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Money tree care
Pachira aquatica · Malvaceae
Also called Guiana chestnut, Malabar chestnut, Mexican fortune tree.
A tropical wetland tree from Mexico to northern South America, sold indoors as a small tree with hand-shaped leaves and, often, braided trunks. Indoors it usually stays under 2.5 m and wants bright, filtered light and even moisture.
Light
Bright IndirectWatering
WeeklyDifficulty
EasyPets
Non-toxic to cats and dogsHeight indoors
1-2.5 m
Growth
Fast
Temperature
18-24 °C
Not below 7 °C
Humidity
50% - 70%
Likes humid air
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Slightly acidic soil
Native to
- Mexico
- Belize
- Guatemala
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Colombia
- Venezuela
- Guyana
- Suriname
- French Guiana
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Bolivia
- Brazil
Through the year
Water thoroughly when the top 3 to 5 cm of soil are dry, and never leave the pot standing in water.
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Spring
WeeklyRepot if roots fill the pot and start feeding.
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Summer
WeeklyWater regularly and keep it out of hot midday sun.
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Autumn
Every 2 weeksStop fertilizing and water a little less.
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Winter
Every 2 weeksKeep it above 7 °C, away from drafts, and water only when the top of the soil is dry.
Feeding
Every 4 weeks in spring and summer. Balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Do not feed in winter.
Care tips
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Use a pot with drainage
It sits in water in the wild, but in a pot standing water rots the roots.
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Rotate it
Turn the pot every few weeks so the crown grows evenly.
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Prune in spring
Cut back long shoots to keep it compact; new growth appears below the cut.
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Leave the braid alone
Braided trunks are set when young; do not try to tighten or unwind them.
Common problems
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Sudden leaf drop
What you seeHealthy-looking leaves fall after the soil dried out completely.
What to doWater more regularly so the soil stays lightly moist through the growing season.
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Yellow leaves and soft trunk
What you seeLeaves yellow and the base of the trunk feels soft or smells sour.
What to doStop watering, check the roots for rot and repot into free-draining mix if needed.
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Scorched leaves
What you seePale or brown patches appear on leaves facing the window.
What to doMove it back from direct sun or filter the light with a sheer curtain.
Pets
Is money tree safe for cats and dogs?
Non-toxic to cats and dogs. The ASPCA lists the money tree as non-toxic to cats and dogs; eating it may still cause vomiting or loose stool.
Good to know
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Braiding young trunks together began in Taiwan in the 1980s, where the plant became a feng shui symbol of good fortune.
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Outdoors it produces large night-scented flowers that last a single day, followed by woody pods of large seeds that are eaten in parts of its range, although some sources question whether they are safe.
