How to care for Money Tree
Pachira aquatica · Malvaceae
Usually sold with braided trunks topped by glossy, hand-shaped leaves, the money tree is a good-luck gift that is genuinely easy to keep. Despite growing in swamps in the wild, in a pot it prefers deep but infrequent watering. Water roughly every 9 days while it's growing (about every 16 in winter), give it bright, indirect light, kept above 50°F (10°C) — average room humidity suits it.
Care at a glance
Soak thoroughly, then let the top half of the soil dry before watering again; the trunk stores water between drinks.
Bright to medium indirect light; rotate it regularly so the canopy stays even.
Half-strength balanced fertilizer monthly in spring and summer.
Mistakes that kill this plant
- Watering a little every few days until the trunks rot from the base.
- Letting it sit in a saucer of drained water.
- Cold drafts near a winter doorway.
Seasonal tips
- Rotate a quarter turn with each watering to keep the crown balanced.
- Losing a leaf or two after bringing it home is normal; give it a few weeks to settle.
- Water even less in winter — the trunk's reserves carry it.
Is it safe for pets?
Our records list Money Tree as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Full pet-safety details for cats & dogsCare for your Money Tree on autopilot
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Toxicity here is informational, not a safety guarantee. Those are our own records, compiled by following the ASPCA's published toxic and non-toxic plant lists and Pet Poison Helpline's plant poison list rather than copied from them — confirm anything that matters against the ASPCA's published lists, which this one is matched to, or with your vet. If your pet ingested this plant, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.