How to Care For a Natural Money Tree

How to Care For a Natural Money Tree

The natural money tree, Pachira aquatica, is a popular houseplant for its cool braided trunk and green leaves.natural money tree It’s also believed to bring good luck, especially in business endeavors, which makes it a popular gift for weddings and new jobs.

This plant’s swampy origins mean it thrives in high humidity, which makes a bathroom an ideal spot to grow one.natural money tree You can increase the moisture by placing the plant in a tray of pebbles and water, spraying it with a mister or by using a humidifier. The plant needs bright indirect light and moderate watering, so water it when the top two inches of soil are dry. Avoid leaving it in standing water as this can lead to root rot.

Often mistaken for a ficus, the money tree is actually a tropical evergreen in the palm family. Its leaves are typically a rich green and the plant grows up to 60 feet tall in its native rainforest habitat. This makes it the perfect houseplant for those who want a touch of the tropics without the commitment of an outdoor garden.

Like all indoor plants, money trees are easy to care for as long as you provide the right conditions. They’re sensitive to temperature fluctuations and don’t take kindly to being moved around, so try to keep them in the same general area of your home or office. Aside from that, they’re fairly low maintenance, needing very little attention beyond occasional watering.

The first sign of trouble is usually yellowing leaves, indicating the plant is either overwatered or underfed. To prevent overwatering, you can check the soil by poking your finger in; it should feel like a damp sponge and shouldn’t be too dry. If it feels too dry, you can always water more deeply, allowing the water to run out the bottom of the pot. If your money tree starts to look scorched or drop its leaves, this is probably a sign of too much direct sunlight, so move it farther away from the window.

If your money tree gets root bound (the roots start to grow out of the bottom of the container), it’s time to repot it. You can transplant the entire plant or just the root ball into a larger container and use a mix that drains well, such as cactus or houseplant compost.

In addition to proper soil and light, you’ll need to fertilize the plant regularly. The best way to do this is with an all-purpose plant food, such as Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food, on a weekly basis during the summer and every other week during fall and winter. This will help your money tree thrive and give it that extra boost of goodness, making it even more likely to make you a bundle of cash!

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