Money Tree Care Guide: How to Grow & Care for Pachira aquatica
Thomas ReddingShare
Few houseplants carry as much history, symbolism, and sheer visual impact as the Money Tree. With its braided trunk, lush canopy of palmate leaves, and centuries of good-luck lore behind it, the Money Tree is one of those plants that earns its place in any home — not just because it looks incredible, but because it's genuinely one of the easiest tropical houseplants to keep alive. This guide covers everything you need to know to grow a thriving Money Tree, from the basics of light and water to the finer points of humidity, fertilizing, and troubleshooting common problems.
The Story Behind the Money Tree
The Money Tree — Pachira aquatica — is native to the swamps and riverbanks of Central and South America, where it grows as a large tree reaching up to 60 feet tall in the wild. In its natural habitat, it thrives in seasonally flooded areas, which explains its remarkable tolerance for inconsistent watering. It's a plant that evolved to handle feast-or-famine water conditions — which makes it incredibly forgiving in your home.
The braided trunk that makes the Money Tree so distinctive isn't natural — it's a cultivated feature developed by Taiwanese nurseries in the 1980s. A farmer named Liu is often credited with braiding young Money Tree stems together and selling them as good-luck plants, a practice that spread rapidly throughout East Asia and eventually the world. Today the braided Money Tree is one of the most recognized houseplants on the planet, and it remains a popular gift for new businesses, new homes, weddings, and the Lunar New Year.
In feng shui tradition, the Money Tree is believed to bring prosperity, positive energy, and good fortune to its owner. The five-lobed leaves are said to represent the five elements of feng shui — wood, water, fire, earth, and metal. Whether or not you subscribe to the folklore, there's no denying that a healthy, thriving Money Tree brings something special to a space.
Curious about adding one to your home? Browse our easy-care houseplant collection and find your Money Tree →
Light Requirements
The Money Tree thrives in bright, indirect light — think a spot near a window where it gets plenty of light but isn't in the direct path of harsh afternoon sun. In its natural habitat, it grows beneath the canopy of larger trees, so it's adapted to bright but filtered light conditions.
Direct sun, especially through a south or west-facing window in summer, can scorch the leaves — you'll notice brown, crispy patches appearing on the leaf edges and surface. If this happens, move the plant back from the window or filter the light with a sheer curtain.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Money Tree can tolerate lower light conditions better than many tropical plants, but it will grow more slowly and the leaves may lose some of their vibrancy. For the best growth and the most lush, full canopy, bright indirect light is the sweet spot.
Izzy's Light Tip: Rotate your Money Tree a quarter turn every time you water it. This keeps growth even on all sides and prevents the plant from leaning dramatically toward the light source — a small habit that makes a big difference over months of growth.
Watering
Watering is where most people go wrong with Money Trees — and almost always in the same direction. Overwatering. The Money Tree's native habitat includes seasonal flooding, which means it's adapted to periods of wet followed by periods of dry. It does not want to sit in consistently moist soil.
The correct approach: water thoroughly until water drains freely from the bottom of the pot, then let the top 2–3 inches of soil dry out completely before watering again. In summer, this typically means watering every 1–2 weeks. In winter, when growth slows, you can stretch that to every 2–3 weeks.
Signs of overwatering include yellowing leaves, mushy stems at the base, and a sour smell from the soil. Signs of underwatering include drooping, wrinkled leaves and very dry, pulling-away-from-the-pot soil. Both are fixable — but overwatering that leads to root rot is much harder to recover from, so when in doubt, wait another few days before watering.
Izzy's Watering Tip: Always use a pot with drainage holes and never let your Money Tree sit in a saucer of standing water. That pooled water is a direct path to root rot, which is the #1 killer of Money Trees indoors.
Soil
Money Trees need a well-draining potting mix that holds some moisture without becoming waterlogged. A standard indoor potting mix works well, but you can improve drainage significantly by mixing in perlite at a ratio of about 3 parts potting mix to 1 part perlite. This keeps the mix airy and prevents water from pooling around the roots.
