Money tree care guide

A money tree has a braided trunk and glossy leaves that open like a hand. It is easy to grow, safe for cats and dogs, and a popular gift for a new home or business.

Light

Give it bright, indirect light. A spot near an east window or a few feet back from a south or west window works well. It handles medium light but grows slow there.

Direct afternoon sun scorches the leaves. Turn the pot every week or two so it grows straight.

Water

Water when the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer.

The money tree grows in wet places in the wild, but in a pot, soggy soil rots the roots. Yellow leaves with wet soil mean too much water. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a well-draining houseplant mix with some perlite or bark.

Repot every two to three years in spring, one size up. Keep the braided trunks at the same depth. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Money trees like humid air. Dry winter air browns the leaf edges. A humidifier or a group of plants helps.

Keep it between 18 and 27°C (65 and 80°F). Keep it away from heat vents and cold drafts.

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip fall and winter.

Pruning

Prune in spring or summer to shape it or control height. Cut just above a leaf. New branches grow from below the cut.

Cut yellow or brown leaves off where they meet the stem.

The braided trunk

Growers braid several young trees together while the trunks are soft. The braid holds as the trunks thicken. Your plant will not braid itself, and new growth comes in as normal branches.

If one trunk in the braid dies, cut it off at the soil line. The others carry on.

Propagation

Cut a stem 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long with a few leaves and at least one node. Set it in water in bright, indirect light. Roots grow in four to six weeks. Pot it up once the roots are 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) long.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Yellow leaves, wet soil	Too much water
Leaves drop after a move	Shock. It recovers in a few weeks.
Brown, crispy leaf edges	Dry air or dry soil
Droopy leaves, dry soil	Too dry
Leaves drop in winter	Cold drafts or a heat vent
Soft, wrinkled trunk	Root rot

Pests

Spider mites, mealybugs, and scale can show up. Check under leaves and along the stems. Fungus gnats mean the soil stays wet too long. Read how to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists money tree as non-toxic to cats and dogs. A pet that eats a lot of leaves can still get an upset stomach.

Another plant also goes by “money plant.” The jade plant is toxic to pets. Check the botanical name, Pachira aquatica, on the tag.

Varieties

• Braided money trees have three to five trunks woven together.
• Single-trunk money trees look more like a small tree.
• Variegated money trees have leaves splashed with cream.
• Small money trees are sold as tabletop bonsai.