--- title: "I have a money tree with only one trunk, the other two braids died…" description: "I have a money tree with only one trunk, the other two braids died years ago before I became a dedicated plant parent. Anyway lately I’ve been wondering if I…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/feWdeB5Z5V0Ki4Yh23q7JD" community: "Anything about plants" author: "ekroqs" published: "2026-07-31T05:37:40.740719Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/C0P-1rQsh8etcbISy4_suIR07BV2LZQCSbaYMJMte-Q/md_ZUIbjQ-m0oJH2e9VIug.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Anything about plants](https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg.md) # I have a money tree with only one trunk, the other two braids died… _Posted by ekroqs on 2026-07-31_ I have a money tree with only one trunk, the other two braids died years ago before I became a dedicated plant parent. Anyway lately I’ve been wondering if I should chop it to encourage new growth lower. You can see the spots on the green part where old stems fell off or I removed them. I would love some guidance on a few points before I decide: 1\. ⁠Should I do this? 2\. ⁠If so, where should I chop??? 3\. ⁠How could I save and propagate the part that I chop off? (I have a leaf stem I’m trying to prop but it’s been 1+ month with no rooting. Recently switched from water to sphagnum moss.) 4\. ⁠I did recently repot it to a chunky soil mix as it was getting water logged, should I wait until its transplant shock subsides? How long? ![Attachment 1 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/C0P-1rQsh8etcbISy4_suIR07BV2LZQCSbaYMJMte-Q/md_ZUIbjQ-m0oJH2e9VIug.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/C0P-1rQsh8etcbISy4_suIR07BV2LZQCSbaYMJMte-Q/hbmnNNdwSA6jmua5oYdJ_g.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 3 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/C0P-1rQsh8etcbISy4_suIR07BV2LZQCSbaYMJMte-Q/xgfQDfBHSe24v5jY8jurog.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 4 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/C0P-1rQsh8etcbISy4_suIR07BV2LZQCSbaYMJMte-Q/PL1cjHDlSKmpcl9v9o5lzA.webp?size=large) ## 7 comments ### Aimee loves plants commented on 2026-07-31 Your money tree is beautiful. It looks such a happy strong survivor. I would have a hard time cutting this plant. But I only had a money tree once and it died on me. Just wanted to stop by and admire your beautiful plant. ### plantgeek commented on 2026-07-31 definitely you can chop! honestly i would cut right at that first kink in the stem at the very bottom, then chop again at the second kink for two cuttings. let the cut end dry for a few hours, or until the end stops leaking liquid. then into water it goes. change water at least every 3 days to keep it oxygenated. they take forever to root, it's normal. leaves on their own do not grow roots, they eventually just die. you need stem to propagate it. #### ekroqs replied on 2026-07-31 Thank you!! That’s a good idea to do two. Do you mean in these spots?? ![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/C0P-1rQsh8etcbISy4_suIR07BV2LZQCSbaYMJMte-Q/VvdS4YDuSJ27Z52uShnsMA.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/C0P-1rQsh8etcbISy4_suIR07BV2LZQCSbaYMJMte-Q/DtUPWHTcTGecOqZdV8GQpQ.webp?size=large) #### plantgeek replied on 2026-07-31 yes on one, a little bit lower on two, right on that second bend. the cutting without leaves might take a while to root but i've never had a leafless cutting of anything fail 🤷‍♂️ they're just a little slow ### Ben Willy commented on 2026-07-31 I completely hard pruned my back about 2 or 3 weeks ago to help thicken and get a wider canopy. I also unbraided and replanted a single trunk. They are all already pushing out new growth if that makes you feel better about it. Just leave a few nodes . Obviously can’t guarantee you’ll have the same results with different conditions, but it’s possible! I’ve propagated in water, it just takes a really long time. ![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/8jTAwe9QS__J9gpzr68FDaR3l-KczA0RO9fldIMCAfs/F8RPHPLCTq-9H0ZCJ5d3gw.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/8jTAwe9QS__J9gpzr68FDaR3l-KczA0RO9fldIMCAfs/JoOx0H68QMGieezttDzqWQ.webp?size=large) #### ekroqs replied on 2026-07-31 Awesome to see! Ty! ### iambijoux commented on 2026-08-01 My mantra for plants with nekkid bottoms is that “everything is made beautiful in its time”. IF I chopped my plant, I’d actually propagate a top cut and plant it back when it was stable enough. I’d stake the rest of the plant to something inconspicuous (just for support) and let it just be a quirky little tree. Here are some of my wonky girls: ![Attachment 1 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/90I3BsQZ5V1uHmzfkhm_NCOlaqXJmKbYuMExvJak1LE/2Vk9m9VOR2GYlAlV4twZoA.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/90I3BsQZ5V1uHmzfkhm_NCOlaqXJmKbYuMExvJak1LE/MzwnnyTAQYq6dahVUzqzFQ.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 3 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/90I3BsQZ5V1uHmzfkhm_NCOlaqXJmKbYuMExvJak1LE/tb_G4JHwS6GY_QhvSbMg8Q.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 4 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/90I3BsQZ5V1uHmzfkhm_NCOlaqXJmKbYuMExvJak1LE/UPLZdKlqSOeSa5W4A3RqtA.webp?size=large) --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_