Avoid heavy, dense soils or mixes designed for moisture retention — these hold too much water and dramatically increase the risk of root rot. If you're repotting, choose a mix specifically formulated for tropical plants or make your own blend with potting soil, perlite, and a small amount of orchid bark for extra aeration.
Humidity & Temperature
As a tropical plant, the Money Tree appreciates humidity — ideally between 50–70%. Most homes run drier than this, especially in winter when heating systems pull moisture from the air. You don't need to obsess over humidity levels, but if you notice the leaf edges browning or the leaves looking dull and lackluster, low humidity is often the culprit.
Easy fixes: place a small humidifier nearby, set the pot on a pebble tray filled with water (the evaporation adds moisture to the surrounding air), or group it with other plants to create a more humid microclimate.
Temperature-wise, Money Trees are comfortable in the same range humans prefer — 65–85°F. Keep them away from cold drafts, air conditioning vents, and heating vents, all of which can stress the plant and cause leaf drop. They're not frost-tolerant at all, so if you move yours outside in summer, bring it back in well before temperatures drop below 50°F.
Fertilizing
Money Trees are moderate feeders — they benefit from regular fertilizing during the growing season but don't need heavy feeding. A balanced liquid fertilizer (10-10-10 or 20-20-20) diluted to half strength, applied once a month from spring through summer, is plenty. Stop fertilizing in fall and winter when the plant's growth naturally slows.
Over-fertilizing is a real risk — too much fertilizer causes salt buildup in the soil, which burns the roots and causes brown leaf tips. If you notice this, flush the soil thoroughly with water to wash out the excess salts, and reduce your fertilizing frequency going forward.
Repotting
Money Trees grow at a moderate pace and generally need repotting every 2–3 years, or when you notice roots growing out of the drainage holes or circling the surface of the soil. When repotting, choose a pot only 1–2 inches larger in diameter than the current one — going too large too fast leads to excess soil that stays wet too long and increases root rot risk.
Spring is the best time to repot, when the plant is entering its active growing season and can recover quickly from the disturbance. After repotting, water thoroughly and place the plant back in its usual spot. Expect a brief adjustment period — some leaf drop or drooping is normal and temporary.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
Yellow leaves — Almost always overwatering. Check the soil moisture and let it dry out more between waterings. If the soil is soggy and the stem feels soft at the base, you may be dealing with root rot — unpot the plant, trim any black or mushy roots, let them dry for a few hours, and repot in fresh dry soil.
Brown leaf tips — Usually low humidity, over-fertilizing, or fluoride sensitivity. Try switching to filtered water, increasing humidity, and reducing fertilizer frequency.
Dropping leaves — Money Trees drop leaves when stressed by sudden temperature changes, drafts, overwatering, or being moved to a new location. Give it time to adjust and keep conditions stable.
Leggy, sparse growth — Not enough light. Move it closer to a bright window and the new growth will be fuller and more compact.
Pests — Money Trees can attract spider mites, mealybugs, and scale, especially in dry conditions. Inspect the undersides of leaves regularly and treat early with neem oil or insecticidal soap at the first sign of infestation.
Is the Money Tree Toxic?
Good news for pet owners: the Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs according to the ASPCA. It's one of the few tropical houseplants that's genuinely pet-safe, making it an excellent choice for homes with curious animals.
Ready to Grow Your Own Money Tree?
The Money Tree is one of those plants that rewards you generously for very little effort. Give it bright indirect light, water it properly, and keep it away from drafts — and it will reward you with years of lush, tropical beauty and maybe a little good luck along the way.
Thinking about adding one to your space? Shop our easy-care houseplant collection and bring one home today →
Want to grow more Money Trees from your existing plant? Discover how to propagate your Money Tree step by step →
Still figuring out which plant is right for your space? Read our guide on picking the perfect houseplant for your home →
