Money Tree Care: Light, Water, Yellow Leaves and Braiding Tips

With its braided trunk and umbrella of glossy leaves, the money tree is one of the most popular gift plants around, and a surprisingly easy one to keep. In the wild, Pachira aquatica grows along rivers and in freshwater swamps from southern Mexico to northern Brazil, so it likes bright light, regular drinks and warm, humid air. Indoors it usually reaches 6 to 8 feet. The one thing it really dislikes is change, so most problems come from moving it around or watering on a schedule.

Money tree care at a glance

Need	What a money tree wants
Light	Bright, indirect light; gentle morning sun is fine
Water	When the top 2 inches are dry; drain well, never leave it in water
Soil	Airy, fast-draining peat- or coir-based mix with perlite
Temperature	65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C); keep above 50°F (10°C)
Humidity	Average to high; 50% or more is ideal
Feeding	Half strength every 2 to 4 weeks in spring and summer
Size indoors	Usually 6 to 8 feet, easily kept smaller by pruning
Pets	Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)

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About braided money trees

Most money trees are sold as several young trunks braided together. NC State Extension notes the practice started in Taiwan, where the braid is believed to “lock in” good fortune. The braid is just for looks: each trunk is a separate plant, and they need the same care as a single tree.

• Check the ties. Growers often hold the braid with a plastic tie or wire. Loosen or remove it once the trunks have set, or it can cut into the bark as they thicken.
• Keep braiding gently. If you want a longer braid, loosely weave the young, green upper stems in spring and secure them with soft string.
• One dead trunk? It happens. Cut it off at the soil line; the others carry on.
• Braided trees grown indoors rarely flower, so do not expect blooms.

How much light does a money tree need?

A money tree is happiest in bright, indirect light, close to an east window or a few feet back from a south or west window. A little gentle morning sun is fine, but strong afternoon sun through glass can scorch the leaves. It tolerates medium light, but grows slower and leggier with smaller leaves.

Turn the pot a quarter turn every time you water so it grows evenly instead of leaning toward the window. In a dim home, a full-spectrum grow light works well. See our houseplant lighting guide to check your spot.

How often to water a money tree

Water thoroughly when the top 2 inches of soil are dry, until water runs out of the drainage holes. Wait 15 minutes, then tip away the water in the saucer or cover pot. In a bright, warm room that is often about once a week in summer and every 2 to 3 weeks in winter, but always check the soil first.

Money trees come from wet places, yet NC State Extension warns that standing water is not tolerated and quickly leads to root rot. On the other hand, letting the soil dry out completely makes it drop leaves. The finger test in our watering guide keeps you between the two.

Best soil and pot

Use a light, well-draining houseplant mix. A peat- or coir-based potting mix with a few handfuls of perlite works well. The pot must have drainage holes. Choose a pot only a little bigger than the root ball, because extra soil stays wet. Many money trees are sold in a plastic nursery pot sitting inside a decorative pot without holes, so lift it out to water and let it drain.

Temperature and humidity

Keep it at 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C). It does not like cold: keep it above 50°F (10°C), and if it spends summer outdoors, bring it in before nights cool down. Keep it out of the path of heaters, air conditioners and drafty doors, which cause leaf drop.

It enjoys humidity. Normal room air is usually fine, but in winter, when heating dries the air, group it with other plants, stand it on a pebble tray, or use a humidifier. Crispy brown leaf edges are the classic sign the air is too dry. Our humidity guide compares the options.

Fertilizing a money tree

Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half strength every 2 to 4 weeks from spring to late summer. Water first so you never feed dry roots. Stop feeding in fall and winter, when growth slows. Pale new leaves in the growing season can mean it is hungry. More in our fertilizing guide.

How to prune a money tree

Pruning keeps a money tree compact and full. Do it in spring or summer, when it regrows quickly.

1. Wipe clean, sharp pruners with rubbing alcohol.
2. Cut just above a leaf node (where a leaf joins the stem). New branches sprout from the node below the cut.
3. Shorten the tallest stems and any that stick out, keeping a rounded canopy.
4. Remove yellow or damaged leaves at the base of their stalk.
5. Take no more than a quarter of the leaves at once.
6. Keep the healthy cuttings to grow new plants.

Our pruning guide shows where to cut on any houseplant.

How to propagate a money tree

Money trees grow easily from stem cuttings in spring or summer:

1. Cut a 6-inch piece of stem with a few leaves and at least one node.
2. Remove the lowest leaves so no leaves sit below the water or soil.
3. Stand it in a glass of water, or push it into moist potting mix.
4. Keep it warm and in bright, indirect light. Change the water weekly.
5. Roots usually appear within a few weeks. Pot water-rooted cuttings once roots are about 1 to 2 inches long.

Note that a cutting grows into a normal single-stem tree, without the thick base or braid you see on nursery plants. More methods are in our propagation guide.

When to repot

Money trees grow slowly in pots and only need repotting every 2 to 3 years, in spring. Repot sooner if roots grow out of the drainage holes or water runs straight through. Move up only one pot size and use fresh mix. Our repotting guide walks you through it.

Common money tree problems and fixes

What you see	Most likely cause	What to do
Yellow leaves, soil wet	Overwatering or poor drainage	Let the top 2 inches dry; check the pot drains; empty the saucer
Yellow leaves, soil dry	Underwatering or hunger	Water thoroughly; feed in spring and summer
Leaves dropping suddenly	Moved, drafts, cold, or the soil dried out	Keep it in one bright spot away from vents and doors; water evenly
Brown, crispy leaf edges	Dry air or underwatering	Raise humidity in winter; water when the top 2 inches are dry
Soft, mushy or wrinkled trunk	Root rot	Unpot, cut away soft roots or a rotten trunk; repot in fresh mix
Leggy stems, small leaves	Not enough light	Move to brighter, indirect light; prune in spring
Scorched, pale patches	Too much direct sun	Move back from the window or add a sheer curtain
Sticky leaves, tiny bugs	Scale, mealybugs or aphids	Wipe leaves, then spray insecticidal soap weekly for a month

Some leaf drop is normal after bringing a new money tree home, as NYBG plant experts point out: it is adjusting to lower indoor light. Keep care steady and new leaves will follow. More help in our guides to yellow leaves, root rot and houseplant pests.

Is a money tree safe for pets?

The ASPCA lists the money tree (Pachira aquatica) as non-toxic to cats and dogs. NC State Extension notes that a cat chewing on it may still get a mild upset stomach, with vomiting or drooling, so keep it out of reach of plant-chewing pets. Do not confuse it with the “money plant” (pothos) or the jade plant, which are both toxic to pets. Check any plant with our free Plant Toxicity Checker.

Quick action checklist

Save this for later: pin the cheat sheet below to your Pinterest plant board.

Money tree FAQ

Sources and further reading

This guide was written by Manik for Parenting Plants and checked against university extension and botanical garden advice. Last reviewed November 2026.

• NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Pachira aquatica (money tree)
• New York Botanical Garden: How do I care for my money tree houseplant?
• ASPCA: Money tree toxicity