The Money Tree (Pachira aquatica), one of the most recognizable indoor plants, with a striking five-leaf design, bright green coloring, and a peculiar braided trunk. The Malabar Chestnut, often known as the Money Tree, is a tree native to Mexico and South America that may reach heights of 60 feet, despite the fact that we utilize it as an indoor potted plant. (Don’t worry, the money tree in your pot won’t grow as tall.)
All year long, we adore these luscious indoor plants, but Chinese New Year is a particularly lucky time to have them! These plants are said to bring luck and wealth in the new year if you keep one in your house or give them as gifts. (They welcome pets as well.) We are here to provide you with all the advice you require to maintain your money tree and keep your good fortune blossoming.
Top 5 Tips for Growing Money Trees
Probably the most important query you have is if your Money Tree will genuinely produce fifty dollar bills. Sorry to disappoint you everybody, but no matter how diligently you water and fertilize your plant, it will only produce beautiful foliage rather than cash. But that’s enough for us!
#1Light it Up in So Many Ways
Fortunately, the Money Tree has simple lighting requirements and is incredibly location-flexible! Bright light is what your plant needs, but avoid direct sunshine. Its leaves appreciate a bright window with a south or east facing view, but they will scorch in the heat of the sun.
Its capacity to flourish under fluorescent lighting also astounds us, making it the ideal tropical plant for the workplace! (Especially given the favorable reputation of The Money Tree)
#2Give it a Permanent Home
The Money Tree is unquestionably not a nomad and adores a secure setting. The plant will probably drop all of its leaves in protest if you move it (once it is established in a spot that meets its demands)! Although they will grow back, for a while the tree will remain naked. Keep the temperature between 16 and 26 °C (65 and 80 °F) and keep any hot or cold drafts at a minimum.
#3Hydrate and Forget About it
Water the Malabar Chestnut thoroughly, letting the water run out of the drainage holes in the bottom of your container because this tree enjoys chugging water. But once the soil has been moistened, you should let it alone! Before you re-water your Money Tree, let it dry out (at least the top two to four inches of soil). If left wet over an extended period of time, its roots will decay.
#4Keep it Well Fed
Feed your Money Tree regularly. The plant quickly exhausts the nutrients in the soil as it grows taller with more leaves. You must provide additional nutrition to maintain the health and happiness of your indoor plants. Every time you water, apply a balanced fertilizer at half strength to the money tree. The simplest fertilizer to use, particularly for smaller pots, is liquid or water soluble fertilizer. You can skip feeding your plant during the cold months.
#5Don’t Let Your Luck Evaporate!
This plant is native to Mexico and South America, where the humidity levels are much higher than those we typically experience in our homes and workplaces. The Money Tree enjoys being misted every day for this reason. Try putting the pot in a tray with pebbles and water if you don’t want to make this a regular occurrence. More humidity will be added to the air as it evaporations.
The Money Tree is a low-maintenance home plant that is sure to become a favorite. Over the next months and years, it will pay you back in green dividends (floral growth, not cash). I’m sending you plenty of luck and good fortune!
For your Money Tree, save and print our simple maintenance guide! Simply right-click the image to the right to save it.
Is it easy to maintain a money tree?
To spread the wealth (pun completely intended), you can multiply your money tree and invite your pals over. Cut a branch with two or more leafy stems on it into a minimum 6-inch portion. Put it in a container filled with a rooting medium, such as perlite, sand, or peat moss. Maintain moisture in the rooting medium. Within a few weeks, the plant will begin to root, at which point it can be transplanted into a container containing potting soil and perlite.
Money trees are attractive indoor plants, whether they are grown tall or cut back. And even better, they require little upkeep. Simply adhere to these easy-to-follow money tree maintenance guidelines, and you’ll be rewarded with a flourishing plant—and who knows? Maybe even a little fortune and happiness for yourself—for many years to come.
How challenging is it to maintain a money tree?
Keep money tree plants in an area that is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit because they thrive in warmer climates. The good news is that money trees are also fairly adaptable and tolerant. Even in temperatures that are ten degrees above or below the ideal range, they can still function. When it comes to humidity, money trees benefit from additional moisture, so be sure to water your plant frequently. To improve humidity throughout the winter, Bloomscape advises placing your money tree plant on a pebble tray.
How should a money tree indoor plant be cared for?
These plants appreciate regular, deep watering and a space that is only mildly humid. Allow the plants to dry between waterings after watering them until the water drains from the drainage holes.
Place the pot on a saucer with pebbles to add more humidity if your house tends to be on the dry side. Maintain a full saucer of water, and the evaporation will raise the relative humidity in the space.
Consider fertilizing your money tree plants every two weeks as part of basic plant maintenance. Use a plant food that has been diluted in half. Winter is a time to stop fertilizing.
Pachira plants don’t often require pruning, but as part of your yearly maintenance, remove any damaged or dead plant material. Every two years, the plant needs to be replanted in a fresh peat mixture. Avoid moving the plant around too much. Moving offended money tree plants respond by dropping their leaves. Additionally, keep them away from cold places. In the summer, place your Pachira money tree outside to a spot with dappled light; just remember to bring it back inside before fall.
