A money tree is a very robust plant that forgives minor care errors. Diseases are not that common, but they do happen if you don't care for the houseplant properly. What diseases do you need to watch out for and what can you do if they occur?
What diseases can occur in the money tree and how to treat them?
Money tree diseases can include fungal diseases, root rot, shoot rot and powdery mildew. To treat the plant, remove infected leaves, cut off rotten shoots or roots and use fungicides or natural remedies such as milk to combat fungal infections.
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 may be the cause. It is triggered by the excretions of aphids.
Remove all affected leaves and dispose of them in the household waste. Fight pests on the plant.
Afterwards, as a precaution, you should treat the money tree with a fungicide from the garden supply store.
What to do if there is 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 has not progressed that far, you can try cutting off the affected shoots and keeping the money tree drier in the future.
If you suspect that the money tree is affected by root rot, take it out of the pot and look at the roots. If they are very soft and rotten, you will probably have to throw away the penny tree. At best, you can try repotting the money tree in fresh substrate after cutting off all the rotten roots.
Identify and treat mildew
White or gray coating on the leaves is a sign of powdery mildew or downy mildew. Cut off the affected plant parts and dispose of them with household waste.
Use a fungicide to kill the remaining fungal spores. You can achieve good results against powdery mildew if you sprinkle the leaves with a solution of fresh milk and water. You have to repeat this process several times.
Tip
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.
