Money tree
Pachira aquatica
A braided trunk under five-fingered leaves. The classic housewarming gift.
- LightBright indirect
- Waterevery 7 days
- CareModerate
- Max height180 cm
- PetsSafe
- HumidityAverage
- Air purifyingYes
How to care
Indirect light; rotate the pot monthly so it grows evenly. Water weekly.
from₫360.000
Design this potDesign with this plant
Three glazes on the pot shape picked for this species. One tap opens the studio with that setup — change anything from there.
What it is, and who it suits
A money tree has a distinctive braided trunk supporting a canopy of leaves that fan out in fives like a green hand. It is the most familiar housewarming and grand-opening gift in East Asian culture, thanks to a name that carries connotations of fortune. The plant can reach up to a metre eighty, among the tallest in the ordinary foliage group, so it suits a space with high ceilings wanting a standalone green statement — an office lobby, a large living room, or a workspace corner that needs one large mass of green.
Where to put it, and how much room to leave
Bright indirect light is right, and the plant tolerates medium light too if that is the only option — it does not need a large window facing harsh sun. Because the trunk is tall with the canopy sitting up high, plan clearance by ceiling height more than floor space; the canopy only spreads about seventy centimetres so it does not take up much of a room despite its height. Rotate the pot a quarter turn each month so the canopy grows evenly on all sides, since the plant tends to lean toward whichever side gets more light if left in one fixed position too long.
The year-round rhythm
Weekly, checking with a finger before pouring — the plant's name carries associations with water and prosperity, but in practice it does not like waterlogged soil, since the braided trunk itself is a natural water reservoir. Stretch to ten days in the cool season. Ordinary well-draining potting soil is enough. Wipe the leaves monthly to let them breathe and keep their shine — a large, wide canopy collects more dust than a small plant. Feed weak fertiliser every two months in the growing season. Repot every two years, and for a tall plant it takes two people, since the trunk and root ball get fairly heavy.
Which pot suits it
Size L is the default once the plant is tall, since the root system needs enough soil mass to keep a tall trunk stable — size M only suits it while newly bought and still small. The pot needs a wide, heavy base to resist tipping, since the plant's centre of gravity sits high on a fairly slender trunk. A large cylinder or a round trough both work; avoid a shallow bowl, which is not stable enough for a tall plant. Since the braided trunk is already the main visual feature, the pot should stay quiet on pattern — a neutral or dark glaze makes a good base for the green mass above without competing for attention.
Three things that go wrong
Leaves yellowing and dropping all at once: almost always overwatering — check the soil, let it dry out fully before watering again, and cut back if watering more often than weekly. Soft or discoloured patches on the braided trunk: a sign of rot, usually from soil that stays permanently damp — cut away the damaged part if it is not too far gone, and switch immediately to a fresher, better-draining mix. New leaves coming in small and pale: prolonged low light — move it brighter in stages over a week. This species is pet-safe, suiting a space where pets pass through often.
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