The money tree, scientifically known as Pachira aquatica, is a popular houseplant prized for its resilience, attractive braided trunk, and the feng shui belief that it brings good fortune and prosperity. Originating from Central and South America, this plant, also called Guiana chestnut or Malabar chestnut, is relatively easy to care for, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced plant enthusiasts. To ensure your money tree thrives and potentially brings a bit of luck your way, understanding its basic care requirements is key.
Light
Money trees flourish in bright to medium indirect sunlight. Ideally, aim for at least six hours of indirect sunlight daily. A spot near an east-facing window is often ideal, providing gentle morning light without the harsh afternoon sun. If a south or west-facing window is your only option, ensure the plant is set back from the window or use sheer curtains to diffuse the intense sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, while insufficient light can lead to leggy growth and sparse foliage.
If natural light is limited in your home or office, money trees can adapt to grow lights. Position grow lights about 6-12 inches above the plant and keep them on for approximately 12-16 hours a day to mimic natural daylight conditions.
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Soil
Proper soil is crucial for the health of your money tree. It requires a well-draining potting mix to prevent waterlogging and root rot. A peat-moss-based potting mix is highly recommended as it provides the slightly acidic conditions that money trees prefer, with an ideal pH range of 6.0 to 7.5. You can also use a general-purpose potting mix, but ensure it’s well-draining by adding perlite or coarse sand to improve aeration and drainage. Avoid heavy, clay-based soils that retain too much moisture.
Water
Watering correctly is vital to money tree care. The goal is to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water your money tree thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. This typically translates to watering every 1-2 weeks, but frequency can vary depending on environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, and light exposure.
During the active growing season in spring and summer, your money tree will need more frequent watering. Reduce watering in the fall and winter months when the plant’s growth naturally slows down. Overwatering is a more common problem than underwatering for money trees and can lead to root rot. Always ensure your pot has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
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Temperature and Humidity
Money trees thrive in average room temperatures, ideally between 65°F and 75°F (18°C to 24°C). Avoid placing your plant near drafts from heating or cooling vents, as sudden temperature fluctuations can stress the plant. They are not cold-hardy and should be protected from temperatures below 50°F (10°C).
While money trees can tolerate average household humidity, they appreciate higher humidity levels, especially during dry winter months or in air-conditioned environments. To increase humidity around your money tree, you can:
- Pebble Tray: Place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plant. Ensure the bottom of the pot is not sitting directly in the water to prevent root rot.
- Misting: Regularly mist the leaves with room temperature water, especially in the mornings.
- Humidifier: Use a small space humidifier near your money tree to maintain consistent humidity levels.
- Grouping Plants: Grouping plants together can create a microclimate with slightly higher humidity.
Fertilizer
Feeding your money tree with fertilizer provides essential nutrients for healthy growth. During the spring and summer growing season, fertilize monthly with a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength. Look for a fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio like 20-20-20 or similar.
Reduce fertilization in the fall and winter months to every other month as the plant’s growth slows down. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can lead to salt buildup in the soil and potentially burn the roots. Always water the plant before applying fertilizer to prevent root burn.
Pruning
Pruning is an important aspect of money tree care, helping to maintain its shape, control its size, and encourage bushier growth. Regular pruning, especially of lower leaves, can also stimulate new growth at the top of the plant. Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before the active growing season begins.
To prune your money tree:
- Use clean, sharp pruning shears or scissors.
- Remove any yellow, brown, or dead leaves and branches.
- To control height or shape, trim back the tips of branches.
- If you have a braided money tree and want to maintain the braid, trim any new shoots that sprout from the main trunks below the braid.
How to Braid a Money Tree
The braided trunk is a distinctive feature of many money trees, adding to their ornamental appeal. Braiding is typically done when the plants are young and the stems are flexible. If you purchase unbraided young money trees, you can braid them yourself:
- Unpot and Prepare: Gently remove young money trees from their pots. Typically, 3-5 plants are used for braiding. Remove any leaves from the lower portion of the stems that will be part of the braid.
- Start Braiding: Gather the stems together and begin braiding them loosely. Start near the base of the stems and work your way upwards. Use a twist tie, ribbon, or soft string at the starting point to hold the braid together temporarily.
- Secure the Braid: As you braid, keep it loose to allow for stem thickening as the plant grows. Once you reach the desired braid height, secure the end with another twist tie, string, or garden tape.
- Repot: Plant the braided money tree in a new pot slightly larger than the original pots, using well-draining potting mix.
- Support: Insert a stake into the pot and loosely tie the braided trunk to the stake for support, helping the braid maintain its shape while the plants establish.
- Recovery Period: Place the newly braided plant in a partially shady location for a few weeks to recover from the stress of braiding and repotting.
- Remove Ties: After a few months, once the braid has set and the stems have thickened, you can carefully remove the ties or strings holding the braid.
Propagating a Money Tree
Propagating a money tree is a great way to create new plants from stem cuttings. The best time to propagate is in the spring or summer when the plant is actively growing.
