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by Rose-Marie
(Center Line Michigan Macomb county)

money-tree-plant-21946639

My money tree has sap. I didn’t know they did that. Is it normal?

Rose-Marie

Comments for Money tree plant

May 24, 2021
Pachira aquatica
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

This particular money tree is Pachira aquatica or Bombax glabrum. Other common names include Malabar chestnut, saba nut, monguba and French peanut. I am not 100% sure from your picture if this is what you’re referring to but, yes, these plants do leak sap on occasion. It’s called ‘guttation’ and looks like tiny drops of sap that leak out of the main rib on the bottom of the leaf.

The plant does this to rid itself of excess moisture. There is nothing you can do about it, except to prevent damage to furniture or flooring. Put a plate or sheet of plastic underneath the plant to catch the drips.

On occasion, pests can cause something similar, but if you don’t see any insects or other issues, guttation is the culprit.