water and start using filtered water to mist your money tree.
To stop bacterial and fungal infections, you can start using neem oil and horticulture oils. This will also keep the pests away.
How to check humidity levels in my home?
The humidity inside your house can depend on external factors such as the area you live in, temperature, and season. The humidity levels can also differ depending on the rooms of your house.
For example, rooms such as the bathroom or kitchen will have higher humidity levels than the other rooms of your house.
When it comes to seasons, the humidity levels will drop down during winter, so you might need to relocate your money tree to a room that has higher humidity levels.
Hygrometers are devices with which you can check the humidity level inside your house. Using this will help you to determine the humidity of your home. After that, you can decide how you want to increase the moisture for your money tree.
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Signs that your money tree requires more humidity
If you notice any of the below-mentioned signs in your money tree, it means that the plant requires more humidity.
- Brown leaves
- Wrinkled or curled leaves
- Dry and crispy leaves
- Scars on the leaves
- Wilting of leaves
If you find any of the signs on your money tree, you can mist the plant. But if that does not suffice, you will need to choose an alternative.
Use neem oil solution to mist your money tree to protect the plant from pests and fungal diseases.
How to maintain the humidity level for the money tree?
If your money tree is not getting enough humidity, and misting is also not helping as much, you can try some alternatives that we have listed down below.
Use a humidifier
Humidifiers are devices created to increase the humidity inside the houses.
You can use a humidifier to adjust the humidity levels inside your house as per your requirement.
You can first check the humidity by using a hygrometer and then use the humidifier and adjust the humidity level accordingly. This will help the money tree by increasing the humidity around it.
- It help you create a restful environment and relieve winter symptoms like congestion and dry skin.
- For Every Room: With a 1.05 gal / 4 L tank, this humidifier lasts up to 40 hours on a low setting.
- Easy Maintenance: With a wide opening and detachable base, the water tank can be quickly refilled whenever it runs low.
- Safe to Use: When you open the water tank or the water runs low, the humidifier automatically shuts off to prevent damage.
Use a pebble tray
You can use a pebble tray in case you can’t get a humidifier.
To create a pebble tray, you need to take a tray and at some tables to it. Then, add water to the tray and fill the fables Halfway with water.
Place the money tree on the pebbles and ensure that the drainage holes are submerged in the water.
If you see that the water level has gone down, add water to the tray. As the water evaporates, it adds humidity around your money tree. This also boosts the growth of your plant.
Group your money tree with other plants
When plants transpire, they let out some moisture that can increase the humidity level in that area.
Keeping your money tree with other plants can help increase the humidity for the plant.
However, before keeping your money tree with other plants, make sure that the plants are not infested with pests.
Keep an aquarium
Many people like to add aquariums to their houses. But did you know that aquariums can increase the humidity?
If you keep the money tree near an aquarium, it can get enough humidity from the aquarium.
The water of the aquarium is rich in nitrogen. So whenever you change the aquarium’s water, you can water your plants with the old water as this is a natural fertilizer that will boost the growth of your plants.
Final words
The money tree enjoys a lot of humidity, and there are many ways to increase humidity for the plant if it is not getting enough of it.
You can mist your money tree once in a while, but it is not a long-term solution for increasing the humidity of your plant. Misting can help keep the leaves of your money tree clean, but it can also encourage the growth of fungus or bacteria.
Consider using a humidifier, adding a pebble tray, or an aquarium if you are trying to increase the humidity for your money tree.
Reference: NYBG, WIKIPEDIA, CABI, Missouri Botanical Garden, Effect of light intensity on plant growth.
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