Planta
Back to Pests, diseases and problems

Why?!?!?! 😩 Is it possible that this drooping/browning/leaf drop on… | Pests, diseases and problems | Planta community

Holly

Why?!?!?! 😩 Is it possible that this drooping/browning/leaf drop on my money tree is caused by lack of light? Weirdly, the brown started at the base of the leaves rather than the tips. I’ve been away off and on for a few weeks and am pretty sure that my sister ignored my pleas to open the blinds for this plant. The timing lines up with it starting to go downhill. (I just moved to a spot where I’ve got a grow light to supplement sunlight) EDIT: I just wanted to add that I am not a total plant beginner, I am fairly experienced in terms of watering needs, root rot, pests, etc. I see no evidence of pests and while this particular tree has been picky about watering conditions, nothing has changed in the last few weeks except for the decrease in sunlight that it got. That’s why I’m asking about the sunlight! :)

Attachment 1 of 1
1 like 12 comments

12 comments

  1. Lilian

    It could be overwatered , is that a possibility?

    1 like
  2. Lilian

    I killed my money tree when I didn’t know plants very well from overwatering , do you see any root rot?

    1 like
    • Holly

      This tree was actually suffering from root rot when I first got it - if you can see the braided trunks, only 1 of them pulled through! I took some pretty drastic measures to prevent it from happening to this one (the kind that make my mother say “why don’t you just cut your losses and get a new plant?” 😆). Anyways, ever since then I’ve been checking the firmness of the trunk very carefully. I am extremely careful not to overwater due to its history, and I think for a while I was even underwatering it. It’s in a very small (not too small, obviously) pot with well draining soil and I don’t water until the soil is sufficiently dry! This poor tree has been through so much (most recent was when I moved a few months ago) that I don’t want to disturb it to check on its root system.

      0 likes
  3. Moe

    Your money tree looks a lot like mine. Unfortunately, I found that he had an infestation i've been fighting off the bugs. Almost of my leaves turn brown like that.

    Attachment 1 of 1
    1 like
    • Holly

      Hi Moe, What kind of infestation do you have? Did the leaves on your plant also turn brown starting at the base of the leaves? I’ve been pretty vigilantly checking for pests over the past few months, and I don’t see any signs.

      0 likes
    • Moe

      My money tree as well had one of its stocks died. So I had to perform surgery and remove it. I had spider mites, which tend to look like little black dots or yellow dots underneath the leaves plus you often see these little spider webs I have been spraying it with a mixture of rubbing alcohol, water, and a little bit of soap. I believe that the browning of the leaves could be due to the breakdown of the dead stock. In my case the bugs cause the leaves to grow weird. It adds

      Attachment 1 of 1
      1 like
    • Holly

      Thanks so much for elaborating, and for adding that picture!

      1 like
  4. Carrie

    I had a money tree that was about 15 years old and was very happy and healthy and the leaves would yellow and drop off from time to time. I kept it in a south facing window in my bathroom.

    2 likes
    • Holly

      Thank you for the encouragement! Unfortunately, mine has a history of struggling. I’m concerned because of the high proportion of leaves that are dropping. 😓 Hopefully it’s okay though!

      1 like
    • Carrie

      I think the additional light will help. And also I’d you’ve recently moved it could be in shock. Give it some time and it should rebound.

      1 like
  5. plantmother

    how often does it get fertilizer?

    0 likes
    • Holly

      Probably not often enough! I’ve definitely been negligent on the fertilizer front 😬

      0 likes