How to Grow Money Tree
Pachira aquatica
A tropical tree often sold with a braided trunk, prized as a lucky houseplant. Prefers bright indirect light, moderate watering (let top soil dry between waterings), and average household humidity. Easy-care and tolerant of low light.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed monthly during spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength.
Watch For
- Root rot from overwatering or poor drainage
- Leaf yellowing from too much direct sunlight
- Spider mites in dry indoor conditions
Track your Money Tree care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Bright indirect light; tolerates low light
Place in a spot with bright, filtered light — near a north- or east-facing window is ideal. The plant survives in lower light but grows slowly and may drop leaves. Avoid direct sun, which scorches the large leaves.
💧 Watering
Water deeply, then let the top 2-3 cm dry out
Water thoroughly so water flows from the drainage holes, then do not water again until the top 2-3 cm of compost are dry to the touch. In winter, reduce frequency further — once every 2-3 weeks is often sufficient. Always discard excess water from the saucer.
🌱 Fertilizing
Monthly in spring and summer at half strength
Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to half the recommended strength, once a month from March to September. Do not feed in autumn or winter when growth slows.
✂️ Pruning
Light pruning to maintain shape
Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches at any time. To control height, prune the leading stem back to a lateral bud in spring. The plant will branch from the cut point. Avoid heavy pruning of the braided section.
🌿 Humidity
Average household humidity is fine; higher humidity encourages growth
Money Trees adapt well to typical indoor humidity levels (40-60%). In centrally heated rooms in winter, humidity can drop below 30%, which encourages spider mites. Mist the foliage occasionally, place the pot on a pebble tray with water, or run a humidifier nearby.
Growing Tips
Water deeply, then wait
Water thoroughly until it drains from the base, then let the top 2-3 cm of soil dry out completely before watering again. Overwatering is the number one killer of Money Trees.
Rotate quarterly for even growth
Turn the pot a quarter turn every three months so all sides receive equal light. This prevents the plant leaning toward the window and keeps the canopy balanced.
Leave the braid alone
The braided trunk is purely decorative and was woven when the stems were young and flexible. Attempting to re-braid an established plant causes stem damage — admire it as-is.
Bright indirect light accelerates growth
Money Trees tolerate low light well, but grow noticeably faster in bright indirect light. Avoid direct sun, which scorches the leaves.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Spider Mites
Identification: Fine webbing between leaves and stems; tiny moving dots on leaf undersides; leaves appear dusty or stippled with pale yellow flecks.
- Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to remove mites and webbing.
- Spray thoroughly with neem oil solution (5 ml neem + 1 ml dish soap per litre water), covering undersides of all leaves.
- Increase humidity around the plant — spider mites thrive in dry air.
- Apply a pyrethrin-based houseplant insecticide spray, targeting leaf undersides.
- Repeat every 7 days for 3 applications to break the egg cycle.
Pest Mealybug
Identification: White cottony clusters at leaf axils, stem joints, and along mid-ribs; sticky honeydew residue on leaves and nearby surfaces.
- Dab individual bugs with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl).
- Spray the entire plant with diluted neem oil, paying attention to stem crevices and leaf axils.
- Repeat weekly until no new clusters appear.
- Apply a systemic houseplant insecticide containing imidacloprid as a soil drench — the plant absorbs it and poisons feeding insects.
Pest Scale Insects
Identification: Small brown or tan dome-shaped bumps fixed to stems and leaf midribs; sticky honeydew deposits below; leaves may yellow.
- Scrape off scales manually with a soft toothbrush or fingernail.
- Wipe affected areas with a cloth dampened with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap.
- Repeat every 10–14 days for at least three cycles.
- Use a systemic insecticide drench (imidacloprid) for heavy infestations — contact sprays struggle to penetrate the waxy shell.
Disease Root Rot Pythium spp. / Phytophthora spp.
Symptoms: Yellowing leaves that drop without browning first; wilting despite moist soil; mushy black or brown roots visible when repotted; musty odour from the compost.
Treatment: Remove the plant from its pot and trim all blackened, mushy roots back to healthy white tissue. Dust cut surfaces with powdered cinnamon (a natural fungicide) or a commercial fungicide powder. Repot into fresh, well-draining compost in a clean pot with drainage holes. Allow the soil to dry out more than usual for the first few weeks.
Prevention: Never let the plant sit in a saucer of standing water. Use a free-draining houseplant compost mixed with 20–30% perlite. Water only when the top 2–3 cm of compost are dry.
Disease Fungal Leaf Spot Various fungi
Symptoms: Circular or irregular brown spots on leaves, often with a yellow halo; spots may merge to form larger dead patches; affected leaves eventually drop.
Treatment: Remove and bin (do not compost) all affected leaves. Improve air circulation around the plant. Apply a copper-based fungicide spray or neem oil solution to remaining foliage.
Prevention: Avoid wetting the foliage when watering. Ensure good air movement. Do not overcrowd plants. Remove dead or dying leaves promptly.
Log Money Tree in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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