Money tree plants (Pachira aquatica) are known for their braided trunks, and delicate looking umbrella shaped leaves. They look like they’d be difficult to grow, but they’re actually easy to care for and make excellent houseplants.
There are two types of plants (that I know of) that have the nickname of “money plant”. Those two plants are the crassula money plant (aka: jade plant), and the pachira aquatica money plant (aka: money tree plant).
Don’t get the plant care instructions for these two mixed up… they require very, very different care.
In this post, I will be talking about money plant care for the pachira aquatica money tree plant.
So, if you’re looking for information how to take care of jade plants (crassula), then go to this post instead… jade plant care guide.
Otherwise you’re in the right place, so keep reading!
Here’s what you’ll find in this detailed money plant care guide…
Pachira Money Tree Plant Meaning
No, money plants don’t grow actual money (wouldn’t that be nice!), but there is meaning behind the name.
Pachira aquatica got the nickname because they have a reputation for bringing good luck and good fortune to their owners. This is one of the main reasons why I think they make excellent office plants!
Maybe you’ve never heard the name, but you might recognize a money plant because it’s one of the most popular braided tree trunk plants.
Braided money plant tree trunks
Braided Money Tree Benefits
As I already mentioned, benefits of money tree plants include bringing you good luck and financial prosperity.
Good fortune money trees are also very popular in Feng Shui, because they are said to bring positive energy into the room where they’re growing. They’re commonly given as gifts for all of these reasons, and what a wonderful gift.
I’m not sure how they got such an amazing reputation, but I’m thinking about growing a lucky money tree plant in every room of my house!
Money trees are also commonly used for bonsai, and a great choice for someone who’s just learning.
Money tree plants for sale at the garden center
Pachira Money Plant Care & Growing Instructions
Money tree plants look like they would be super fussy, but they’re actually pretty easy to grow houseplants.
They’re a great choice for someone who’s a novice, and wants to start growing plants indoors.
And, if you want to try your hand at bonsai, braided money tree plant is the perfect specimen to start with!
Here’s how to take care of a money tree plant…
Watering A Money Tree Plant
One of the key factors to good money plant care is proper watering. Money trees like water, but won’t tolerate being overwatered for very long. Consistent over watering a money plant will cause root rot, and eventually kill the plant.
So, how often do you water a money tree? Check your plant every week or two to see how wet the soil is. You want to allow money tree soil to dry out slightly between waterings, but don’t let it dry out completely.
When it’s time to water, give your plant a good drink, and then allow the excess water to drain from the holes in the bottom of the pot.
Afterward, make sure to empty the cache pot or plant tray of a potted money plant so that it’s never sitting in water.
Money trees don’t need as much water during the winter as they do in the summer, so allow the soil to dry out a bit more between waterings in the winter.
If you have a hard time giving your plants the correct amount of water, I recommend buying a soil moisture gauge to help you monitor the moisture level.
Money Tree Plant Humidity Requirements
Another important part of successful money plant care is humidity. Humidity is especially important during the winter months, and money tree plants like a lot of humidity.
Heating our homes during the winter sucks the humidity out of the air, and that can be pretty tough on these sensitive houseplants.
To help increase the humidity level around your money plant, you can run a humidifier near the plant, or put it on a pebble tray filled with water (don’t allow it to sit in the water though).
You could even add a decorative element by growing a money plant in a small plant cloche, or put a few of them in a mini indoor greenhouse.
To help you maintain the proper humidity level, keep an indoor humidity monitor near your plant.
Mature healthy money plant leaves
Money Tree Light Requirements
One of the reasons growing money plant indoors is so easy is because they aren’t super picky about lighting.
Money plants prefer bright, indirect light. But they will adapt to lower light conditions, especially during the winter, which makes them excellent low light houseplants.
They will actually suffer if they get too much sun. Too much direct sunlight can burn their leaves, so keep it out of that sunny window.
It’s actually perfect, since most of us don’t have a ton of direct sunlight in our homes anyway! So you can save that coveted sunny windowsill for the houseplants that need it.
Best Potting Soil For Money Tree Plant
Plan to repot your plant into fresh soil every few years as part of your regular money plant care maintenance routine.
A general purpose potting soil will work fine for growing money trees. But, they will grow their best in a fast draining soil that also retains moisture (sounds like a funny combo, I know).
So, to get the best soil for money tree plants, you need to add a few things to your general potting mix.
Add some peat moss or vermiculite to help the soil retain moisture, and also perlite or pumice to help money plant soil drain faster.
If you don’t want to fuss with all of that, you can’t go wrong if you buy a bonsai potting soil mix for them.
Potting soil for money tree plant
When the time comes for repotting your money tree plant, make sure you choose the right sized container. You don’t want to choose one that is too large for the plant, because that can cause issues with overwatering and root rot.
