Money tree
Pachira aquatica, tree, evergreen
Water a money tree when the soil is dry a few centimetres down, which indoors means every 4–12 days in summer and every 7–19 in winter. It wants partial shade, 2 to 6 hours of sun a day, and starts to suffer below 7 °C (45 °F).
Updated 12 October 2026. How we write these pages
Money tree at a glance
Water, indoors
4–12
days in summer
7–19
days in winter
When the soil is dry a few centimetres down.
Month by month
Minimum temperature
4–7 °C
It starts to suffer between 4 and 7 °C (39–45 °F).
Cats and dogs
Not toxic to dogs or cats.
Eating a lot of it can still upset their stomach.
Growth
Fast. It’s a tree.
Repotting
When the roots fill the pot or the soil has broken down.
Where does your plant live?
Pick its place and see what changes.
What changes
- Indoors, near the window. Fine, as long as the hot midday sun doesn’t fall straight on the leaves.
- Indoors, away from the window. With less light it grows more slowly. If you can, move the pot closer to the window.
- Outdoors, in the shade. Fine, as long as it gets at least 2 hours of sun a day.
- Outdoors, in the sun. Full sun all day is too much. Move the pot where the hottest hours are in shade.
- Indoors, summer. In July it usually needs water every 4–12 days. Heat dries the soil faster, so feel it more often.
- Indoors, winter, heating on. In January it usually needs water every 7–19 days, and more often near a radiator, because warm air dries the soil.
- Indoors, winter, cool room. In January it usually needs water every 7–19 days, and less often in a cool room, where the soil stays damp for a long time.
- Outdoors, summer. Outside the soil dries faster than indoors, where in July it needs water every 4–12 days, so in the sun feel it often.
- Outdoors, winter. It starts to suffer below 7 °C (45 °F). On the coldest nights, move the pot under shelter or indoors.
- Outdoors, winter. In the cold the soil stays damp for a long time, so it needs water less often than indoors, where in January it needs water every 7–19 days.
How often to water a money tree
Indoors, month by month. Tap a column.
In October
Every 6–16 days
Usually every 10 days. Feel the soil first, and water when it is dry a few centimetres down.
Every month in a table
| Month | Usually | Usually between |
|---|---|---|
| January | every 12 days | 7–19 days |
| February | every 12 days | 7–19 days |
| March | every 11 days | 6–17 days |
| April | every 9 days | 6–15 days |
| May | every 8 days | 5–13 days |
| June | every 8 days | 4–12 days |
| July | every 8 days | 4–12 days |
| August | every 8 days | 4–12 days |
| September | every 8 days | 5–13 days |
| October | every 10 days | 6–16 days |
| November | every 11 days | 7–18 days |
| December | every 12 days | 7–19 days |
Typical intervals indoors in the northern hemisphere: light, the pot and the season stretch or shorten them. How to tell when to water, with a finger and the weight of the pot.
Soil, propagation and problems
Soil
An all-purpose potting mix that holds a little moisture but drains well: if it’s very dense, add some perlite. It likes it neutral or slightly acidic.
Propagation
From a cutting: cut a piece of stem with at least one node and stand it in water or damp soil until it roots.
By layering: let a stem grow roots while it’s still on the plant, then cut it below the roots and pot it.
Common problems
The most frequent: Aphids · Fungus gnats · Mealybugs · Scale insects · Anthracnose · Powdery mildew
When you feel the soil, look under the leaves too: pests show up there first.
Money tree: questions and answers
How often should you water a money tree in winter?
Indoors in January, usually every 12 days (between 7 and 19), compared with every 8 in July. The longest gaps run from December to February.
How can you tell when a money tree needs water?
When the soil is dry a few centimetres down, not just on the surface.
How much light does a money tree need?
Partial shade: 2 to 6 hours of sun a day, without the full midday sun. Indoors that means near a window, out of the sun in the middle of the day.
Is a money tree toxic to cats and dogs?
Not toxic to dogs or cats. Eating a lot of it can still upset their stomach.
How much cold can a money tree take?
It starts to suffer from the cold somewhere between 4 and 7 °C (39–45 °F). Outdoors, on nights below 7 °C, move the pot under shelter or indoors.
When should you repot a money tree?
When the roots fill the pot or the soil has broken down. If needed, the best time is spring, when it starts growing again. There are usually 3 to 5 years between repottings.
How can you tell if a money tree is getting too much water or too little?
Too much water often shows as leaves turning yellow, soft brown patches on the leaves and leaves drooping even though the soil is wet. Too little shows as leaves drooping, leaves and buds dropping and young shoots drying out.
What soil does a money tree need?
An all-purpose potting mix that holds a little moisture but drains well: if it’s very dense, add some perlite. It likes it neutral or slightly acidic.
How do you propagate a money tree?
From a cutting: cut a piece of stem with at least one node and stand it in water or damp soil until it roots. By layering: let a stem grow roots while it’s still on the plant, then cut it below the roots and pot it.
Which pests and diseases affect a money tree?
The most frequent are aphids, fungus gnats, mealybugs, scale insects, anthracnose and powdery mildew. When you feel the soil, look under the leaves too: pests show up there first.
Read next
Every plant has its own rhythm. LINFA keeps track for you.
It looks at the light where your plant stands, its pot and the season, and tells you when to check it.
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