The money tree (Pachira aquatica, USDA plant hardiness zones 10 to 12) is cute in many ways, but you can’t pick its leaves and take them to the bank. You can grow them indoors or outdoors. Other names for them are water chestnuts, Malabar chestnuts, braided money trees, or Guiana chestnuts. It can be a big bush or an evergreen tree, and its flowers are big, yellowish-white or green with red stamens. The fruit is edible. Like other plants, though, money trees can succumb to diseases. You may be unpleasantly surprised one day to find brown and white spots on your money tree.
The money tree, also known as Pachira aquatica, is a popular houseplant renowned for its lush, hand-shaped leaves and braided trunk. But while money trees are quite hardy, you may notice troubling white spots appearing on the leaves What causes these spots, and how can you treat them?
What Causes White Spots on Money Tree Leaves?
There are several potential culprits behind white spots on your money tree’s foliage
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Sunburn – Too much direct sunlight can burn money tree leaves, causing small white spots or scorches. Money trees prefer bright, indirect light.
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Powdery mildew – One of the most common causes, this fungal disease manifests as white powdery spots on leaf surfaces. It thrives in cool, humid conditions.
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Pests – Insects like whiteflies, mealybugs, and scales can all leave tiny white spots where they feed on leaves. Check the leaf undersides for bugs.
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Mineral deficiencies – Lack of nutrients like magnesium, manganese, or zinc can cause white spotting on leaves. Fertilize regularly to prevent deficiency.
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Tap water – The salts, chlorine, and fluorine in tap water may burn leaf tips, leading to white spots when used for watering. Use distilled or filtered water.
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Mosaic virus – This money tree-infecting virus causes mottled, distorted growth with light and dark green spots on the leaves. It is incurable.
Inspect your plant closely to deduce the exact cause before treating the issue. Catching it early helps prevent lasting damage.
How to Treat White Spots on Money Tree Leaves
Once you’ve identified the cause of the white leaf spots, here are some organic treatments to care for your money tree:
Move Out of Direct Sunlight
If sunburn is causing white scorched spots, move your money tree to a shadier location protected from intense afternoon sun. Filtered bright light from an east or west window is ideal.
Improve Air Circulation
Powdery mildew thrives in stagnant, humid air. Improve airflow around your money tree using circulating fans to dry out the leaves’ surface. Prune congested growth to allow better air movement as well.
Apply Neem Oil
Natural neem oil smothers fungus and kills many houseplant pests. Dilute with water and spray leaves, especially the undersides, every 7-10 days until the spots clear up. Wipe leaves after to avoid oil buildup.
Add a Pebble Tray
Raising humidity around your money tree with a pebble tray can help dry out fungal spores. Place the pot atop pebbles in a tray of water, replenishing as it evaporates. Keep the pot above the waterline.
Apply Fertilizer
If spots indicate a nutrient deficiency, apply houseplant fertilizer at half-strength every 2-4 weeks during the growing season. Pick one with micronutrients listed.
Use Purified Water
Water with distilled, filtered, or rain water to avoid mineral spots from tap water. Let the soil partially dry between waterings to prevent oversaturation.
Prune Affected Growth
Remove any leaves or stems with severe spotting or distortion. Sterilize pruners between each cut to avoid spreading disease. Destroy the pruned trimmings.
With prompt organic treatment, your money tree should recover from leaf spotting. But discard any plants with mosaic virus, which cannot be cured. Providing good care will keep your money tree flourishing for years to come!
How to Prevent White Spots on Money Tree Leaves
Keeping your money tree happy and healthy is the best prevention against leaf-spotting problems. Here are some tips:
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Site in a warm spot with bright, indirect light. Rotate periodically for even growth.
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Water when the top several inches of soil become dry. Take care not to overwater.
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Mist leaves regularly to boost humidity around your plant.
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Apply balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer.
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Repot when roots fill the container using well-draining potting mix.
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Inspect regularly for pest invaders like mealybugs and scale.
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Keep away from air vents and drafts that may dry out the foliage.
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Wipe dust from leaves to maximize light exposure.
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Prune only when necessary to shape growth and remove dead branches.
With proper money tree care, you can avoid issues like powdery mildew and pest damage that cause unsightly leaf spotting. But if white spots do appear, take action right away to restore your plant’s health and beauty.
Enjoying the Luck and Charm of Money Trees
Don’t let minor leaf issues detour you from enjoying these alluring plants. The money tree’s braided trunk and lush, rounded leaves have made it a staple houseplant for generations. Its rich green foliage is thought to bring good fortune and prosperity.
If white spots appear, a little diligent care will get your money tree back to mint condition. Show your plant some love and it will reward you with many years of verdant, vibrant growth. A money tree’s charms and luck will brighten any space you place it in.
Other Money Tree Diseases
Powdery mildew can also grow on money trees. It starts on dead leaves and spreads to the tree through spores. This also makes white spots, but they are smaller ones that look like powder on the leaves. Other symptoms include foliage wilting and leaf curl. This can be cured with a fungicidal soap. Mix it with warm water and wipe down the leaves. Also, be sure to remove any infected areas and keep the surrounding soil clear of any debris.
Too much watering can lead to mold or root rot. The mold can appear on the ground first and may look whitish-gray. This can often be fixed by simply removing the affected soil. Root rot occurs when money plants get too much moisture and leads to soft stems and dropped leaves. It might be necessary to dig up the plant, clean out the root ball of the dead parts, and then plant or pot it again.
White Spots on Money Tree Leaves
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You can take good care of a money tree as long as it is in the right place and gets enough water. Anthracnose leaf spot, which makes money tree leaves white, is one of the diseases they are most likely to get. This is actually a fungal disease that usually appears in the early spring. As time passes, the spots get bigger and turn into blotches, killing the leaves. Fungicidal sprays can eliminate the problem if used according to the labels directions.
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The leaves should stay dry, and the tree should be watered well but not too often, to stop this leaf spot disease. Rainwater is best, and money trees prefer slightly wet to dry soil. You can also keep this money tree fungus away by keeping the area clear of trash, watering the tree deeply but not too often, and letting its leaves stay dry. Fungicidal sprays are effective in controlling the disease.
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FAQ
How do you treat powdery mildew on a Money Tree?
How do you treat white spots on leaves?
What are the white spots on Chinese money plant leaves?
What does an overwatered Money Tree look like?
Why does my money tree have white spots?
As stated earlier, Powdery Mildew is the expected primary culprit on why your Money Tree is suffering from those white spots. The usual cause of this disease is the defoliated leaves or other parts of your plant where spores tend to develop. From there, it will make its way towards your plant and directly attack the leaves.
Why are my money tree leaves turning brown?
Your money tree leaves turning brown or white and brown spots on money tree leaves signify that the plants are infected by bacteria. The spots will first look pale before they become darker and dry up. You will notice that the spots will continue to spread from leaf to leaf and then from plant to plant.
Do Money Trees have Septoria leaf spots?
If your money tree already has septoria leaf spot, you can remove the affected leaves and branches and dispose of them. The spots are usually white or light brown and can be found on the leaves, stems, and branches. If you live in an area with high humidity, you may need to water more often.
How do you get rid of spots on a money tree?
If you want to prevent the spots from coming back, try misting the leaves of your money tree with distilled water or rainwater. You can also try wiping the leaves down with a solution of one part vinegar to ten parts water. This will help to wash away any minerals that might be deposited on the leaves.