How to Care for a Money Tree, the Luckiest Indoor Plant

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As countless green thumbs can attest, no other plant makes you look like you know your way around a gardening center like a money tree (Pachira aquatica). Suitable for both seasoned gardeners and beginners, this resilient indoor plant might just be the ideal choice for everyone.

Recognizable by its intricately braided trunk and shiny leaves, the money tree is surprisingly easy to care for. It's perfect for those looking to enhance their gardening skills and offers a low-maintenance option for busy plant lovers juggling more demanding species. Indoors, these trees can reach up to six feet tall, though they soar much higher in their native Central and South American habitats.

Known as Guiana chestnuts, money trees symbolize luck and prosperity, believed to attract abundance and financial success. They are also forgiving if you occasionally skip watering or forget to fertilize them in the winter. While not ideal for low-light conditions, money tree care is simple to master.

We've tapped a plant expert to help you get the best results from your money tree care, no matter your home environment.

Why Are Money Trees Considered Lucky?

Money trees, also known as Pachira aquatica, are considered a symbol of luck and prosperity. According to The Sill, a money tree is a great way to infuse good feng shui or better energy flow into your interiors. Money trees are often given as gifts on birthdays, anniversaries, and during Lunar New Year. Some even say that the five leaves on each branch represent the five elements of feng shui (water, fire, earth, air, and metal).

How to Care for a Money Tree

Sunlight

“Money trees are not low-light-tolerant plants, and, at times, plant parents make the mistake of placing these plants too far from a window,” says Paris Lalicata, a plant expert at The Sill. Money trees like bright, indirect light, which means you should place yours near a sunny window that faces east, west, or south.

“They can tolerate and put out new growth in an unobstructed north-facing window, which usually provides moderate, indirect lighting, but any darker won’t be sufficient for growth,” she says.

Water

One of the most common mistakes plant parents make with money trees is overwatering.

“Money trees prefer to be more on the dry side, and I’ve seen plant parents make the mistake of watering this plant too much, ultimately causing [root] rot,” Lalicata says. A well-draining planter is crucial for the proper care of this plant.

Water your money tree until water runs out of the drainage hole of the pot every one to two weeks, allowing the soil to mostly dry out between waterings. The best way to tell if a money tree needs water is to stick your finger in the soil.

Temperature and Humidity

Like many tropical houseplants, money trees do best with higher temperatures and a moderate amount of humidity.

According to Plant Proper, “humidity is a big deal for these plants—if you can, try using a humidity tray or place a humidifier nearby to keep the air around them moist. You can also group your money tree with other plants to boost the humidity level.” Money tree plants are tropical, so they do best in warm environments between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Do I Need to Braid My Money Tree?

No, braiding your money tree is not necessary for the plant to thrive.

“Money trees are not naturally braided in the wild and the braiding is only done through cultivation for aesthetics,” Lalicata explains. “If you actually prefer your money tree to grow naturally like it would in the wild, you can leave it unbraided!” However, if you've purchased an already-braided tree, or prefer the look of the intertwined branches, you can absolutely braid the trunk as your plant grows.

Just know that's best to braid the stems while the plant is young—Lalicata recommends looking for flexible and still-green stems to know your tree's age. “If the stems have already created bark, it will be hard to achieve the braiding without breaking the stems,” she says.

Here's how to braid a money tree, according to Lalicata:

1. Take three stems and gently cross one stem over another, just like braiding hair, starting at the base of the plant for new plants or continuing on the top growth where it was last braided.

2. Continue this process, alternating the stems over one another, making sure to braid loosely enough that you don't damage the plant. Then simply tie the braid with velcro tape, jute twine, or string of your choosing.

3. As the plant grows, you may need to adjust the ties and continue the braid higher up.

How to Prune Your Money Tree

According to the New York Botanical Gardens Plant and Research Guide, pruning your money tree should be an annual occurrence. It states: “Pruning to shape and tidy money tree houseplants should take place in the spring when the plant is resuming strong growth. Remember that your plant does not like change, so pruning during this season of strength is important.” Pruning during the winter or off-season can cause the plant to go into shock and stunt its growth.

How to Propagate Your Money Tree

First, make sure that your money tree is not a patented cultivar (meaning that it doesn't have a patent number or PPAF listed on its tag), which makes it illegal to cultivate. Then, plan your propagation for the spring or summer months when the plant is actively growing.

Here are the propagation steps to follow:

1. Cut a leaf segment a few inches long, being sure to include the growth node, which is a little knot-like bump beneath the leaves.

2. Submerge the stem cutting in a cup of water and leave it in a well-lit area until roots begin to form, which could take a few weeks.

3. Once the roots are a few inches long, it's time to pot the plant in a small planter with a standard potting mix.

4. Wait a month or so before adding fertilizer and continue with a standard care routine.

Common Money Tree Problems

Money trees are susceptible to household plant pests and scaling. Applying neem oil monthly usually takes care of those problems. If you do begin to have a pest problem, isolate your money tree so the critters don't spread to your other houseplants.

Spider Mites

According to Lalicata, money trees are susceptible to infestations of spider mites, which are microscopic arachnids that feed off plant cells. “Signs of spider mites include honey-dew (sticky secretions), stippling of the foliage, and overall loss of vigor and stunted growth,” she explains.

Yellow or Brown Leaves

Yellowing or browning leaves are a common indicator of underwatering or too much sun. If the leaves are also crispy or curling, water the plant deeply and place it out of direct sunlight for a few days while it recovers.

Soft Stems or Trunk

Another big issue is root rot, says Plant Proper, which usually happens from overwatering. “If the plant starts wilting or turning yellow and the soil smells funky, you might want to check to see if the roots are rotting.” This will look like mushy, soggy roots. A soft, slightly squishy trunk is also a common sign of overwatering. Pause your watering schedule and place your plant in a sunny spot to help it dry back out.

Leggy Branches

If you notice there's no new leaf growth for a while, you're not giving your money tree enough light. A new location, supplemental fertilizer, plant food, or a grow light may help. If you've repotted or moved your plant to a new location recently, your money tree is probably just adjusting to its new environment, so patience is key.

Repotting Your Money Tree

According to Lalicata, “Money trees have a shallow root system, despite how tall the plant gets, so they don’t need to be repotted as often as you may think.” She recommends repotting your plant every two to three years, making sure to take note when it starts to become rootbound (i.e., you see roots poking out of your planter).

Lalicata says to choose a new planter pot that’s just slightly bigger than the previous one to avoid excess water retention. “They’ll do better in wider, shallow pots instead of deep planters, but deep planters can work most times, as long as you are potting when they are pot-bound and only upgrade by one inch in container size,” she explains.

Money Tree FAQs

Are Money Tree Plants Toxic?

No, the money tree plant is not toxic and is safe for households with pets and small children.

Do Money Trees Flower?

When grown in their natural habitat (outdoors in the forests of Central and South America), money trees can produce yellow-white flowers through pollination. Because of the need for bees or other pollinators, it is unlikely that a money tree will bloom indoors.

How Long Do Money Tree Plants Live?

With the proper care routine and growing conditions, money trees can live for more than a decade.

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