The name money tree is used for more than one plant. This guide is for the common indoor Pachira with hand-shaped leaf clusters, often sold with braided trunks. A jade plant or round-leaved Pilea needs its own care plan.
Use bright indirect light and a draining pot. Check the mix before watering, water thoroughly when the upper layer has dried and empty the outer pot or saucer. Adjust to season and room conditions rather than a fixed weekly schedule.
Go straight to the stepsYour project helper
Follow the steps and check them off as you go →Before you begin
Confirm the plant’s identity and inspect the drainage setup. Do not let water sit inside a decorative cachepot. Keep the plant away from cold drafts, heating vents and abrupt changes in light.
What you’ll need
- Pachira money tree
- Pot with drainage and saucer
- Suitable houseplant potting mix
- Watering can
- Optional moisture-checking tool
Let’s do this
Step by step
- 01
Check the pot first
Lift the nursery pot from any decorative cover and find the drainage holes. Empty standing water. If roots remain wet for long periods, improve the setup before buying fertilizer.
- 02
Choose indirect light
Place near a bright window with protection from harsh direct sun. Rotate occasionally for balanced growth. Move gradually when changing its exposure so leaves can adjust.
- 03
Check moisture below the surface
Feel the upper mix and judge the weight of the pot. Water when the upper layer has dried, not simply because a calendar reminder rang. A meter can supplement these checks but should not replace them.
- 04
Water and drain
Water the mix evenly until excess drains, then empty the saucer or outer container. Keep the plant from standing in runoff. In cooler, dimmer conditions, drying usually takes longer.
- 05
Inspect new and old growth
Look for pests on leaf undersides and remove dust gently. Check soil moisture and light if several leaves yellow. A sudden problem should not automatically trigger more water or fertilizer.
- 06
Feed and repot modestly
Use an appropriate fertilizer at label rates during active growth. Repot only when the roots and mix justify it, choosing a slightly larger draining pot rather than a large jump in size.
Checks stay on this page while you work and reset when you leave.
A simple observation log
Note watering dates and whether the pot felt light or heavy beforehand. A pattern of constantly wet mix is more informative than one yellow leaf.
Check ties around braided trunks
Inspect visible ties for constriction as trunks thicken. Remove or loosen external packaging ties that are cutting in, without tearing roots apart or dismantling a healthy braid.
A quick final check
- Check the pot first
- Choose indirect light
- Check moisture below the surface
- Water and drain
- Inspect new and old growth
- Feed and repot modestly
Common questions & sticking points
Does aquatica mean it should stand in water?
No. A container-grown plant still needs an aerated root zone and drainage.
Why is it not flowering?
Indoor money trees are generally grown for foliage. Lack of flowers indoors is not by itself a sign of poor care.
Sources & further reading Optional
References used to check this guide. Follow your product’s own safety instructions where its design differs.
Last source check: September 24, 2026