Where should a money tree be placed?
Consider it for a second before you buy a money tree, fingers crossed!
It might develop from the tiny, tabletop-sized plant you bought into a fully grown tree that is six to eight feet tall. You have time to make the necessary preparations for a huge plant, but if the area is tiny and you intend to keep the plant for a long time, you could choose to go for a small money tree.
Put your money tree in a location with lots of bright, indirect light, such as a south or west-facing window, but be careful to keep it away from direct sunlight because it might burn the leaves. Money trees are sensitive to movement and other abrupt changes in the environment, just like their fellow tall houseplants, fiddle leaf figs. Pick a location away from chilly drafts because they can induce leaf drop. During the winter months, it’s also a good idea to keep them away from the hot, blowing air of your ventilation system.
Moderate to high humidity is ideal for money tree growth. Although it would not be the best location for a money tree in terms of feng shui, your bathroom is actually a terrific place for the plant. Your shower or bathtub’s added heat and steam simulate the plant’s natural environment.
Keep a humidity tray underneath the plant if you decide to install your money tree anywhere other than a bathroom. To accomplish this, place a layer of small pebbles in a shallow tray that is larger than your pot, and then fill the tray with water until the waterline is just below the pebbles’ tops. Make sure the container’s bottom doesn’t come into contact with the water before setting the plant in it on top. The air around your plant will become more humid when water evaporation takes place. Make careful to fill the tray with water on a regular basis.
Except for pruning a specimen that has outgrown your space or if a part of the plant is injured, pruning your money tree is rarely necessary. It is possible to grow new plants from healthy cuttings that have a few leaf nodes.
To stop illness from spreading after removing damaged roots, clean your blade with a cotton ball dipped in alcohol.
How many years can a money tree live?
Money trees, also known as “Pachira Aquatica,” have long been seen as a representation of riches and achievement. Additionally, they are beautiful additions to the interior design of your home and excellent conversation starters. But if this is your first time buying a money tree, you might be wondering how long they survive. We will provide you with an answer to this question and touch briefly on some of the needs for plant maintenance in this piece.
Domestic money trees can endure anywhere between 10 and 15 years if maintained properly. It’s interesting to note that money trees in the wild (in South and Central America) have a lifespan of at least 30 years.
What size can a money plant grow to?
Although they can reach heights of up to 60 feet in the wild, money trees cultivated indoors usually only reach heights of 6 to 8 feet. If you would like preserve your money tree at a smaller size, it is also possible to train it as a bonsai.
Light
It tolerates medium light levels, like the majority of tropical plants that adapt to indoor culture, but prefers to be next to a window, according to him. “You should put it indoors close to a window with good lighting, but not in direct sunlight all day. Go with indirect light instead of direct sunlight to avoid damaging it. You want your Pachira aquatica to have fresh growth and green leaves as it is an indoor plant. It’s never a good idea to have too much of anything, whether it’s water, light, heat, or any other factor.
Watering
Money trees require high humidity, so it’s a good idea to spritz them every day with water that’s room temperature. As long as it has enough light, placing it near a bathroom or kitchen where water is frequently used is a smart idea. He adds that a periodic warm water shower will maintain the foliage clean and help lower the possibility of bugs becoming established.
Amount of water? He advises that the optimum irrigation technique is to stick your finger in the pot all the way up to your first knuckle. If it appears to be dry, wet the entire pot’s surface until water drips onto the saucer beneath the pot. Drain the saucer if it doesn’t absorb the water again after about an hour. Long-term immersion in water can lead to root rot. Additionally, it can suffer from being overwatered.
Use a humidifier to keep your money plant moist, especially during the dry winter months.
Fertilizing
Use a water-soluble house plant food at half the recommended strength for fertilizing. From March through October, when watering, apply the liquid fertilizer once a month. Since the days are short and dark throughout the winter, fertilizing during this time may result in poor, spindly growth. Trim as needed to shape and get rid of brown growth. Knowing the fundamentals of indoor plants and their requirements is all that is required for money tree plant care.
Repotting
a professionally produced soil mixture with a peat moss basis for repotting an indoor money tree plant To improve drainage, add perlite and roughly 25% coarse sand to the potting mix. If sand is not available, clean pea gravel will work just as well. Make sure the bottom of the new pot has drainage holes. When growing outside in a region without frost, Pudwell advises choosing a location with good drainage, soil with a moderate level of fertility, and access to water whenever necessary.
Living Outdoors
He continues, “Of course, people can enjoy their holiday in our summery tropical weather by spending the summer outdoors in partial shade. It is advised to use indirect sunlight with some full sun. Additionally, keep the plant away from areas where strong winds could harm it. The nighttime low must be less than fifty degrees. Additionally, since the pot will dry out more quickly in the heat, they will need more water when they are outside.
What is the purpose of a money tree?
The five leaves on a money tree branch represent the five basic Feng Shui components, and the plant has grown in cultural significance throughout Asia. It is said that having a money tree plant in your home can bring luck and good vibes to the owner. For many occasions where the sentiment of luck is appropriate, the money tree has therefore become a well-liked present item. It is believed to bring success and fortune to place the plant in the “money region” of your house or space, such as an office or place of work!