Q&A for How to Care for a Money Tree

Return to Full Article

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How often do you water a money tree?
    Maggie Moran
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    It is best to allow the soil at the top to dry out before watering. You do not water the plant until the top 2-4 inches of soil are dry. Note that overwatering can cause root rot.
  • Question
    Why are the leaves on my money tree falling off?
    Maggie Moran
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    The two reasons that this could be happening are overwatering or allowing too much sun.
  • Question
    How much sun does a money tree need?
    Maggie Moran
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    The money tree grows best in either full sun or partial shade. If they grow outdoors, they do not need direct sun, but indoor money trees do best in full sun.
  • Question
    Do money trees bring good luck?
    Maggie Moran
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Money trees are considered a good luck charm and are rumored to bring good fortune, prosperity, and wealth.
  • Question
    Will a money tree braid on its own?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, it doesn't braid naturally. It is braided by people when the stems are young and flexible. Each braid is a separate plant.
  • Question
    Can I remove the soil and just put it in straight water?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, the money tree will need soil and water to be healthy.
  • Question
    How do I stop my money tree from growing so tall if it's trunk is too weak to hold itself up?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Prune it until the trunk can steadily hold itself up. The trunk might be weak due to overwatering, so check how often you're watering and test the soil moisture before watering.
  • Question
    Is a money tree harmful to animals?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, money tree is not harmful to animals. However, they should be discouraged from chewing its leaves, as it could cause stomach irritation or upset.
  • Question
    My money tree sits in front of a 15' glass block wall and I do rotate it about once per week. It only gets the afternoon sun but I am in Texas. Should I try to move it to another location?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    It sounds like the light is filtered by the block wall but direct light may cause heat stress and leaf burn. Watch for unusual leaf coloration and consider moving it to an area with indirect light.
  • Question
    Why do some of the leaves on my money tree have brown spots or tips? Otherwise. it looks green and healthy.
    Emiray Gamer
    Emiray Gamer
    Community Answer
    Too much sunlight or under watering could be the problem. Water until it drains out of the holes every 1-2 weeks and keep in indirect sunlight only. Also, remember to keep moisture at around 50%.
  • Question
    I have planted the seeds of money tree. They have started budding. But on top of the bud there is the seed attached still. Is it normal?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    Yes. Try not to tear it off as you could injure the seeding. If you feel you must remove the shell casing, first wait for the plant to grow strong enough to handle the delicate surgical procedure, and remember that you could easily kill the developing seedling.
  • Question
    My money tree is about 4 feet tall and starting to bend over. All of the leaves are at the top. Do I stake it or what?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    You may stake it if you like the height or trim it and try to root the trimmings. Keep in mind any trimmed location will be a visible cut on the main stalk.
  • Question
    I have one that gets afternoon evening sunlight and plenty of water but recently has been getting brown spots on leaves in random places (mostly around the edges of the leaves). Any ideas as to why?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    Plenty of water is likely the issue. These plants prefer to be watered approximately once every two weeks if in a medium pot and sometimes less in a large pot. I suspect a fungal disease. Let it dry out completely, remove the leaves and stems but leave the stalks, repot it with plenty of water (wash pot with soap), let drain, spray all the way around with an anti-fungal, bring back inside, and watch carefully for return of fungus as the leaves regrow.
  • Question
    How many times or when should I be pruning my money tree?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    Pruning is cosmetic and entirely based on your desires and wishes for height, style, and width. Prune in early spring if possible.
  • Question
    I've kept my money tree indoors. The temperature nowadays is approximately 38 degree Celsius. The leaves are falling, I don't overwater it, watering in 3 days. Please guide. What to do to have it healthy?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    This is too hot for a money tree that is not misted with a spray bottle; the leaves will dry out or burn. Watering every 3 days is usually too often and could cause root rot or fungal disease. Unpot, check health of roots, check leaves for fungal disease, repot, and mist leaves while holding up a towel behind to catch excess spray.
  • Question
    How often do you water a money tree when you first repot it?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    Approximately every two weeks. Slightly more or less depending on humidity, temperature, size.
  • Question
