Money Tree Care: How to Grow It and Key Daily Maintenance Tips

The money tree, botanically known as Pachira aquatica (Malabar chestnut), is a common foliage houseplant. Because its name carries an auspicious meaning, it is often placed in homes, offices, and shops. It has a thick trunk and palm-shaped, emerald-green leaves, tolerates shade fairly well, and is not too troublesome to manage, making it a great choice for beginners.

To grow a money tree, the soil should be loose, airy, and well-draining. You can mix leaf mold and garden soil with a small amount of river sand, and place some broken tile pieces at the bottom of the pot to improve drainage. It likes a warm environment and has poor cold tolerance, so keep it warm in winter and protect it from direct cold drafts. Normally, place it in a bright spot with indirect light; avoid long periods of direct sun, and do not keep it in a too-dark corner for long.

Watering is the key to growing a healthy money tree. Its trunk can store water, and it is fairly drought-tolerant. It is most afraid of long-term soggy soil, which causes root rot. Water only when the soil is dry, and water thoroughly when you do; in winter, control the amount of water even more. During the growing season, apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once a month, mainly nitrogen-based, to make the leaves a deeper green, but the concentration should not be too high, to avoid burning the roots.

Common problems in daily care are yellowing leaves and leaf drop, which are mostly related to overwatering, insufficient light, or sudden temperature changes. Find the cause and adjust in time, and the plant will gradually recover. The money tree grows fairly quickly, so you can prune leggy branches as needed to keep its shape, and repot every one or two years with fresh soil so the plant grows more vigorously.