Money Tree is the braided good-luck plant: five or more slender trunks braided together, topped with a canopy of glossy, hand-shaped leaves in a bright green. It is one of the most popular indoor trees, and a healthy plant has a neat, compact canopy that looks tidy in a living room or office.
It grows into a small indoor tree, and the braided trunk is its signature — the braid is formed when the plant is young, and it does not need re-braiding. It is a moderate grower, and it suits a bright corner where it has room for its canopy to spread without pressing against a wall. The trunk is the weak point. Money Trees are famous for trunk rot: the braided stems hold moisture, and overwatering — or water sitting at the base — can rot the trunk from the inside, often before the leaves show anything wrong. This guide covers exactly what it needs: light, watering, humidity, temperature, soil, repotting, feeding, propagation and the common problems that show up when something is off.
Money Tree at a glance
| Care factor | What this plant needs |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Pachira aquatica |
| Light | bright indirect |
| Water | every 1–2 weeks; let top soil dry |
| Humidity | moderate |
| Temperature | 65–80°F (18–27°C) |
| Repotting | every 2–3 years |
| Pet safety | non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Light
Give your Money Tree bright indirect. Give it bright indirect light — near an east- or west-facing window is ideal. Bright light keeps the canopy full and the leaves glossy; in too little light the leaves drop and growth stalls. Avoid harsh direct sun, which can scorch the leaves, and rotate the pot occasionally so the canopy grows evenly. Our grow-light calculator can help work out whether your spot is bright enough, and our sunlight calculator can help you check how much light a window really gets through the day.
Watering
Water as follows: every 1–2 weeks; let top soil dry. Water every 1–2 weeks and let the top soil dry between waterings. Water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage holes, then empty the saucer — never let the plant sit in standing water. The braided trunk rots fast in wet soil, so when in doubt, wait a day: underwatering is far safer than overwatering with this plant. Our watering calculator gives a starting point for your pot size, and the watering schedule generator can help you build a routine around it.
Humidity and temperature
Money Tree needs moderate humidity and temperatures of 65–80°F (18–27°C). Money Tree likes moderate humidity, which most homes provide without extra effort. Dry air can cause brown leaf tips, so grouping plants together helps, and a humidifier is worth it in a very dry heated home. Keep it away from radiators and dry draughts, which crisp the leaf edges. Our humidity and temperature checker can tell you whether your room suits this plant. Temperature matters just as much as humidity: keep it away from cold windows in winter, from radiators that dry the air, and from air-conditioning vents that blast cold air directly at it.
Soil and potting
Indoors, this plant needs a rich but very free-draining potting mix. A light, free-draining mix suits it: potting soil with plenty of perlite, so water runs through quickly and the roots never sit wet. The pot must have drainage holes. A heavy pot helps stop a top-heavy tree tipping, and a pot that is too big holds wet soil the trunk cannot use — so size the pot to the roots, not to the canopy. Our potting-mix calculator can work out the parts for a homemade mix for your pot size, and our soil volume calculator can work out how much mix you will need.
Repotting
Repot every 2–3 years, in spring, or sooner if roots are circling the drainage holes. Repot every 2–3 years in spring, moving up only one pot size. Check the roots each spring: if they are circling the drainage holes, it is time. When you repot, check the base of the trunk for soft, dark patches — early trunk rot — and remove any soft, rotted roots. Repotting is also a good moment to check the ties holding the braid. Our repotting calculator can help you work out the next pot size and how much fresh mix you will need.
Feeding
Feed during the growing season, in spring and summer, with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half the strength on the label, roughly once a month while the plant is actively growing. Feed in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength, about once a month while it is actively growing. It is a moderate feeder, and excess fertiliser burns the leaf edges. Do not feed in autumn and winter when growth slows. Our fertiliser calculator can help you work out the right amount for your pot size. Always follow the directions on the label — more fertiliser is not better, and excess salts build up in the soil and burn the roots.
Propagation
Money Tree is propagated from stem cuttings. Take a tip cutting with a few leaves in spring or summer, remove the lower leaves, and place it in water or straight into moist, free-draining mix. Roots usually appear within a few weeks; once rooted, pot the cutting up and keep it warm and bright, out of direct sun. A cutting will grow into a single-stemmed tree — the braided trunk of a shop-bought plant is formed by braiding several young stems together, which you can do with young, flexible stems if you grow several cuttings.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Slow growth | too little light or pot-bound | Check light and whether the plant is pot-bound; repot in spring if needed. |
| Pests | check undersides of leaves regularly | Check leaf undersides weekly; wipe leaves and isolate the plant. |
| Yellow leaves | overwatering | Let the soil dry a little more between waterings; check drainage and remove yellow leaves. |
Slow growth
Likely cause: too little light or pot-bound. Slow growth is usually a light or pot problem rather than a disease. First check the light: this plant needs the light level in the table above, and in a dim spot it will barely grow at all. Then check the pot — if roots are circling the drainage holes or pushing out of the top, the plant is pot-bound and needs repotting in spring. A plant that is warm, bright and in fresh mix should put on steady growth through spring and summer; almost no houseplant grows fast in the dark of winter, so judge growth in the growing season.
Pests
Likely cause: check undersides of leaves regularly. Pests on this plant are usually found on the undersides of the leaves, so check there regularly — a quick look under a few leaves once a week catches most problems early. Common culprits are the usual houseplant pests, which thrive in dry air and on stressed plants. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth, pick off what you can see, and isolate the plant from its neighbours until the problem is gone. Our pest identifier helper can help work out what you are dealing with.
Yellow leaves
Likely cause: overwatering. Yellow leaves are the plant's earliest complaint, and they usually point at the roots rather than the leaves themselves. Check the soil before you do anything else: if it is wet deep down several days after watering, the roots are sitting too wet and the plant is telling you to water less and check drainage. Remove leaves only once they are fully yellow, since a half-yellow leaf is still feeding the plant, and if several leaves yellow at once, lift the plant and look at the roots — soft, dark, mushy roots mean rot, and you should cut the damaged roots away and repot in fresh, dry mix.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Money Tree?
every 1–2 weeks; let top soil dry. Water every 1–2 weeks and let the top soil dry between waterings. Check the soil with your finger before you water — the surface can look dry while the soil below is still wet, and the plant's needs change with the season, the pot size and the light.
How much light does Money Tree need?
It needs bright indirect. Give it bright indirect light — near an east- or west-facing window is ideal. Too little light gives stretched, pale growth, and harsh direct sun — where it is not wanted — scorches the leaves.
Is Money Tree safe for cats and dogs?
According to the data used for this guide, this plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs. That does not mean pets should eat it — any plant can upset a stomach — but it is one of the safer choices for a home with pets that chew plants.
Why is the trunk of my Money Tree soft?
Soft trunk usually means rot from overwatering — the most serious problem with Money Trees. Check the soil: if it is wet, stop watering, let it dry out, and lift the plant to look at the roots. Cut away soft, dark, rotted roots and repot in fresh, dry, free-draining mix. If the trunk itself is soft and mushy, the rot may be too far gone to save.
What should I do if my Money Tree looks unhappy?
Start with the basics: check the soil moisture, the light, and the temperature, and look at the problems table above. Most unhappy houseplants are unhappy about water, light or cold, not about a rare disease — fix the care first, give the plant a few weeks, and judge it by the new growth, not by the damaged leaves, which will not heal.