Fukumoto regularly treated his plants with a fungicide and, as it happened, received a hot batch of fungicide that effectively wiped out his dream of dominating the popular bonsai market. Whatever was in that batch was to destroy all the work Fukumoto had accomplished over many years.
But a phoenix rose from the ashes in the 1990s when Fukumoto once again pooled resources and, with encouragement, again started up his business. Today, the tiny bonsai he created has developed into much more ambitious, more expensive products.
The money tree caught on as a novelty, however, and was brought back by enterprising growers in Asia in a braided trunk form with the common name of money tree.
It is native to wetland areas of Central and South America, where it flowers and bears fruit. The leaves, flowers, and fruit pods are all edible and the pods contain nuts tasting much like the peanut.
The flowers themselves are indeed showy; they are rather large, opening up in peeled-back petals revealing hair-like stamens that look like a paintbrush.
Most of the pachira are sold as small plants, but can grow 15 to 18 metres high in the wild. The pachira has made its way around the world and, in 1986, an enterprising truck driver living in Taiwan found these strange plants. He bought five and took them home, braiding them in a single flower pot. He began growing them from seed and cuttings and sold them as money trees. The popularity took off, and now many Asian businesses have them in their premises, hoping for good fortune.
The plant has proved to be good for the Taiwanese economy, with recent exports reportedly at $7 million. The trend is catching on in North America, too.
Pachira care is simple and the tree adapts well to many conditions. I've found the tree is somewhat of an anomaly because though it comes from swampy wetlands, it does poorly when overwatered in cultivation. It does best when allowed to dry slightly between waterings, and must have adequate drainage. Use fish fertilizer or kelp and seaweed for nutrition.
The tree loves the sun in winter, but tends to burn in the hot summer sun. Morning light is best; maintain regular household temperatures in cultivation.
Money tree, Malabar chestnut, Guiana chestnut, whatever it is named, the tree is truly a sight to behold. From the smallest of plants to the six-foot (1.8-metre) monster plants they turn into, the money tree will definitely raise eyebrows.
-- Canwest News Service
