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Posted 1M ago by @Corpsey

Potential spider mites? Only wanted to confirm because I ...

#MoneyTree
10ft to light, indirect
7” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 month ago
Best Answer
No that looks like mold. It looks like you have a rotting tree trunk.

I think you may have that sneaky rubber band below the surface of the soil that hold the trunks together in nurseries, still on.

Unfortunately, these are the end results of your trees being strangled. The trees will tell you by yellowing and browning these are your warning signs. Then the trunks eventually die and rot away. Due to their trunks being squeezed and strangled, they lose their ability to absorb nutrients and water leading to death of the tree.

Look closely for that rubber band below the soil surface it is usually at the bottom of the trunks right above the roots. But remember they are sneaky and blend in well.

Again, I am sorry 😒. I really wish nurseries had a warning on these trees to simply remove the rubber band, it would save so many trees!

You will need to pull it out of the pot and pull out the rotted trunks. Your survivors will be fine although you won’t have the pretty braid anymore.

You can simply spritz the trunk of the treee left with

1 part peroxide + 8 parts water to get rid of the residual mold.

You can also try propagating the tops of the bad trees. Cut the green part off with a node, green is easier to root. Allow your stems to sit out to scab over for 3 hours before placing in water.

These are trickier plants to propagate but it’s worth a try. Make sure the node is continually covered with water.

Again I’m very sorry 😒. In this case you would have been better off with spider mites πŸ•·οΈ. And that says a lot because I HATE spider mites!
Oh wow, I was not expecting that at all. I've never dealt with a mold/rotting problem and was totally convinced this was a weird case of spider mites on a money tree since this is my first. I just wanted to thank you for all of the information you provided, totally blew my mind but extremely informative!
You are welcome, and I hope it helps πŸ’•
Also invest in magnifying glass w light so ur eyes wont deceive u and if u still need help , those pics u send will be most beneficial on here for any help we can give! Good luck! If u follow @SuperbRaspfern advice, u will def be happy w results!!🫢πŸͺ΄
Overwatering and root rot. Im stopping here and just listen to SuperbRaspfern. He will not lead u astray!!