Money Tree 4”

Money Tree, Pachira aquatica, is a tropical tree native from Mexico through parts of Central and South America, where it naturally grows in warm, seasonally wet environments near rivers and other waterways. Its glossy green leaves are made up of multiple leaflets spreading from one central point, creating the recognizable hand-shaped canopy. The braided trunk commonly seen on houseplant Money Trees is not how the tree naturally grows. Young stems are braided while they are still flexible during production. As those stems thicken, they create the substantial trunk and tree-like appearance that makes Money Trees such popular indoor plants.

Money Tree grows upright rather than climbing or vining, so it does not need a pole or other support to mature. Outdoors in tropical climates, Pachira aquatica can become a very large tree, but container growth keeps it much smaller indoors, where approximately 6–8 feet is a realistic potential height with enough time and suitable conditions. As the plant matures, its stems become woodier and the canopy develops above them. Pruning can encourage additional branching when a fuller shape is preferred. The dramatic flowers and large fruits produced by mature outdoor trees are not something most people should expect from a Money Tree grown inside the home.

For natural light, start with an east-facing window approximately 1–3 feet from the glass or a south-facing window approximately 3–6 feet back. Aim for roughly 500–1,000 foot-candles measured at the leaves. Money Trees can tolerate lower-light conditions, but tolerating lower light is different from actively growing well in it. Window size, trees, overhangs, screens, neighboring buildings, season and glass can all change how much light actually reaches the plant. These distances are starting points. Foot-candles tell you how much light is actually reaching the leaves and give you a much better way to determine whether the location works in your particular home.

Under grow lights, use a 5000–6500K light and aim for that same approximate 500–1,000 foot-candle range at the foliage. Kelvin tells you the color of the light. It does not tell you how strong the light is. The foot-candle reading tells you how much light is actually reaching your plant. There is no universal number of inches a Money Tree should sit beneath a grow light because fixtures vary tremendously in output. As the tree becomes larger, coverage matters too. A small fixture that adequately lights a young plant may not provide enough coverage for a much larger canopy later.

Water when your plant needs watered. Money Trees naturally grow in environments where water is readily available, but that does not mean a Money Tree in a nursery pot wants its root zone continuously saturated. It prefers access to moisture along with good drainage and oxygen around the roots. Water thoroughly when the plant has used enough of the available moisture, allow the excess to drain, and avoid leaving the container sitting in standing water. How quickly that happens will change with the amount of light, temperature, root mass, plant size and season, so learn the behavior of your plant and its pot rather than assigning it a watering day.

Read the plant along with the root zone. A Money Tree that has become too dry may begin to droop or shed leaves, but drooping, yellowing or leaf loss does not automatically tell you to water. Check deeper into the pot and consider how long the root zone has remained wet, the plant’s current light, drainage and any recent environmental changes before deciding what the leaf is telling you. Lower light also means slower water use, so a Money Tree moved farther from useful light may suddenly remain wet considerably longer than it did before. After moving from Rooted’s growing environment into a home, some temporary slowing or loss of an older leaf can also be part of acclimation. Look for a pattern rather than reacting to a single leaf.

Success looks like continued new growth, healthy green foliage, sturdy stems and a canopy that gradually becomes fuller as the plant develops. Because Money Trees can tolerate lower light, simply remaining alive and green is not necessarily the best measure of whether the placement is working. Watch the direction the plant is moving. Consistent new growth and a canopy that continues developing tell you much more than expecting every individual leaf to remain perfect.

Money Trees can occasionally attract common houseplant pests including scale, mealybugs and aphids. When you are spending time with the plant, make a habit of looking at both sides of the leaflets, along the leaf stems and around tender new growth. Yellowing, spotting, leaf drop or other damage does not automatically identify a pest. Damage is a reason to inspect, not a diagnosis. Identify what is actually present before deciding whether treatment is needed.