Money trees are known for being lucky indoor plants that can help attract wealth and prosperity. With their braided trunks and vibrant green leaves, these easy-to-care-for plants have an auspicious look that makes them very popular houseplants. Learning the basics of money tree care, including proper sunlight, watering, temperature, humidity, pruning, and propagation, will help your plant continue to grow and thrive indoors.
Why Are Money Trees Considered Lucky?
Many cultures and traditions associate money trees with good fortune. The braided trunk is thought to bring luck, perhaps by symbolizing the interweaving of new growth and financial wealth coming your way. The round leaves are also symbolic of coins. Having an eye-catching money tree displayed prominently in your home or office is believed to activate positive energy to attract more money and success.
These plants make perfect gifts for housewarmings, graduations, promotions, or birthdays. Simply having one of these vibrant lucky plants nearby can have an uplifting effect and serve as a daily reminder to focus on prosperity.
In feng shui, money trees represent the wood element and can help stimulate sheng chi – growth, expansion, new beginnings, nourishment, health – in your living or work spaces. Position your money tree in the southeast, east, or south side of a room where its energy can freely circulate.
Make sure not to block its growth by placing furniture or other objects right up against it. Like a real tree reaching upwards towards light, a money tree strives vertically and should have space to do so. Prune back overgrown branches, yellow leaves, or anything diverting energy from its journey skyward.
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Money Tree Plant Care Basics
Money tree care is easy if you know the basics and stick to them. Learn how to keep your money tree plant growing, without shedding leaves or turning brown.
Ensuring the health of your money tree (Pachira aquatica) is a breeze with simple guidelines:
Sunlight
Money trees need bright, indirect sunlight for 4-6 hours daily. A south or west-facing window is often ideal. Rotate the plant occasionally so all sides receive equal light. Test different areas to find the brightest spot without intense afternoon sun beating down directly on the delicate leaves. Filter the sunlight by hanging a sheer curtain. During darker months, you may need to supplement with a grow light placed a few feet above the plant, giving 12-14 hours of daily exposure.
Water
Money trees prefer slightly dry soil between waterings. Check the top few inches with your finger; water when just starting to feel dry. Overwatering leads to root rot, causing leaves and branches to weaken or die back. Allow the soil to dry out partially between waterings. Add enough water so it drains from the drainage holes below, then discard any excess from the saucer so the pot is not left sitting in water.
Temperature and Humidity
Money trees grow well with average household temperatures around 65-80°F during the day and 60-75°F at night. Cooler temperatures may slow growth while consistent heat above 90°F can scorch tender new leaf tips. Place the tree away from hot radiators, heating vents, or drafty areas.
Do I Need to Braid My Money Tree?
The signature braided trunk of a money tree is an iconic look, adding to its symbolism of interwoven good fortune and prosperity. You can choose to braid the main stem as your plant grows or allow it to form a straight slender trunk.
Braiding encourages the trunk to thicken as it grows outward instead of just upward. Start braiding when your plant reaches 1/2 to 3/4 inches diameter, anytime during its first few years.
Carefully separate the main stem into 3 segments, braiding them together loosely so as not to damage inner vascular tissue. Use green plant tape to secure the end if needed while new growth fuses it together. Over time, the trunk will slowly expand and fill in your braided pattern.
How to Prune and Propagate Your Money Tree
Pruning a money tree keeps it healthy, shapely, and compact so it fits well as a houseplant. Using clean sterilized pruning shears, carefully trim back leggy stems to above leaf nodes. Prune heavily in spring to control size and direct energy into new growth lower on the plant.
The cuttings you prune make perfect starter plants. After cutting, allow several days for the cut end to heal or “callous” before inserting into moist potting mix.
Push the stems halfway down, leaving several leaf nodes above the soil. Enclose the pot in a clear plastic bag to maintain humidity as the cuttings root. Soon you will have baby money trees identical to the parent plant.
Common Money Tree Problems
Maintaining the health of your money tree (Pachira aquatica) is straightforward with some fundamental care tips. These plants are susceptible to pests like aphids and scaling, which can lead to issues such as loose, drooping, or dying leaves.
Swiftly addressing these concerns is vital for your plant’s well-being. Effectively combat these pests by promptly applying neem oil. This intervention helps mitigate the risk of damage, preserving the vitality of your money tree and ensuring its leaves remain vibrant and healthy.
Yellow or Brown Leaves
If your money tree develops yellow, spotted, or browning leaves, it often signals improper care. Stunted growth and pale leaves usually indicate too little sunlight or water. Prevent brittle brown leaf edges by increasing humidity around the plant. Leaf scorch around the edges or blotchy spots result from too much direct sun.
Soft Stems or Trunk
If main branches or the trunk suddenly go limp or soft, the money tree may have root rot from overwatering or poor drainage. Check for mushy roots and repot in fresh fast-draining soil, removing all damaged tissue.
Leggy Branches
Money trees grow quickly and develop long, sparse branches with leaves only on the tips. This leggy look signifies insufficient light. Prune back to just above leaf nodes and move to a brighter location. Turn the pot regularly for even sun exposure.
Where to Buy a Money Tree
Discovering a money tree online is made easy with our recommended places, offering customization options for planters and various sizes. While online choices abound, don’t forget the charm of your local nursery for a more personalized touch.
Costa Farms Money Tree
Costa Farms offers a wide selection of small money trees up to 5 feet tall specimens with braided and single-stemmed trunks. Their cautious nurturing, pruning, and reshaping create full, shapely silhouettes that make perfect houseplants or gifts.
1800Flowers Money Tree Grove
For gift-giving, check out 1800Flowers’ Money Tree Grove featuring three intricately braided money trees planted together in a decorative ceramic bowl. Standing 16 inches high, this good luck trio of plants has layers of winding leaves studded with little round leaf buds representing future wealth and blessings.
Just Add Ice Money Tree
Just Add Ice offers Money Trees with braided and non-braided trunks from 1-4 feet tall. Their Orchid Money Tree combines a money tree planted in a ceramic orchid pot with vibrant pink flowers for a pretty pop of color.
American Plant Exchange Money Tree
For a huge statement piece, American Plant Exchange has Money Trees up to 6 feet tall! Their 5-6 foot specimens make dramatic focal points with intricate braided trunks and hundreds of shimmering coin-shaped leaves.
FAQ’s
Is the Money Tree Plant Harmful?
Rest assured, the money tree plant poses no threat to pets or humans. However, it’s important to note that we don’t advise consuming it.
Do Money Trees Blossom?
Money trees can exhibit yellow-white flowers when grown outdoors, achieved through pollination. It’s worth noting that indoor cultivation may not yield blooms due to the absence of pollinators like bees.
What’s the Lifespan of Money Tree Plants?
Under a suitable care regimen and optimal growing conditions, money trees can thrive for more than a decade.
Final Thoughts
Caring for a Money Tree, renowned as the luckiest indoor houseplant, involves a blend of attention to detail and understanding its unique needs. Regular watering, well-draining soil, and indirect sunlight contribute to the well-being of this resilient plant.
The use of neem oil to combat potential pests like aphids and scaling ensures the longevity of its vibrant foliage.
Despite its reputation for bringing good fortune, it’s crucial to remember that the Money Tree is non-toxic, making it a safe addition to homes with pets or young children. Cultivating this auspicious plant can not only enhance indoor aesthetics but also invite a sense of prosperity into your living space.