- Take Cuttings: Using clean, sharp pruning shears, take stem cuttings that are about 4-6 inches long. Ensure each cutting has at least a couple of leaf nodes (the points where leaves emerge).
- Prepare Cuttings: Remove the lower leaves from the bottom inch or two of each cutting.
- Root in Water: Place the cuttings in a jar or glass filled with water, ensuring the nodes are submerged. Place the jar in a warm location with indirect light.
- Wait for Roots: Change the water every few days to keep it fresh. Roots should begin to develop in a few weeks.
- Plant Cuttings: Once the roots are about an inch long, carefully plant the cuttings in small pots filled with well-draining potting mix. Water gently and keep the soil consistently moist.
- Establishment: Keep the newly potted cuttings in a warm, humid location with indirect light until they are well-established and showing new growth.
Potting and Repotting a Money Tree
Choosing the right pot and repotting at appropriate times are essential for money tree health.
- Potting Mix: As mentioned earlier, use a well-draining, nutrient-rich potting mix, ideally peat-moss-based. Cactus soil mix can also work, and you can amend any mix with perlite for better drainage.
- Pot Type: Select a pot with ample drainage holes to prevent water from sitting at the bottom. Terracotta pots are a good option as they help the soil dry out more quickly. Choose a pot that is appropriately sized for the plant; typically, a 6-inch pot is suitable for a young money tree.
- Repotting: Repotting is usually needed every 1-2 years, or when you notice the plant becoming root-bound (roots circling tightly in the pot). Spring is the best time for repotting.
- Gently remove the money tree from its current pot.
- Loosen the root ball slightly to encourage outward growth.
- Place the plant in a new pot that is only slightly larger than the previous one. Overpotting (using a pot that is too large) can lead to excessive moisture retention and root rot.
- Fill the pot with fresh potting mix, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.
- Water thoroughly after repotting.
If you want to keep your money tree at a manageable size, you can keep it in the same pot size and root prune it during repotting. To root prune, trim back about one-third of the root ball before repotting it into the same pot with fresh soil.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Money trees are generally resilient but can be susceptible to common houseplant pests, particularly mealybugs and scale insects.
- Mealybugs: These small, white, cottony pests tend to cluster in leaf axils and on the undersides of leaves.
- Scale: Scale insects appear as small, brown, shell-like bumps attached to stems and leaves.
If you notice an infestation, take action promptly:
- Isolate the Plant: Separate the infested money tree from other houseplants to prevent the pests from spreading.
- Manual Removal: For light infestations, you can often remove mealybugs and scale by hand using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
- Insecticidal Soap or Neem Oil: For more severe infestations, treat the plant with insecticidal soap or neem oil, following the product instructions carefully. Apply thoroughly to all parts of the plant, including stems and undersides of leaves. Repeat applications may be necessary.
Root rot is the most common disease affecting money trees, usually caused by overwatering and poor drainage. Prevent root rot by ensuring proper watering practices and using well-draining soil and pots.
Common Problems With Money Tree
While relatively easy to care for, money trees can sometimes exhibit problems that are usually easily corrected with adjustments to their care routine.
- Yellow or Brown Leaves: Yellowing or browning leaves are often a sign of improper watering. Check the soil moisture. If the soil is consistently soggy, it indicates overwatering. If the soil is bone dry, it suggests underwatering. Adjust your watering habits accordingly. Yellowing leaves can also indicate nutrient deficiencies, so ensure you are fertilizing during the growing season. Inconsistent watering or extreme temperature fluctuations can also cause leaf discoloration.
- Soft Stems/Trunk: Soft or mushy stems are a clear sign of overwatering and potential root rot. Reduce watering immediately and allow the soil to dry out more between waterings. If the stems are severely mushy, root rot may have set in, and you may need to take stem cuttings from healthy parts of the plant to propagate new plants and discard the rotting parts.
- Leggy Growth: If your money tree is producing long, stretched stems with sparse leaves, it is likely not receiving enough light. Move it to a brighter location or supplement with grow lights. Pruning back leggy growth can also encourage bushier growth once the light conditions are improved.
FAQ
How long do money trees live?
With proper care, money trees can live for a decade or more indoors, bringing enduring greenery and a touch of prosperity to your space.
Does the money tree flower indoors?
Money trees are unlikely to flower indoors. They can produce beautiful yellowish-white flowers and seed pods in their native outdoor environments, but indoor conditions rarely mimic the specific requirements for flowering, which often involves pollination by bats in their natural habitat.
Can you put money trees outside?
In warm climates (USDA zones 10-12), money trees can be placed outdoors during the summer months when nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C). Acclimate the plant gradually to outdoor conditions over a couple of weeks, starting with a shaded location and slowly moving it to dappled sunlight. Bring the plant back indoors before nighttime temperatures drop below 50°F in the fall.
Is the money tree toxic to pets?
Money trees are considered non-toxic to both pets and humans, making them a safe choice for households with animals and children.
By following these comprehensive care guidelines, you can ensure your money tree thrives, bringing a touch of natural beauty and perhaps a bit of good fortune into your home or office. With their resilience and relatively low-maintenance nature, money trees are a rewarding addition to any indoor plant collection.
