How to Shape a Pachira Tree

There are 24 species of Pachira tree, but one of the most well-known and popular is Pachira aquatica. This attractive tree is versatile and may be grown as a compact bonsai specimen, a house plant, or a large, fruit-producing outdoor tree. It is often grown into a braided form and called a "money tree," which is actually composed of multiple plants, each of their stems twined together to make a single trunk. You may plant cuttings or seeds in clumps to produce this braiding effect on your own. If you want a large specimen with a bulging trunk, plant it outdoors. Most Pachira trees require little pruning, but it can help control their spread and growth.

Twine or wire
Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Plant seeds or cuttings next to each other and — as the resulting seedlings grow — braid them together. Twine loosely, providing enough room for the trunks to expand. You may choose to braid or to twist the trunks together, depending on the desired shape.
- 2
  Secure the trunks together with twine or wire. Commercial plants are often produced with two to five stems growing into a single trunk, either trained to grow loosely or in a tight braid.
- 3
  Prune roots and trim lower leaves with pruning shears or scissors to create a bonsai specimen. By growing the tree in a small container, you may easily restrict its growth. Without this pruning, it will grow into a small tree reaching 6 feet in height.
- 4
  Remove the largest leaves to produce new flushes of foliage. This is especially important in specimens that need reviving. Pachira species in general, however, do not require much pruning, whether grown in the ground or in a container. Pachira sessilis, a separate species from the money tree, is considered a self-pruning plant.
- 5
  Control the size of container plants by pruning stems as needed. Remove side shoots and replant them in groups in a separate container to propagate new specimens.

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