Potted Money Tree Leaf Discoloration with Clear Liquid - Ask Extension
Hello, this money tree has been in its pot for a couple of years. The tree is continuing to grow rapidly up above, but within the last few months/week...
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Potted Money Tree Leaf Discoloration with Clear Liquid #889514
Asked November 07, 2024, 10:51 PM EST
Hello, this money tree has been in its pot for a couple of years. The tree is continuing to grow rapidly up above, but within the last few months/weeks the lower leaves are beginning to turn a spotted yellow and ooze a clear liquid underneath. The leaves feel “sticky” to the touch, like it’s leaking sap.
Thank you for your assistance!
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
Since there are only a few lowermost leaves showing these symptoms, it might be best to clip them off. We can't quite tell what is causing the leaf spots (the yellow-brown areas), but if it's a minor infection, then best to remove it before it spreads further. Generally, leaf infections indoors are more of an eyesore than serious, but since we can't concretely diagnose it and it won't affect the plant greatly to take those few leaves off, that might be safest. Are the leaves misted with water? If so, discontinue, since wet leaf surfaces can be easier for pathogen spores to infect, contributing to the risk of infection.
The oozing droplets might be guttation, which is a normal process that allows the plant to try to rid its foliage of excess moisture through leaf pores. It's a little bit like sweating, though for removing water rather than for cooling off. The leaf scarring might also be from edema, which is the bursting of leaf cells due to the retention of too much moisture, as can happen with over-watering. It can be discouraged by only watering when the potting mix becomes somewhat dry to the touch at least an inch down into the container, and making sure that the pot drains well and doesn't sit in water after being watered (empty a saucer or cache pot promptly of any excess collected water). Although they appreciate moist soil where they grow in the wild, in cultivation, Money Tree pots need to drain well and not remain saturated for periods of time. The plants can be given slightly longer between waterings during winter, when they are not in active growth. If they get too dry between waterings, though, they can wilt and might shed lower leaves.
We don't see any indications of pests, fortunately, so the symptoms appear to be just due to minor stress from its growing conditions.
Miri
The oozing droplets might be guttation, which is a normal process that allows the plant to try to rid its foliage of excess moisture through leaf pores. It's a little bit like sweating, though for removing water rather than for cooling off. The leaf scarring might also be from edema, which is the bursting of leaf cells due to the retention of too much moisture, as can happen with over-watering. It can be discouraged by only watering when the potting mix becomes somewhat dry to the touch at least an inch down into the container, and making sure that the pot drains well and doesn't sit in water after being watered (empty a saucer or cache pot promptly of any excess collected water). Although they appreciate moist soil where they grow in the wild, in cultivation, Money Tree pots need to drain well and not remain saturated for periods of time. The plants can be given slightly longer between waterings during winter, when they are not in active growth. If they get too dry between waterings, though, they can wilt and might shed lower leaves.
We don't see any indications of pests, fortunately, so the symptoms appear to be just due to minor stress from its growing conditions.
Miri