Money Tree Care

What is a money tree plant

The money tree is Pachira aquatica, a tropical tree native to Central and South American swamps, sold as a houseplant in the US with a distinctive braided trunk. It grows 6–8 feet tall indoors given adequate light, or stays compact at 2–4 feet with limited pot size and lower light.

The braided trunk — the plant’s most recognizable feature — is a nursery technique. Young flexible stems are braided together while growing and then secured until they fuse. By the time plants reach US retail shelves, the braid is set. The plant does not braid itself and the braid does not continue to grow upward after purchase.

Money trees entered mainstream US retail in the 2000s after becoming popular in Taiwanese feng shui tradition, where they are associated with financial luck. This cultural history explains the name. Botanically, the plant is unremarkable as far as luck goes, but it is a genuinely attractive, easy-care houseplant that performs well in typical US home conditions.

Light requirements

Money trees grow fastest and look best in bright indirect light — the same conditions that suit most popular tropical houseplants including pothos and philodendron.

Best indoor locations:

• 3–5 feet from a south-facing window (bright indirect light for most of the day)
• Directly in front of an east-facing window (gentle morning sun)
• Within 2–3 feet of a west-facing window (afternoon sun is manageable if not too intense in summer)

Too much direct sun: Afternoon sun through south or west windows in summer can scorch money tree leaves, producing brown patches on the leaf surface. Move the plant back from the window or filter light with a sheer curtain.

Too little light: In north-facing rooms or interior spaces, money trees grow slowly and develop long, leggy internodes. Leaves become smaller and more spaced apart. A full-spectrum LED grow light 12–18 inches above the plant for 14 hours daily compensates for low natural light.

Rotate the pot 90 degrees every 2–4 weeks to promote even, balanced growth. Money trees grow toward their light source and develop a leaning, asymmetric canopy without rotation.

For more on reading indoor light levels, see our Indirect Sunlight guide.

Watering: the most important care decision

Overwatering kills more money trees than any other cause. The soil should feel dry 2–3 inches down before watering. In winter, when the plant is in a lower-light, slower-growth phase, this can mean watering only every 3–4 weeks.

The finger test: Push your finger 2–3 inches into the soil. If it feels moist, wait. If it feels dry throughout, water thoroughly until water drains freely from the pot’s drainage holes.

Never let a money tree sit in standing water. Empty the saucer or pot sleeve within 30 minutes of watering. Roots sitting in standing water begin to rot within days in warm indoor temperatures.

Water volume matters less than frequency. Water until it drains freely — this ensures the entire root zone gets wet, not just the top few inches. Then let the soil dry before watering again.

Seasonal adjustment:

• Spring and summer (active growth): Water approximately every 1–2 weeks depending on light and temperature
• Fall and winter (slower growth): Water every 2–4 weeks; let soil dry completely

Tap water is fine for money trees in most US cities. If your tap water is very chlorinated, let it sit overnight before using it — chlorine off-gasses within hours. Money trees are not particularly sensitive to water fluoride.

Temperature and humidity

Money trees prefer temperatures between 65°F and 85°F — typical for most US homes year-round. They struggle below 50°F and cannot survive frost.

Avoid:

• Cold drafts from exterior doors in winter (especially in Zones 4–7 where doorways can hit 30–40°F when opened)
• Direct airflow from air conditioning vents in summer
• Placement near windows in cold climates where glass temperature drops significantly in winter

Central heating in US homes drops indoor humidity to 20–30% in winter — below the 50–60% that money trees prefer. Low humidity causes:

• Brown, crispy leaf tips
• Leaves curling slightly inward
• Soil drying faster than usual

Solutions: Group the money tree with other houseplants to raise local humidity through transpiration. Run a small humidifier nearby in winter. Avoid misting, which can promote fungal spots on leaves.

Soil and potting

Use a well-draining potting mix that doesn’t stay wet for extended periods. A good mix for money trees:

• 60% standard potting mix (choose a high-quality brand with perlite already added)
• 30% additional perlite
• 10% bark chips

This ratio drains quickly and doesn’t stay soggy between waterings. Standard potting mix alone, especially peat-heavy mixes, can stay wet too long for money trees.

Pot choice: Use a pot with drainage holes. This is non-negotiable. If you want a decorative pot without drainage holes, use it as an outer sleeve around a smaller plastic pot with holes.

When to repot: Repot when roots are visibly circling the inside of the pot or growing out of drainage holes. Repot in spring. Go up only one pot size — a much larger pot holds more soil that stays wet longer and increases root rot risk.

Our Best Soil for Indoor Plants guide covers potting mix ratios and amendments for different houseplant types.

Fertilizing

Fertilize monthly during spring and summer with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer at half the recommended strength. A 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 formula works well.

Do not fertilize in fall and winter. The plant’s growth slows significantly in lower light conditions, and fertilizer applied during slow growth can build up in the soil and burn roots.

Signs of overfertilization: White crusty deposits on the soil surface, yellowing leaf edges, and stunted growth. Flush the soil with plain water to leach excess fertilizer.

Common money tree problems

Root rot is the most serious problem. It develops when soil stays wet for extended periods. Symptoms: yellowing leaves, drooping despite moist soil, mushy dark roots when the plant is unpotted.

To treat root rot: Remove the plant from its pot. Cut off all dark, mushy roots with sterilized scissors. Let remaining roots air-dry for an hour. Repot in fresh, dry potting mix. Do not water for 1 week.

Money tree and fungus gnats

Fungus gnats are small dark flies that hover around moist houseplant soil. They breed in consistently moist growing medium — money trees kept slightly too wet are prime gnat habitat.

Prevention: Let soil dry between waterings. This single change prevents gnat infestations.

For established infestations, see our How to Get Rid of Gnats in Plants guide.

The braided trunk: maintenance and what to expect

The braid is structural, not decorative fluff. Multiple stems fused together create a thicker, more stable trunk than a single stem would produce at this growth rate. The braid also fills out as trunks thicken over years.

What happens over time:

• Lower portions of the braid fill in and thicken
• New growth from the top grows normally, without braiding
• If one braid strand dies, remove it to prevent structural imbalance

To maintain the braided appearance, some growers loosely tie new growth at the top of the braid with soft ties and continue weaving. This works best when stems are still young and flexible.

Pruning: Prune money trees in spring. Remove dead or crossing branches. Cut above a node (leaf joint) to encourage branching. Removing the main growing tip encourages the plant to branch out and become fuller rather than taller.

Comparing money tree to similar houseplants

For detailed guides on similar plants, see Pothos: Care and Growing Guide, Snake Plant care, and Low Light Houseplants.

Money tree in US feng shui and home decor

The money tree became popular in the US through feng shui practice. Placed in the southeast corner of a room (the “wealth corner” in Bagua feng shui), it is said to attract prosperity. Whether or not you follow feng shui, the plant does well in most interior positions that receive bright indirect light.

The five-leafed hand structure of each frond — Pachira aquatica leaves naturally produce five leaflets per stem — has symbolic meaning in Chinese culture representing the five elements of feng shui. Finding a seven-leaflet frond is considered especially lucky. These occur randomly on normal plants.

For other easy-care indoor plants for US homes, our Best Plants for Beginners guide covers the most forgiving species at different light levels and care schedules.