Money Tree Care Guide

Botanical name: Pachira aquatica

Other names: Lucky Chestnut is also known as Money Tree.

Pachira, also known as the Money Tree, symbolizes luck and prosperity, and it's incredibly low-maintenance. Simply provide it with bright, indirect light and let the soil dry out between waterings to invite fortune into your home. Keep reading to discover how to care for your Money Tree and its origin story. 

Why is the Money Tree Considered Lucky? 

Best known for its long stems and star-shaped leaf fans, its hardy nature, and its rumored ability to bring prosperity and abundance to its owners, the Money Tree is also known as the luckiest indoor houseplant, surrounded by several legends and origin stories.

While it may be tempting to rule it out as being too good to be true, its background stories offer several interesting conversation starters. 

Legend has it that a poor man prayed to God for prosperity and shortly after found a curious-looking plant that caught his interest. Enchanted by the plant, he took it home, where he started to grow the seeds from the plant and began selling them. In time, this turned into a successful business, and soon hereafter he became one of the wealthiest men in town. Attributing his wealth to this plant, he dubbed it The Money Tree. 

Since then, the plant has become a well-known plant within the Feng Shui philosophy, where it is believed that the plant brings happiness and prosperity to every home that it thrives within. This makes it the perfect plant for anyone in need of a more harmonious life or the perfect lucky gift to a friend starting a new chapter in life.

Pachira aquatica Care Guide

While the money tree may bring good luck and fortune, it will only do so when alive. Give it a little time, care, and attention, and watch how thisplant creates harmony in your life, paying back its dividends with its calming green nature and a little good luck. 

Light and Placement: The Money Tree likes bright, indirect light. An ideal placement would be near an east or west-facing window. Avoid placing it in direct light as this can scorch its leaves, especially during the hottest months of the year. While you can place it in a slightly darker location, this will slow its growth. As the money tree will grow towards the direction of the sun, make sure to rotate your plant periodically to ensure tall and even growth. 

Watering: Even though this plant grows in tropical swamps, it doesn’t like to be soaking wet. Like with most indoor plants, make sure the soil is dry between waterings to avoid overwatering the plant. As a rule of thumb, you should water this plant 1-2 times a month, checking it more often during summer and cutting back on watering in the colder months. 

The best way to know if your plant needs watering is to check the top2.5 cm of the soil with a finger. If the soil is dry to the touch, it’s time to water; otherwise, wait for a couple of days. 

If possible, use water that is room temperature, as cold water can shock the plant. 

Temperature: 12-30 degres

Fertilization: A newly purchased plant is already fertilized and will thrive for the first 5-8 months. After that, fertilize your plant once a month during its growth season, from April to August. Do not fertilize your plant during winter, as it needs a break during the colder months. The amount of fertilizer depends on the type you use. It's advisable to err on the lower end of the recommended dosage to avoid over-fertilizing your plant.