Money tree

Identification and origin

Pachira aquatica belongs to the mallow family, Malvaceae. Its native range runs from southern Mexico through Central America to northern South America: Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and northern Brazil. There it grows in freshwater swamps, estuaries and along rainforest riverbanks, in places that flood for part of the year; the epithet aquatica means “aquatic.”

In the wild it can reach 59 ft; in tropical gardens it rarely exceeds 29.5 ft. As a houseplant it is usually 3–8 ft tall. Its glossy evergreen leaves are palmately compound, with five to nine leaflets 5–10 in long. The base of the trunk is swollen and stores water, and young stems are flexible enough to braid. Braiding began in Taiwan in the 1980s, where the plant became a feng shui symbol of prosperity; the name “money tree” comes from a tale of a poor man who grew rich selling its seeds.

Outdoors it bears large greenish- to yellowish-white flowers with five long cream petals around 200 to 250 red-tipped stamens 3–4 in long, like a shaving brush; each flower lasts a single day and is fragrant at night. The fruit is a woody brown capsule up to 12 in long that releases 10 to 25 large seeds. Indoors it rarely flowers, and braided plants never do.

Light

Bright, filtered light suits it best; it tolerates some light shade and keeps growing there. Avoid direct sun, which scorches the leaflets. Rotate the pot regularly for even growth. In fall, shorter days can turn a few leaves yellow. Outdoors in frost-free climates it takes full sun to part shade.

Watering

Water thoroughly until the whole root ball is moist, then empty the saucer after about 15 minutes: it does not tolerate standing water, which rots the roots. Let the mix nearly dry before watering again, but don’t let the roots dry out completely, since dry soil makes it drop leaves. How often you water will change with the seasons because the soil dries at different rates, so go by feel, not by the calendar. Avoid wetting the base of the stems.

Coming from humid habitats, it appreciates humidity around 50%. Especially in winter, set the pot on a tray of wet pebbles to keep the leaves from turning dry and crispy.

Potting mix

A good-quality houseplant mix that holds moisture thanks to its organic content yet drains quickly. Equal parts compost, coarse sand or perlite, and peat or coco coir works, as does a blend of peat moss, perlite, loam or sand. During active growth, from spring through late summer, feed every two weeks with a balanced fertilizer at half strength; none the rest of the year.

Temperature

It is happiest between 64–75 °F and tolerates up to about 84 °F. If it summers outdoors, bring it in before temperatures drop to 45 °F. It is sensitive to shifts in its surroundings, so keep it away from heating and air-conditioning vents. In the ground it is grown only in USDA zones 10–12, essentially frost-free, and needs shelter from strong winds.

Repotting

Every two to three years in spring, into a pot just one size larger. Disturb the roots as little as possible: money trees often respond to root disturbance or being moved by dropping leaves.

Pruning

Remove dead material any time. Shape the plant in spring with clean, sharp shears: cut about 1 in above a node or leaf, and never remove more than half the length of a stem.

Propagation

By layering, by softwood cuttings or by seed.

Common problems

A symptom can have several causes: check watering, light, humidity and any recent changes before acting.

• Leaf drop: soil too dry, disturbed roots, a move or cold or hot air currents.
• Yellow leaves: air too dry, lack of nutrients or lower light in fall.
• Dry, crispy leaves: low humidity, poor light or inconsistent watering.
• Yellowing, rotting stems: overwatering or water left sitting on the stems.
• Pests: mainly scale insects (dab them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, then rinse with water, and inspect weekly); also aphids, mealybugs and fungus gnats.
• Diseases: anthracnose, powdery mildew and root rot from standing water.

Toxicity

Low toxicity. The plant itself is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, though chewing on it can cause nausea, vomiting and loose stools. The seeds contain cyclopropenoid fatty acids, which may be toxic and carcinogenic to people; in cats, eating them can cause mild to moderate stomach upset (vomiting, diarrhea, drooling). A houseplant almost never produces seeds. The seeds are eaten raw or roasted in some places, but information on their toxicity conflicts, so don’t eat them without looking into it first.