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Caring for a Money Tree Is Easy, Even for New Plant Parents, With These Simple Tips

Photo credit: Socha - Getty Images
Photo credit: Socha - Getty Images


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There's seemingly endless choices for greenery in your home, be it succulent plants or cactus gardens, or plants for your bathroom, bedroom, or living room. But how many will bring you luck, positive energy, and financial success? Legend has it that the money tree plant, or Pachira aquatica, will do just that. Believe the folklore if you like, but either way the money tree's glossy green leaves are sure to be just the right tropical addition for any indoor space in your home. They have even been shown to reduce indoor volatile organic compounds, and they aren't hard to care for!

You can find money trees with a braided trunk or in bonsai form. In their native Central and South America, they grow wild in the wetlands (thus the term "aquatica" in the scientific name), but they adapt well to houseplant life. "It’s a good choice for new plant parents because it’s not finicky," says Barbara Pleasant, author of The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual. "It’s actually pretty resilient."

Here’s how to care for your money tree plant to keep it well fed and happy.

What kind of light should I give my money tree?

To look its best, money trees need bright light, but they'll adjust to moderate light okay, too. If you try to grow it in light that’s way too dim, though, the plant will stretch toward the light and become, well, rather ugly. In order to keep your money tree growing in an upright position, place it in a south or west-facing window. Rotate the pot a little once a week to maintain vertical growth, or use an LED grow light if you don’t have the right light conditions.

Photo credit: NadyaPhoto
Photo credit: NadyaPhoto

How do I care for my money tree?

Your money tree is tropical, so it needs temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees. It doesn't like cold, so keep it away from drafty windows. Let it dry out a little between waterings, and then water until it runs out of the drainage holes, dumping out the overflow from the saucer. If you like, feed it an all-purpose fertilizer in spring and summer when the plant is actively growing, but not in winter when it’s resting like most other plants.

Are money trees safe around pets?

It’s not currently on the ASPCA’s toxic plant list for pets. But any plant can cause stomach upset and vomiting if your pet nibbles on it, so keep an eye on your cats and dogs with all your indoor plants and indoor trees.

Can I take my money tree outdoors in summer?

The answer is yes, but you don't have to move it anywhere if it’s happy indoors, says Pleasant. Taking your money tree outdoors doesn’t actually do anything for it if it’s already healthy, and it could introduce pests to the plant. On the other hand, if you do decide to take it outside, keep it in dappled sunlight so the leaves don’t become scorched. Bring it back indoors before nights dip into the 50s. And to be extra-safe, consider treating the plant with neem oil before bringing it inside to prevent any potential hitchhikers from coming in with it and infesting the rest of your indoor plants.

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