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.
Money trees are also commonly used for bonsai, and a great choice for someone who’s just learning. When given the right money plant care, they will grow and thrive in your home for many years.
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!
In this detailed money plant care guide, you will find…
- Pachira Money Tree Plant Meaning
- Braided Money Tree Benefits
- Watering A Money Tree Plant
- Money Plant Humidity Requirements
- Money Tree Light Requirements
- Best Potting Soil For Money Tree Plant
- Best Fertilizer For Money Plants
- Money Tree Houseplant Pest Control
- How To Prune A Money Tree
- Can A Money Tree Go Outside?
- Troubleshooting Money Plant Problems
- Where To Buy Money Plant
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.
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 tree plants for sale at the garden center
Pachira Money Plant Care Tips
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, put it on a pebble tray filled with water (don’t allow the plant to sit in the water though), add a decorative element by growing a money plant in a small plant cloche, or grow 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: Tips For Repotting Houseplants
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 it’s 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.
Related Post: Houseplants Don’t Like Drafts
- 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 it’s 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!
Products I Recommend
More Indoor Plant Care Guides
- Tropical Houseplant Care Guide: How To Grow Tropical Plants Indoors
- Wandering Jew Plant Care: How To Care For A Wandering Jew Plant
- Plumeria Plant Care Guide: How To Grow Plumeria Plants
- How To Care For Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
- How To Care For A Peace Lily Plant
Do you have a money tree plant? Share your money plant care tips in the comments below.
Kathryn says
Thank you for this article; it’s chock full of helpful tips. We received a money plant as a thank you gift recently and it seems to be quite happy living with us. My husband has quite the green thumb.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome! You’re welcome. 🙂
P. Lerma says
I just purchased a plant that looks like a bonsai version on the money plant. I took it home from Sam’s Club where I bought it and within two days the leaves had turned black and started to fall off. The plants soil felt moist so I didn’t water it. Plant directions say to water once a week with five ice cubes. Three days later I did water the plant. I gave it a thorough soaking and made sure it had drained properly. I look for insects but found none present. Is this normal??????
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sorry to hear your money plant is struggling! It is normal for them to drop their leaves when they get moved around too much, so it might just be adjusting to it’s new location. Also, the plant may not have received the proper care at the store before you bought it, so it might be suffering from that. I’ve stopped buying plants from big box stores because I’ve had so many problems with them. Oh, and I would NOT recommend using ice cubes to water it. (That is a really weird thing for them to put on the instructions) Plants are very sensitive to hot and cold, and putting ice on top of the soil could harm the plant, especially if it comes into contact with the roots or stems. Use room temperature water to water them.
Cindy Bunning says
Hi. I have had a small table top money plant for maybe two years. It has done well. The directions said to water with two ice cubes once a week. I just bought a large money tree this past week and it also said two ice cubes!! That can’t be right. It is at least five times larger. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Weird, I just had another person ask about watering a money plant with ice cubes. LOL!! I told them that I wouldn’t recommend using ice cubes to water it, because plants are very sensitive to extreme hot and cold temps. I think it’s so strange that the instructions actually tell you to use ice, I’ve never seen that before. You guys must have bought the same plants. 😉 Anyway, money plants like to have their soil dry out slightly between waterings, but don’t let the soil dry out completely. When it’s time to water, give them a good drink (with room temperature water), and allow the water to drain completely from the pot.
Cindy Bunning says
Hi Amy. Thank you for your reply about watering money trees with ice cubes. I wanted to tell you that I also recently bought an orchid plant that said to water with three ice cubes once a week. All three of these plants cam from BJ’s.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome. That is very interesting.
Gina says
I actually found this website while pinning on Pinterest. I searched for “how to care for money trees” I read the article and stumbled across this question. It is exactly what my problem was. The tag said two ice cubes, and now my plant is dying….thank you for the information
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wonderful, glad you found what you were looking for! 🙂
Linda says
Recentlty my money tree is getting very tall growth and there are some roots coming through the bottom. But my real concern is some of the leaves have started to yellow and fall off I have not changed my watering routine or anything what is happening….
Amy Andrychowicz says
Have you moved it recently? That could be part of the problem. Money plants don’t like to be moved, and this is one reason they will drop their leaves. Also, even though you haven’t changed your watering routine, check the soil to make sure it’s not wet. And when you say it’s getting very tall growth, is it getting leggy, or just growing taller?
Patti Daniel says
I got a beautiful money tree plant but I have notices the leaves are turning WHITE what could this be caused from? Please help I don’t wanna lose this tree.
Amy Andrychowicz says
My guess is that your money plant is getting too much light. Is it in a sunny window, or exposed to direct sunlight at all? If so, move it to a spot where it doesn’t get any direct sunlight.
Pam Doyle says
My plant I think its a money plant, has grown to 6 ft tall. It outside on my patio. Will it hurt it to top it? Its getting to big!
