Money trees are often used as a symbol of prosperity. Their leaves are often thought to be symbolic of the money people receive in their lives and they can also represent new life, growth, and renewal.
However, some plants may develop small holes or indentations on them that look suspiciously like someone has been drilling into them with a drill bit.
In this article, we look at the most probable causes for holes in the leaves of a money tree. We will also discuss the most effective ways to avoid any more holes in the future. Let’s jump straight in…
Why Are There Holes In Money Tree Leaves?
Most holes in money tree leaves are caused by a type of sucking pest, which is usually aphids or mealy bugs. Aphids feed on plants and suck their sap out, causing the leaves to dry up and die over time. The best way to stop this from happening is by spraying your plant with neem oil!
These creatures can be difficult to spot on your money tree as they are most active at night. This means the pests can turn into a huge issue if you don’t get on top of them.
If you’re sure that your plant hasn’t got a pest issue, then the holes are likely due to leaf spot disease. This is a fungus that starts as spots and then spreads quickly into larger holes.
How To Prevent Holes in Money Tree Leaves?
To prevent pests from destroying your beloved plant, you should start with applying some neem oil spray (Amazon link) to all plants in your home.
Without efficient insect control, bugs that enjoy feasting on your money tree could end up in other plants and cause damage. I use neem oil on plants to prevent and stop insect infestations.
Just as the name suggests, parasitic leaf spot disease will cause tiny brown spots to form on your money tree leaves. Start by removing any infected leaves, and then apply neem oil to prevent another infestation. You may even notice white money tree leaves if there is powdery mildew present.
How To Keep Your Money Tree Healthy?
Location: The money tree enjoys a lot of light, but not when hit directly.
Watering: Allow the top few inches of soil to dry before watering again. I tend to water my money tree once a week in summer and once every fortnight during winter.
Fertilizing: If your money tree is losing leaves, feed it with an all-purpose fertilizer twice a month in the growing season.
Temperature: Your money tree needs to be kept at a temperature between 60 and 80 degrees F.
Humidity: Try to keep your money tree in areas of over 50% humidity.
Soil: Plant your tree in well-draining peat-based potting soil.
Conclusion
So what are these holes in your money tree leaves? To conclude, most likely the cause is leaf-mining pests–though they could also be a sign of a plant disease, like leaf spot. One option for controlling insects and fungal infections is to use neem oil spray (Amazon link).
Tim is an avid gardener from the UK. He was the founder of PlantCarer.com from 2021 to Sep 2023. He sold PlantCarer.com to Aaron. He has since started his own business called Seed To Supper, which provides new gardeners all the materials you need in a box (pots, seeds, compost and instructions) to grow your own delicious and nutritious vegetables and herbs from start to finish – no garden required.
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