As Lunar New Year approaches, we embark on the annual endeavor of cultivating 14,000 Pachira, transforming our greenhouses into a lush sea of vibrant green. These unique plants hold symbolic significance of bringing prosperity and good fortune to those who receive one.
In September, the botanical journey begins as we receive braided stumps of Pachira after a 4-6 week-long sea voyage from Taiwan. Each plant arrives as a promise of prosperity, bundled in a unique braid that carries with it the essence of tradition and cultural significance.
With meticulous care, we plant these braided stumps deep into 10-inch pots, allowing only an inch or two for the roots to develop. Part of the aesthetic charm lies in leaving the larger, bulbous part of the braid visible. According to feng shui principles, the braided trunk of the money tree is said to trap luck within its fold. And, each trunk is always twisted into five stem braids – a number that can also be seen in the number of leaves on each stalk that represent the five elements of balance: earth, wind, fire, water and metal.
Once planted, our pachira get cozy in their new greenhouse home for the next five months. We create an environment conducive to robust and uniform growth at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity levels pushed to their limits to encourage the emergence of leaf shoots at the tops of the stems. Soon, the barren stumps are transformed into a jungle of lush green foliage.
After two weeks of intense heat and the appearance of leaves, we embark on a carefully orchestrated temperature transition. Over the next 4-6 weeks, the temperature is gradually lowered to 65 degrees. This slow adjustment is crucial to avoid shock or cold damage, ensuring the leaves maintain their spotlessness and the Pachira continue to thrive.
Over the next few months, our Pachira are carefully monitored, watered and pruned until mid-January when we prep them for their final journey with us: shipping! After cultivating a symbol of tradition, luck and prosperity, these mature plants are ready to find new homes in time for the celebration of this year’s Lunar New Year: the year of the wood dragon!
