Is the Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) poisonous? Detailed guide to care methods and auspicious, wealth-bringing symbolism

The Money Plant, also called round-leaf Polyscias (Polyscias scutellaria), has round leaves that look like little copper coins. It likes to grow in warm, humid conditions with plenty of sunlight, tolerates partial shade but not cold, and fears drought. At home it can be kept indoors in a bright spot for long periods, making it a very popular potted plant. Is the Money Plant poisonous? What are its care methods?

I. Is the Money Plant poisonous?

The Money Plant is not toxic. Generally, a plant's toxicity is found in its bulbs and sap, but the Money Plant has no toxicity in any part of the whole plant, so you can grow it with complete peace of mind.

If you want it to grow vigorously, give it a spot indoors where it can receive several hours of sunlight each day. In summer, avoid direct outdoor strong sunlight. During the growing season, keep the potting soil moist but not waterlogged, and frequently spray the plant with water close to room temperature to increase air humidity and keep the leaves fresh.

II. Care methods for the Money Plant

1. Soil selection

Because of its place of origin, the Money Plant has developed strong drought tolerance, so it is not very demanding about soil; just make sure it is loose and highly breathable. Do not use soil with high clay content.

2. Water requirements

To care well for the Money Plant, try your best to create an environment that is humid but on the dry side. When growing indoors, once the temperature reaches 33°C, spray water once a day to add humidity and lower the temperature. In spring, summer and autumn, it is best to keep the soil slightly moist and leaning dry; occasionally watering with a little dilute fertiliser water basically will not cause root rot.

After Mid-Autumn, reduce watering, or replace watering with spraying to ensure the new leaves can make it through winter safely. In winter, be sure to spray the leaves and the surrounding environment to keep indoor humidity above 50%. Take special care that in winter the potting soil must not be too wet; slightly dry is best, otherwise at lower temperatures the Money Plant's roots can easily rot, and in severe cases it will die outright.

3. Light requirements

From late spring to Mid-Autumn, the Money Plant should be kept indoors or in a shaded environment, with 50-70% shade. When keeping it indoors, be careful not to shade it too much, otherwise the newly sprouted branches and leaves will be thin and long with darker colour, the gaps between the small leaves will be larger, the plant will be sparse, and the shape will not be compact and attractive.

In winter, move the Money Plant indoors promptly. Be sure to supplement light by placing it on a warm south-facing balcony, where full-day light care is fine. Because the Money Plant's leaves have no obvious phototropism, you do not need to worry during growth that different light angles will make the Money Plant grow crooked.

4. Fertilising method

Normally, during the growing season apply a special fertiliser for foliage plants or a well-rotted liquid fertiliser once every two weeks, choosing a suitable fertiliser according to the different varieties. But note that for variegated varieties, reduce the amount of nitrogen fertiliser applied, so that the patterns on the leaves do not decrease or even disappear.

After September, stop fertilising to promote lignification of the branches and ensure it overwinters safely.

5. Repotting method

The Money Plant is generally repotted once every 2-3 years. When repotting, choose potting soil that is fertile, loose and rich in humus. It must have good breathability. After repotting, place it in a cool spot for a week and pause watering; after a week, carry out normal care.