Amy Andrychowicz says
No, it won’t hurt to top it. Pruning money plants makes them grow bushier, and helps to maintain their size. It’s best to prune them during their active growing season, when the plant has plenty of energy to rebound quickly. Sometime during the late spring or early summer would be the best time to prune a money tree.
Anita Prosser says
My money tree seems to be growing curly leaves. The newer leaves on the top are really small and curly or wavy. Any ideas?
Amy Andrychowicz says
My guess would be that your money plant has bugs, and it sounds like it could be spider mites. Take a close look at the leaves and see if you can spot any bugs, be sure to look under the leaves an on the stems of the plant too.
Therese says
I have had my money tree for about 3 years. I was given it as a birthday gift. I usually give it some water once a week. Lately I’ve noticed that the trunks are turning black. Some of the leaves are turning yellow, and drooping. Do you think that it means too much water? It does not have drainage holes. Do you think I can save it?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Check the trunk of your money plant to see if it’s mushy. The fact that it’s turning black has me worried that it might be rotting. I would definitely guess that it’s being overwatered. Allow the soil to dry out before watering it again, and consider getting a soil moisture gauge to help you water it. I hope it recovers!
D. Atkinson says
I love my money tree, I’ve had it for about 16 yrs. I live in fl. we wen’t up north for 3 mo. I think our neighbor watered it to much while we were gone. Its dying the stock dried up. most of it is dead. There are some new leaves sprouting on top of the leaves that are lift.I don’t wan’t to lose it is there any way i can save it. please help.I keep it outside.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sorry to hear about your money plant! There’s not much you can do at this point. I would allow the soil to dry out before watering it again, and just monitor it for now. Time will tell if it survives.
Nohemy Ruday says
Hi my name is Nohemy the pepol call me Emy one of my friends give to me to takier her plant she go some place so she bring to me that money plant,so i takier now for two weeks and i see the plant started to lose some lives so i come worry about because is not my batt i love plants and hurt me wen i see come daying so i check the pot and i think was to small for the said of this plant and on other things i notice was no hold for draining so i decided to chench and a big pot with holds batt wen i put the plant out and the hole soild i descober some money and the soil,i think my friend put this money to the pur plant wish i think dacent help i put all of the money out and i transplant yes i hope don’t died before she have back.so i don’t now watt to tell her i have the money to give to her batt i don’t now watt sugestión to give to her hell me please watt to seid to her thank you.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It’s very common for money plants to drop their leaves when they are moved around, so that may be why this one started to drop it’s leaves. Also, money tree plants grow very well in small pots, and it’s best not to repot them into containers that are too large. So, if you haven’t already repotted it, then I would recommend that you leave it alone. Keep the plant in one spot, and don’t move it around. Then just keep an eye on the soil to make sure it dries out before you water it again.
Jamie says
My money tree has three parts to the braid. I recently noticed a lot of leaves browning and falling off. One of the braids, near the root, seems to be hollow. Nothing is growing from that branch either because it all fell off. Should I repot the plant and discard the possible dead branch?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If one of the stems is hollow and there is no growth on that branch, then yes, I would prune it out and discard it because it sounds like it’s dead. You don’t necessarily need to repot the plant though, money plants can live a long time in small containers and don’t need a lot of room to grow. If you do decide that your money plant is completely pot bound, then you can repot it into a slightly larger container in the spring. Don’t go too large on the container though.
Ulyana says
Hello, my money tree has quite a bit of new growth at the top but when I moved the plant from a darker room to my better lit kitchen all of the new growth wilted. I was thinking that I was over watering it recently so it’s been more than a week since the last time I watered it but the droopyness of the leaves have not improved. I sprayed the leaves this afternoon but still see no improvement. What am I doing wrong?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Money plants don’t like to be moved. They can go into shock and start drooping or even dropping their leaves. Just leave it along and treat it like you always have and it should recover.
Martina Amaglio says
Hi there! Is there anything I can do to get mine to fill out rather than grow upward? It’s taller than my hubby now!! But only has the main trunk and one branch…. I don’t want to kill it as it’s been with us nearly a decade!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can definitely prune it to help it stay small and grow fuller. Money trees respond very well to pruning. Seed the “How To Prune A Money Tree” section above for more details.
Suzanne says
I have 3 money tree plants that have been living outdoors for quite a while. Living in So. Fl.allows them to enjoy the humidity, the monsoon rains followed by the sun, etc. We very rarely go below 40′ and I keep them out pf the direct sun, as it is very sub tropical heat that can easily burn the leaves. Your advice was very helpful and I have yet to fertilize them, and have many fertilizers for my succulents, African Violets, Orchids, and Palms and rare Crotons, but am not sure as to what would be best for these plants. I used to use Peters for most of my other plants, but as of late have not been able to find it, and have not seen Bonsai fertilizer in any of our many garden supply centers. I have seen Job sticks, but have not tried them and they seem to be ridiculously expensive. Is regular all purpose fertilizer okay. I thought about leaving them outside until our nighttime temps go down possibly into the 60’s and I shut the a/c off, which probably would be in Nov./Dec. and open the windows up and them bring them in and place them in my Fl. room which faces east and gets some sun but not enough to harm them. I will also place them on dish filled with pebbles and water to give them the humidity as you suggested. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Do you suggest putting some pebbles in the bottom of the pot when I repot them for better drainage, ( they are growing quite fast) as i have not been able to locate a small bag of porous lava rocks (only 40 lb. bags, which is quite ridiculous.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, a general purpose fertilizer will work just fine for your money tree plants. You can find my recommendations in the section above titled “Best Fertilizer For Money Plants”. As for the pebbles in the bottom of your pots… you can do that, it certainly won’t hurt anything. Just make sure the pot you use has holes in the bottom, because pebbles alone won’t give them enough drainage.