Money plants can be grown in very small pots, especially if you want to keep the plant small. So choose a pot for your money plant that’s only slightly larger than the one it was growing in before.
Repotting plants encourages new growth, so wait until spring or early summer to repot your money tree.
Related Post: How To Repot Plants: A Helpful Illustrated Guide
Best Fertilizer For Money Plants
As part of your regular money plant care routine, you can feed your money tree using a half dose of liquid houseplant fertilizer every couple of weeks during the spring and summer.
Stop fertilizing in early fall, and don’t fertilize your plant at all during the winter.
I recommend using an organic compost fertilizer, which you can get in liquid form or buy compost tea bags and brew your own.
Other types of organic plant fertilizer like this indoor plant food would work great on money tree plants too. If you find it easier, you could use organic bonsai fertilizer pellets instead of liquid fertilizer.
Braided money tree trunks tied at top
Money Tree Houseplant Pest Control
Insect pests aren’t normally an issue for healthy money tree plants, but whiteflies and aphids can sometimes invade. If you discover bugs on your money plant, begin treatment immediately.
Don’t use chemical pesticides on houseplant pests though, they aren’t very effective (plus they’re harmful to us and our pets!).
Instead, I recommend using organic pest control methods. Organic neem oil, which is a natural pesticide is my top choice, but horticultural oil works great to control money plant pests too.
Soapy water spray is also very effective against most houseplant pests. I like to use a mixture of 1 tsp mild liquid soap per 1 liter of water, then spray it on the leaves to help control the bugs. Insecticidal soap also work great.
You can use a yellow sticky trap to help control the adult whitefly population until you’re able to get rid of them for good.
How To Prune A Money Tree
In general they don’t need to be trimmed, but regular money tree plant pruning will help to keep your plant small.
To prune them, you can pinch or trim off the tips of the new growth. This will help to keep a money tree size small, and also encourages branching to make it more shapely.
New leaves will grow back quickly, which is one reason why this plant is so appealing as a bonsai plant.
I recommend using bonsai pruning shears for wonderful precision cuts. A micro-tip pruning snip will work great also for pruning money plants.
It’s best to prune money trees in the spring or summer months, you don’t really want to encourage new growth while the plant is resting during the winter.
You can prune off any dead or damaged leaves as needed to keep the plant looking its best.
New growth after pruning money tree plant
Can A Money Tree Go Outside?
Yes, just like any other type of plant, you can grow put your money tree outside as long as the weather is warm enough. Just be sure you bring it back inside before the temperature gets below 40F.
If you decide to grow your money plant outdoors, then be sure that it’s growing in a pot with drainage holes so that it won’t drown when it rains.
As far as how much sun a money tree needs outdoors, they can grow anywhere from sun to shade. But take extra care to gradually move your money plant in the house to growing in full sun outside, or the leaves will burn.
Troubleshooting Money Plant Care Problems
Overwatering and leaf drop are two of the most common money plant care problems that people tend to have, and both are very common issues. Here’s how to troubleshoot the symptoms, and what to do about it.
- Why are the leaves on my money tree turning yellow? – If your money tree has yellow leaves, that usually means you’re watering too much, and it meant the plant is in danger of being overwatered. To fix this issue, allow the soil to dry out more between waterings (see the money tree watering section above for details about how to properly water money plants).
- Why are the leaves on my money tree turning brown? – Money tree leaves will dry out if there isn’t enough humidity in the air, which is what causes brown leaves. Do whatever you can to raise the humidity level around the plant, and make sure it’s getting enough water (see the water and humidity sections above for more details). Money plants are also sensitive to sudden air temperature changes, and can suffer if they’re exposed to hot or cold drafts. Make sure to keep your plant away from heat vents and drafty doors and windows.
- Why are the leaves on my money tree falling off? – Money plants are a bit fussy about their location and don’t like to be moved around. If you move a money plant around too much, it will get mad at you and start dropping its leaves. So just leave it where it is, and try not to move it too much. If you just brought the plant home, give it some time to adjust and don’t overwater it. Leaf drop is common for new money plants that just came home.
Money tree care yellow leaves
Where To Buy Money Plant
If you’re wondering where to buy money tree plant, check your local garden center. You should be able to find a money tree plant for sale in the houseplant section, especially during the winter time. Otherwise you could buy a money plant tree online any time of the year.
Money trees are very cool looking plants that are easy to grow indoor plants. I’m not sure if it will actually bring you all of the money plant benefits that I mentioned above, but it can’t hurt to try.
Besides, growing a money tree is fun and rewarding. And heck, if you ever decide to try your hand at bonsai, your money plant will be there waiting.
Do you struggle to keep your houseplants thriving during the long winter months? My Winter Houseplant Care eBook is perfect for you! It has everything you need to know to keep your indoor plants growing their best all year long. Download your copy today!