    My money tree is getting too big to the point where it's leaning. The leaning part is too far away from the trunk, so what would you recommend I do?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    Your choice: either stake it upright until it grows thicker/stronger or cut off the leaning branch portion and patiently allow it to start new leaves. Keep in mind the place where you cut it will be visible on the trunk. You can also try to root the cutting.
  • Question
    If I have a money tree with two very long, thin trunks and a few leaves, can I start new trees from the tops or force new branches to grow lower on the trunks?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    Absolutely. Money trees are fairly durable. Cut to your desired height and patiently wait for new leaves in another spot on the trunk. The place where you cut will remain visible though. Root the cuttings with rooting hormone in soil or sand, and cover cutting to keep humid (mist if necessary), while also allowing soil to almost dry out (avoid rot) before watering again.
  • Question
    Does the tree produce sap?
    Emiray Gamer
    Emiray Gamer
    Community Answer
    Money trees excrete sticky substances for different reasons. Sticky sap on the underside of leaves is due to the normal process of guttation. If your money tree looks healthy, you have nothing to worry about. However, if you notice little dark bumps or small cottony clumps, you have a pest infestation. Overall, they probably do. You should also be aware of an infestation.
  • Question
    The trunk of my money tree is dry, what should I do?
    Emiray Gamer
    Emiray Gamer
    Community Answer
    Push your smallest finger 1-2 inches deep. If it is moist, you have nothing to worry about. If the soil is dry 1-2 inches, water your plant until it comes out of the drainage holes.
  • Question
    why is it called money tree, does it grow money?
    Emiray Gamer
    Emiray Gamer
    Community Answer
    No, it doesn't grow money. The reason it is called this is that it is thought to bring good luck and fortune, and the leaves look similar to money.
  • Question
    Two trunks of the braid are dead. I have a very tall stem with leaves on it. Can I take the good part of braid and plant into my other money tree plant?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    Separate the live part from the dead parts. Trim, if necessary, to separate; consider trying to root the trimming. Repot the live part by itself in a smaller pot. Watch for disease, fungus, rot, bug infestation, and determine if the repotted plant is healthy enough months (or even a year) after repotting to risk adding it to your healthy plant's pot.
  • Question
    I have 3 small money trees approximately 2' tall. They are all very healthy. Can I repot them all in one pot not much bigger than one is in now?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    That's depends on pot size. If one breaks or becomes scarred, the damage will last forever, and these are too small yet to braid. You can absolutely repot them together but very carefully as the root system is not strong enough to handle stress. I would suggest waiting for them to grow another inch or even two but do not wait for them to become root bound.
  • Question
    Can I start new plants from cutting? If so, do I root in water or dirt?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    Do not root in water - the cuttings will rot. Root in moist soil or sand with rooting hormone. Cover cutting without touch to keep cutting humid and allow soil to mostly, but not entirely, dry out to avoid rot.
  • Question
    Leaves are turning yellow but the plant is not over watered. Any ideas why?
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Stitched Pumpkin
    Community Answer
    Soil may be too old (estimate +2 years) for water to properly reach the root system, sunlight may be too direct causing burn, heat or cold air may be too strong or direct causing shock, or plant may lack fertilizer (needed occasionally after first 6 months of new soil).
  • Question
    One stem is not growing leaves. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Trim it off. Ideally, nothing would happen. It would still be the same either way. Try to maintain cutting it at a perfect shape.
  • Question
    What about direct sunlight?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    The money tree plant doesn't like direct sunlight. Instead, it prefers indirect sunlight. So, you can put it next to a window but close the blinds so that the rays are not touching the plant.
  • Question
    How do I grow a money tree from a leaf?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Try a root cloning solution such as cloneX. There is no guarantee that it will take root, so you may have to plant a few leaves and keep them covered and in light until they root.
  • Question
    What is the reason for the leaves turning yellow, am I over watering it?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    The problem could be overwatering, nitrogen deficiency, or the plant could be pot bound (meaning too much rootball and not enough soil so the plant needs to go into a pot one to two sizes bigge)r. Tease out matted roots before replanting.
  • Question
    How do I remove the dead stalks from my money tree?
    Cassandra Oceanna Shelton
    Cassandra Oceanna Shelton
    Community Answer
    Just pull them out they should come right out if rotted or dead. Otherwise, clip off with clean scissors or secateurs.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit

Return to Full Article

You Might Also Like