Diane McCarthy says
My money tree is getting tall. I would like to prune it, and I read the pruning guide. Should I cut out the old growth to make it look like the pictures with the trunk exposed? How tall will it grow.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can cut the old growth to make it look like the photos, but you don’t have to do it exactly like that. You can just prune it for size if you would prefer. Money trees can grow up to 15 feet tall.
Gail says
I have had a money tree for about six years, and during that time I have lived with my dad. I have a cat and so far she has been separated from my plants, but once I get my own place, she won’t be separated from my plants, and I don’t know if money trees are poisonous to my cat or not. She normally doesn’t bother stuff, but every now and then, she does, and I want to make sure she is safe. I have an aloe plant, but I can keep that out of her reach, my money tree is too big for that.
Amy Andrychowicz says
According to the ASPCA website, Pachira aquatica is not poisonous to pets. However, it’s always a good idea to keep your kitty from eating any type of houseplant, even non-toxic ones can cause stomach upset and vomiting.
Lynne Morgan says
Can you put a money plant outside in a sheltered place in the Uk thanks
Amy Andrychowicz says
Money plants are only hardy to USDA z9b, and won’t survive outdoors in colder winters. I’m not sure what growing zone the UK would be, but I think it’s much lower than that.
Irene Fairfield says
Hi Amy,
My money plant is doing well but I get sticky, clear, water like droplets on my leaves and stems. What could be causing this?
Amy Andrychowicz says
It could be transpiration, which is normal and nothing to be worried about. However, since you said it’s a sticky substance, it would be a good idea to check to make sure your money plant doesn’t have mealybugs or scale. When those types of bugs feed on plants, it can leave a sticky residue which many times is the first sign of infestation.
John says
Help! I have purchased a few Money Tree’s in the past couple years and the same fate has come to them all. They thrive for a few months, seem stagnant for a few months and then begin to die! One at a time the “trunks” wither and the leaves dry up on that stem and drop until all the trunks (stems) are gone. I am using filtered water, water once every 7-10 days and fertilize lightly a few times a year. My last one began to go during a humid summer so i don’t think humidity has anything to do with it. Any idea’s?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Money trees like to dry out a bit between waterings. So, if you were automatically watering it every 7-10 days, then I suspect it may have been over watered. Always be sure to check the moisture level of the soil before watering to be sure the plant actually needs it. To check the moisture level, you can stick your finger one inch into the soil. If it’s damp then don’t water it. You could also get a soil moisture meter to help make it easier.
Terry Bowdre says
Several years ago I gave a friend a money plant. It has since gotten very leggy following repotting an the ensuring leaf drop. I noticed today that the new growth has droplets of a sticky substance. I could not see any evidence of bugs or disease, so am wondering what might be causing this. I also suggested that he pinch out new growth at the tops of the branches to encourage a more bushy appearance.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Terry
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you’re sure the money plant doesn’t have bugs (I would definitely check closely for scale or mealybugs, both of which leave behind a sticky residue!), then it could just be transpiration. Transpiration is normal and nothing to be concerned about.
Good advice about the pruning. He can also give it a good haircut in the spring to encourage new growth through the summer. I would also consider giving the plant more light if it continues to grow leggy like that.
Diana says
I purchased a moisture/ph/light meter. What are the levels that i should be looking at for the money tree?
Amy Andrychowicz says
For your money tree, let the meter get just to the point where it’s going from the “moist” to “dry” level. So, on my moisture gauge, that would be between 3 and 4.
Lex says
Actually pruning, breaking, cutting Money Trees are considered bad luck. Just let it grow as it meant to be or repot or move to another corner for room to grow… and never put money tree in your bedroom where you sleep or bathoom:(
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks for your input about keeping the money tree lucky! 🙂
Gretchen says
My money tree is leaning very far to the right. I turned the pot hoping it would start to straighten up thinking it was growing toward the sunlight, but it hasn’t made a difference. Any suggestions?
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your money plant is leaning because it was growing towards the light, then it will take some time for it to start growing back the other way after rotating it. When a plant grows towards the window, that means it’s not getting enough light. I would either move it to a brighter location, or add a grow light. Also, if the entire plant is leaning (rather than just the top of it), then you could also try staking it up until it starts grow straight again.