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Do you have a money tree plant? Share your money plant care tips in the comments below.
Linda N Hanson says
I’m seeing small droplets of sticky liquid on the stems of my money tree plant. This happened once before and I trimmed it back slowly to a small stalk or two. It came back quickly and looked great. Today, I again noticed the same problem on the top stems of new growth. What is this and how to treat?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you only see droplets of liquid, and there’s no signs of bugs on the leaves of your money plant, then it’s probably just transpiration. This is very common for plants during the hot and humid summer months. Think of it like your plant is sweating. 🙂 No treatment necessary, it’s completely harmless to the plant.
Charlotte Caines says
my granddaughter has a money tree and moving from SC to TN has left in my care. Unfortunately the leaves are turning yellow and dropping off and the stem is very loose in the soil. what should can I do ?
She will be retrieving the plant once settled.
Amy Andrychowicz says
When the leaves on a money tree plant turn yellow and start dropping, that usually means it’s being overwatered. To prevent that, allow the soil to dry out more between waterings. It should never bet wet or soggy. See the “Money Tree Watering” section above for more information.
Tammy says
I just purchased a money tree and when I got it home i noticed there are tiny brown dots on all the leaves. What should I do?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, that sounds like it could be houseplant scale on your brand new money plant. Here’s a post with lots of pictures to help you identify it, and show you how to get rid of it… How To Get Rid Of Scale Insects On Houseplants
If you do determine your money tree is infested with scale, I would think about returning it since you just bought it. Getting rid of scale is very difficult, and it’s not very nice that the place you bought it sold you a bug infested plant.
Anne Cook says
Can I twist the stalks a 2nd time?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you mean can you keep braiding the trunks as they grow, then yes. As long as they are green and pliable, you can keep braiding money tree stems as they grow taller.
Lou says
Is it okay to trim a stalk back to the point where no leaves remain? Will it regrow? My tree is 6 feet tall and the leaves begin at 5 feet. Very leggy. If I cut back one stem at a time below where the leaves start, will this kill the plant? Having no leaves on a stem?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, pruning back the leggy money tree branches will help the plant grow bushier. As you mentioned, you should absolutely do this in phases. You never want to remove all the leaves from the tree at once. Start by pruning back a few of the worst looking branches. Then, once the plant starts filling out in those areas, you can cut off a few more branches, and so on. Never trim it back to more than 1/2 its size at once though.
Marian says
How tall can a money tree grow?? I have 2 of them and i love them, also I’ve found 3 leaves with 7 leaves
How exciting
Amy Andrychowicz says
Money trees can grow to be up to 15′ tall. Sounds like yours are doing great. 🙂
Inge Morgenthaler says
I grew up in Fridley Minnesota. Now I live in California. I read about the money tree and not giving it too much water. A branch broke off and I place it in a little container With water and now it’s sprouting roots. Do I leave it in water or transplant it in soil.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Fantastic, congrats on rooting your money plant cutting! I would pot it up into soil.
Sololy says
Hello!
My money tree is currently in about a 10″ pot (I think it’s too big for it) and recently the leaves started falling, yellowing and wrinkling. One of the branches was completely empty when squeezed, so I cut off all the dead leaves – which left my money tree looking very thin, but I think it was a good decision. A few months ago, I noticed there little flies around my house and they seemed to have nested inside the money tree’s soil. I put a bunch of sticky pads around the money tree and I haven’t seen the flies since. I also haven’t moved my money tree, but there are some Christmas decorations around it now. Could the Christmas decorations be disturbing it? Or did I overwater? Should I repot my money tree to a smaller pot?
Amy Andrychowicz says
So sorry to hear that your money tree is struggling. The presence of gnats is a sure sign that you’re overwatering. They live and bred in wet soil. Always check the soil by sticking your finger one inch deep to see how damp it feels before adding more water. If it feels pretty wet, then wait. Be sure to follow my tips for watering above (click here to skip right to that section). Whatever you do, don’t repot it until it has recovered. Repotting a sick plant can end up being fatal, so I would just leave it in the large pot for now, and work to get the watering right and bring it back to health. Good luck!
Lindsay says
I had the most wonderful, healthy money tree that was loaded onto a moving truck and supposed to be kept in storage for 6 days. Something went wrong and it ended up being left outside in the heat for a month. I received it back with no leaves and just 5 twisted stems. I have repotted in indoor potting mix with peat moss mixed in. I cut back the stems until I found health. I only have hope for 2/5 stems. What are the chances of it growing again?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no! Sorry to hear that your money tree went through that trauma! The best you can do is leave it alone and hope it will recover. Don’t move it, and definitely don’t repot it again. Just keep the soil evenly moist, but not wet during this time, and don’t fertilize it. Good luck!