My boyfriend put his Pachira plant in my care because it wasn't doing so well. When he gave it to me it was potted in it's original bonsai pot and it had three trunks, two of which were dry and very brittle. I pulled the two dry trunks out of the soil and now there is only one trunk left. The existing trunk has a lovely green branch that is sprouting beautiful, green leaves. My question is, what do I need to do in order to get more trunks to grow and braid them in with the existing one? Did I ruin my chances by pulling out the rotted trunks that didn't have any leaves on them? Will I be able to salvage my man's plant and return it to him with it's proper braided trunk? Or did I kill my boyfriends plant? HELP!!!
I think you did the right thing. The two trunks were likely already dead if they were dry and brittle. The braiding is purely ornamental if the trunks were not fused together; their removal would then have no effect. In fact the remaining plant now has no competitors to contend with! By your description, it is doing well. I wouldn't worry about it.
Thank you! I just got worried because all that is left is one trunk and I see all of these pictures of beautiful Pachiras with 5 trunks all braided and lots of those pretty leaves. So, is there anything I can do to get more trunks to sprout and braid with the remaining one?
I don't know if you can encourage the remaining one to branch but there may be another alternative if you are set on a braided specimen. How about buying some young plants (unbraided of course) that are still green and flexible and making your own braid?
Great idea! That's what I thought I would have to do in order to get a braided trunk back. Thank you for all of your advice! I really appreciate it!
How do I take care of my Pachira plant? I have only one that is already braided and green leaves in a ceramic pot, how often do I water, direct or indirect-sunlight preferences, locale inside house, any fertilizing or pruning of dead leaves? Do I only water when it is completely dry, or how often, once a month? Let me know please. Thank you.
Hi, this really isn't a bonsai plant, but a gimmicky house plant, whatever it's being sold as. No bonsai worth its name would ever be braided, for starters :0), but anyhow, keep it dry til it starts to just droop a tiny bit, then give it just enough water to be sure all roots (tiny as they are on these plants) get a drink. Keep it out of direct sunlight and air conditioning (all plants hate A/C). Of course you can cut off dead leaves any time. I'd fertilize at half strength monthly if that, and do keep the pot on a wide humidity tray with 1-2" hi. sides, full of stones and water, but make sure the water never touches the pot bottom or roots can rot thru wicking. Leaves often seem to get blotchy or dry looking, but I think it's just because it's not a plant meant to live with us, but only in its native environment and we really can't duplicate that at home.
