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Do you have a dying money tree (Pachira aquatica) and you are at a loss for how to save it? I’ve found that there is a tremendous amount of conflicting advice and misinformation on this plant, and I’m here to help set the record straight so that you can understand how to turn your dying money tree around and help it thrive once again.

Before going into the care of this plant, it is always very helpful to get clues on the care from its botanical name and also from its growing conditions in its native environment.
The botanical name for Money Tree is Pachira aquatica. The specific epithet aquatica means that it grows in or near water.
Money Tree is native to swamps and river banks in Mexico, Central America and South America.
DYING MONEY TREE? HERE’S WHAT GOING ON
1. POTTING MIX MOISTURE
TOO DRY
As you can probably gather from the facts above, this is NOT a drought tolerant plant. Allowing your potting mix to go completely dry (especially if you do this repeatedly) will result in a very quick downfall.
Potting mix that is too dry will result in yellowing of the lower leaves on your plant. The entire plant itself may also droop in extreme cases.

Feel your potting mix with your finger (avoid using soil moisture meters since most of the inexpensive ones are junk), and if it is completely dry, give your plant a very thorough soaking.
When you neglect your plant and the potting mix goes really dry, before the lower leaves turn completely yellow, they will look like the photo below.
Take a look at the lower leaves.

This my own money tree that I allowed to get too dry, and you can see the lower leaves are starting to turn yellow. The veins are still green, but this is not considered chlorosis since the newest leaves are healthy and green.
Note that once the lower leaves started to yellow a bit, as a result of very dry potting mix, the foliage will not turn green again even after you “fix” your watering.
If your plant is extremely root bound, it may also make it very difficult to keep your plant hydrated enough, so it will be time for a larger pot at that point.
Also be careful of small pots as they will dry out pretty quickly and will need more frequent attention to watering.
“OVERWATERING”
If I had a dime for every time a site online mentions “overwatering” as the cause for every single plant woe, I could probably retire by now.
If you are supplying your plant with enough light (more on that later), you have drainage holes and a well draining potting mix, it is difficult to “overwater.”
There are many other factors that affect how quickly potting mix dries out. I talk about all of these factors and more in my book, Houseplant Warrior: 7 Keys to Unnlocking the Mysteries of Houseplant Care, published by Countryman Press.
FIND A HAPPY MEDIUM WITH WATERING
What conditions does your money tree like when it comes to soil moisture? Here are my general rules of thumb:
- Never allow your potting mix to dry out completely if you can help it.
- DO allow the top inch or so of your potting mix to dry out. If you have a larger pot, you can even allow the top couple inches to dry out.
- Always have a drainage hole(s) in your pot.
- Use a well draining potting mix. A good general mix is 2-3 parts of a good all-purpose potting mix and 1 part perlite.
- Never allow your plant to sit in water (such as in the saucer under the pot) for extended periods of time.

DO NOT WATER WITH ICE
It’s sad that I need to even say this, but do not use ice to water your money tree.
This plant is sometimes sold with a label that instructs the plant owner to use ice to water the plant. This is a horrible idea for many reasons:
- These plants do not like cold temperatures and they can be damaged.
- If you have your plant slipped into a decorative pot with no drainage holes, and you have your plant growing in dim conditions, it can result in water accumulating at the bottom. If you’re not routinely checking and emptying accumulated water, then your plant will start to rot. I’ve worked with many people who have also killed their moth orchids in this exact fashion.
- Ice may even work for a while, if your plant is growing in a smaller pot, but once you repot into a larger pot, the amount of ice recommended on the label will no longer be sufficient to moisten all of the potting mix.
Moral of the story: Don’t use ice to water.

In order to truly grow a beautiful specimen, it requires very consistent conditions, particularly with watering and light.
And that takes us to another important topic…light.
2. LIGHT
Many sources will say that this plant doesn’t tolerate direct sun. This is also false. Pachira aquatica often grows in sunny locations outdoors.
Indoors, the light intensity is a lot less, so your plant can very easily take (and benefit from) some direct sun indoors.
You don’t have to place your plant in the sunniest window that you have indoors, but an Eastern or Western exposure will be great for your Pachira aquatica.
Your plant may shed some lower leaves during dark periods of the winter, so if you can move your plant to a brighter location during this time, or supplement with a grow light, it will benefit your plant.
3. PESTS
Pests can be another reason why your money plant’s leaves are yellowing. These plants can be prone to spider mites, so look out for fine webbing on the foliage, very small, crawling mites, and a mottled yellowish appearance of the leaves.
Check out my blog post on treating spider mites in houseplants for more information.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and are able to turn that dying money tree around into a full, beautiful specimen. Do you have a money tree? Comment below. I’d love to hear!
Mare Rocks
Wednesday 22nd of March 2023
I found one at a home center. I was shopping with a friend, and the only place to keep it safe was to hold it while she was driving. Of course, I needed both hands to get in and out of the car, so she would hold it as I got in and out. "You know, I'm beginning to get quite attached to this little fellow," she said. You said to "never allow your plant to sit in water". But you also said, "that it grows in or near water". So which is it? Can I summer this plant on the top shelf of my pond?
Raffaele
Friday 24th of March 2023
Conditions indoors are very different, so I would not recommend letting this sit in water indoors. I personally wouldn't submerge it in your pond.
Rowena
Monday 13th of February 2023
I have a money tree I’ve just repotted into a bigger pot. I’ve put it indoors now near a window with light. I hope it does well. It used to be on the terrace. I thought the direct sunlight yellowed the leaves. Your advice ans viewpoints are precious. Thanks a lot.
Mare Rocks
Wednesday 22nd of March 2023
@Rowena, I love your name! Googled it; its origin is quite mysterious, which corelates with the very sound of it.
Raffaele
Tuesday 14th of February 2023
Best of luck to you and your money tree Rowena. Glad you enjoyed the post :-)
MARY LYNN
Tuesday 27th of September 2022
Thanx for all your info!! Where can I get the green 'clips' you are using to hold up/secure your stems??
Raffaele
Monday 3rd of October 2022
You can just search for orchid flower stalk clips. They make all sorts :-)
MARY LYNN
Tuesday 27th of September 2022
LOVE your expertise! Where can I get the green 'clips' you are using to secure/support your stems?
Raffaele
Monday 3rd of October 2022
Sorry I just responded to your previous comment. I have to go in and approve all comments and I was out on vacation. You can just search for orchid flower stalk clips. There are many different styles and they're great for more than orchid flower stalks :-)
Linda
Tuesday 9th of August 2022
I have a Money Tree that is doing pretty well. It is potted in coconut husk potting soil. Is that ok? I water thoroughly and let it drain out the bottom before putting it back into the outer pot. I am getting a little mold growing on the top of the soil. I probably let it dry completely out, which isn't great, so I am a little confused why I have the mold. Any ideas? It is doing pretty well all that said though! Also, how often does it need to be fertilized?
Mare Rocks
Wednesday 22nd of March 2023
@Linda, Mine came with moss on top. Maybe the moss is there to solve any mold issues. But the old standby for mold is a 10% hydrogen peroxide to 90% water treatment.
Raffaele
Tuesday 9th of August 2022
Hi Linda, I'd need to see a photo, but it should be ok. What brand/label did you use for the potting mix? As far as fertilization, I would fertilize per the instructions on your label, but only while your plant is actively growing. If it slows down in the winter, you may want to refrain until it starts growing again. I like to fertilize with every watering (dilutely) instead of once a month. I use Dyna-Gro Grow, and it has instructions on how dilute to make it depending on how frequently you want to fertilize.