How often to water a money tree
Water every one to two weeks, once the top two inches of soil are dry. Water thoroughly until it drains, then leave it alone until it’s dry again. Pachira stores water in that swollen trunk base, so it handles a missed week far better than a doubled-up one.
In winter, stretch it out — every two to three weeks is plenty. The commonest money tree death is a well-meaning fortnightly routine kept identical all year, which is about right in July and much too much in January.
Light
Bright, indirect light is ideal, and it does fine a few feet back from a window or in a medium-light room. Direct afternoon sun scorches the leaves, so a sheer curtain or a bit of distance from a south window helps.
Turn the pot a quarter-turn every time you water. Money trees lean hard toward the light, and with a braided trunk that can’t correct itself, a plant that spent a year facing one way ends up permanently lopsided.
Why is my money tree dying?
Yellow leaves dropping off is the classic sign of too much water. The trunk should feel firm; if the base is soft or spongy, that’s rot and the watering needs to stop immediately.
Brown, crispy leaf edges usually mean dry air or underwatering, and sometimes minerals from hard tap water. It’s a milder complaint than yellowing and much easier to correct.
Leaf drop right after you bring it home is normal acclimation, not a crisis. Give it a stable bright spot and a consistent schedule and it settles within a few weeks. Repeated leaf drop later on is usually a light or watering problem.
Keeping it alive when you share a home
Money trees are frequently office plants and gift plants, which means they are frequently nobody’s plant — everyone likes it, nobody waters it, and it dies slowly in a corner. A plant that only needs attention every couple of weeks is exactly the kind that falls through the gaps.
It’s a good candidate for a shared reminder rather than a shared habit. Fortnightly in summer, monthly in winter, and one person confirming it was actually done is enough to keep it alive indefinitely.
The honest bit
My take: if you want a floor-standing plant and you have a cat that chews, this is the one. Most large statement plants — fiddle leaf figs, rubber plants, bird of paradise, dracaenas — are toxic. Pachira is on the ASPCA non-toxic list and gets to five or six feet indoors. That combination is rarer than it should be.
A naming warning worth taking seriously, though. “Money plant” is used for at least three different plants — this one, pothos, and jade — and the other two are both toxic to pets. If somebody hands you a “money plant,” find out what it actually is before you decide where it can live.
Money Tree FAQ
- How often should I water a money tree?
- Every one to two weeks in the growing season, when the top two inches of soil are dry, and every two to three weeks in winter. It stores water in the swollen trunk base and copes much better with being late than with being early.
- Are money trees safe for cats and dogs?
- Yes — the ASPCA lists money tree (Pachira aquatica) as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Eating a lot of any plant can cause nausea or loose stool, but there is nothing poisonous in it. Beware the name, though: “money plant” is also used for pothos and jade, and both of those are toxic.
- Why are my money tree leaves turning yellow and falling off?
- Overwatering is the most likely cause. Let the soil dry down two inches before watering again and check the pot drains. If the base of the trunk feels soft or spongy, that is rot, and you should stop watering entirely.
- Why is my money tree leaning to one side?
- It’s growing toward the light. Rotate the pot a quarter-turn each time you water so every side gets its share — braided trunks can’t straighten themselves out later.