Money Tree Plant

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Money trees often feature five or six leaves

Yet the rare seven-leaf stem is thought to bring unparalleled luck and fortune. This seven-leaf Money Tree is just as much a sign of good luck as the lucky four-leaf clover! The Money Tree is thought to bring good fortune. Certainly, it will bring delight with its lush leaves and expertly trained and braided trunk. It is very hardy. It prefers low light and infrequent watering and should be kept out of direct sun. It is planted in a pot. With minimal care, your Money Tree will thrive, offering years of pleasure and perhaps a bit of luck.

Money trees are known as Pachira aquatica

Aquatica is a symbol of luck and prosperity—but they haven’t had that meaning for all that long. According to Bloomscape, this belief doesn’t date back centuries, as you might expect, but rather to the 1980s. The braided money tree as we know it was first cultivated by a truck driver in Taiwan and quickly became popular in Asia among practitioners of feng shui.

One of the easiest indoor plants to care for, a money tree is ideal for new plant parents and greenery veterans who want a break from fussy routines. Money tree care is simple: Similar to the snake plant and philodendron, a money tree will forgive you if you forget to water it every once in a while. It’s adaptable to various sun conditions and is even low-light friendly. Native to Central and South America, money trees can grow to more than 60 feet tall in their natural habitat. You won’t have to prune your indoor money tree to contain it, but it can still reach an impressive six feet tall. And with its corner-filling greenery, this tall, glossy, and handsome houseplant will repay your efforts.

Money trees might pack you back in yet another way: They’re rumoured to bring prosperity, abundance, and good fortune into your life (hence the name), so a money tree is a great lucky gift for a grad or friend starting a new life chapter. It’s also always a great idea to buy yourself one to manifest good things in your home.
Money tree care is easy if you know the basics and stick to them. Learn how to keep your money tree plant growing, without shedding leaves or turning brown.

Money trees like bright, indirect light, which means you should place yours near a sunny window that faces east, west, or south. Just be careful about giving it direct sunlight, which can scorch its leaves, especially during the hottest months of the year. That’s because the small money trees we grow indoors are juvenile plants; in nature, they’d be shaded from direct sun by taller trees in the forest.

Money trees start to reach toward the sun as they grow, so turn your plant periodically to make sure it expands evenly.

Even though money trees grow in wetlands, they don’t like to stay soaking wet. Water your money tree until water runs out of the bottom of the pot every one to two weeks, allowing the soil to mostly dry out between waterings. You may find that you need to water it more or less often depending on the conditions inside your home. The best way to tell if a money tree needs water is to poke your finger into the soil. If it still feels wet, wait a few more days and check again before you give it a drink. Also, dump the saucer underneath your plant when it’s finished draining each time you water it.

Money tree plants are tropical, so they do best in warm environments between 65 and 85 degrees. To increase the humidity to around 50 per cent, where money plants like it, you can run a humidifier or group other houseplants near your money tree plant; they’ll transpire (release water vapours) and be mutually beneficial to each other. Misting isn’t an effective way to boost humidity, no matter how many times you’ve heard or read that suggestion.

While money tree plants don’t have to be braided, most modern money trees are braided when you buy them to give them a more substantial trunk. Braided money trees are actually multiple plants that have had their trunks woven together during growth, while they’re flexible. If you’d like to braid your plant, weave the trunks together gently and loosely tie a string around the top to keep it together. As the tree grows, continue this process.

Money tree plants are traditionally round on top, but you can also let your plant do its own thing and just prune problematic parts to keep your plant thriving and encourage new growth. You can also prune your plant to keep it small if you’d like. Regular pruning of the lower leaves also helps to encourage new growth at the top of the plant.

The easiest time to propagate your money tree is during the spring or summer months when the plant is actively growing. Here’s how to properly cut trimmings in order to propagate:

1/ Cut a segment, at least 4 inches long, from a healthy stem, making sure to include new nodes.
2/ Remove the lower leaves and place the cutting in a cup or bowl of water. Submerge only the bottom.
3/ Once the cutting has sprouted roots, you can pot it in regular potting soil.

Problems

Money tree plants are prone to bugs like aphids and scaling, but applying neem oil usually takes care of those problems. These pests can cause major damage to your plant, so deal with them as soon as you see them to avoid loose, drooping, and dying leaves.
Typically, yellowing or browning leaves indicate that you are either overwatering or underwatering your money tree. If the leaves are both discoloured and curling, you’re underwatering. Look to the trunk to see signs of overwatering.
If the stems or trunk of your plant are becoming too soft (slightly squishy to the touch), you’re overwatering it. Place it in a spot with brighter sun and give it a break from your regular watering schedule.

If you notice there’s no new leaf growth you’re not giving it enough light. A new location, supplemental fertilizer plant food, or a grow light may help.

We like to recommend these places to buy a money tree online—many of them allow you to customize your planter or select a size. It’s always great to head to your local nursery too.

We like to recommend these places to buy a money tree online—many of them allow you to customize your planter or select a size. It’s always great to head to your local nursery too.

When grown outdoors, money trees can produce yellow-white flowers through pollination. Because of the need for bees or other pollinators, the tree won’t bloom indoors.

With the proper care routine and growing conditions, money trees can live for more than a decade.