Money Tree Plant Care: Light, Water and Why Leaves Drop

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A money tree plant (Pachira aquatica) is a tropical wetland tree sold as a braided houseplant. It wants bright, filtered light away from hot direct sun; water it thoroughly, then let the mix nearly dry, and keep it warm, between 65 and 85 F by the New York Botanical Garden's (NYBG) range. Pick its spot and leave it there: moves, drafts and disturbed roots often make it drop leaves.

This guide gathers what the NYBG, NC State Extension, the University of Maryland Extension, UW-Madison Extension and the ASPCA say about money tree care: light, water, humidity, potting, feeding, pruning, leaf drop, summers outdoors, pests and what the sources say about pets. Where the sources part ways, as on its indoor height and ideal temperature, we give both figures and name each source.

Money tree at a glance

Light	Bright, filtered light; a sunny room, not right in the window (NYBG)
Water	Thoroughly, then let the mix nearly dry; never leave it standing in water (NYBG, NC State)
Warmth	65 to 85 F (NYBG); 65 to 75 F (NC State)
Humidity	Around 50 percent; a pebble tray helps (NYBG)
Height indoors	Usually 3 to 6 feet (NYBG); typically 6 to 8 feet at most (NC State)
Repotting	Every two or three years, in spring, one size up (NYBG)
Pets	Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA); a problem for cats, with mild to moderate stomach upset (NC State)

What it is. The NYBG describes Pachira aquatica, also called Malabar chestnut or Guiana chestnut, as a plant of Central and South American tropical wetlands; NC State places its native range from southern Mexico down to Bolivia and the north of Brazil, in freshwater swamps, along riverbanks and in rainforest, and puts it in the mallow family. In the wild it can grow up to 60 feet, by both NC State and the NYBG. The trunks are flexible enough to braid, NC State explains, and the NYBG's Plant Talk blog adds that the braided money tree sold for indoor use is usually several trees twisted together. NC State says the tree grew popular in Taiwan in the 1980s, where it was valued in feng shui; the NYBG's Plant Talk blog calls the story that the braided houseplant began there in that decade, with a truck driver growing it as bonsai, a rumor.

How much light does a money tree need?

Bright, filtered light, without the hot midday beam. The NYBG says money trees do best in bright, filtered light, though they will tolerate some light shade and go on growing. For best health it wants the plant in a room that is sunny most of the day, set back from the window itself, since strong direct sun can cause sunburn. The reason is its origin: indoors you are growing a juvenile plant that taller trees would shade in the wild. NC State agrees that it likes indirect sunlight or a blend of sun and shade, and warns that direct sun can scorch the leaves.

The NYBG's quick answer page says the same thing more simply: bright light near a window, out of hot summer sun that can burn the foliage. The NYBG's longer guide also suggests turning the plant each time you water so it grows evenly.

A money tree is not a low-light plant. The NYBG says it can survive poor light but may slowly decline in health and lose its looks. It is absent from the low-light plant lists of both the University of Minnesota and the University of Maryland; the plants those lists do name are in our low light houseplants guide.

How often should you water a money tree?

Deeply, then not again until the mix is nearly dry. The NYBG waters thoroughly so the whole potting mix is moist, returns after 15 minutes and pours off whatever water sits in the dish beneath, and lets the soil nearly dry between waterings without letting the roots dry out. Its advice is to make sure the soil takes up water well when you water, then lean toward dryness. A water meter probe, it adds, can help you judge how wet it is near the roots.

The pot matters as much as the routine. The NYBG insists on a pot with a drain hole, filled with fast-draining soil, and NC State warns that standing water, which it does not tolerate, can cause root rot. Dry is a problem too: NC State says the leaves can drop if the soil gets too dry.

Winter changes the timing. The NYBG notes that in winter the mix may dry faster, from dry indoor air, or slower, from fewer hours of daylight, so check it and adjust how often you water rather than keeping a summer schedule. For a check by hand, the University of Maryland Extension tests about two inches down with a finger.

Humidity and temperature

This is a wetland plant, and dry winter air shows on it. The NYBG gives it humidity of around 50 percent and suggests setting the pot on a tray of wet pebbles so that the evaporating water keeps the leaves from going crispy in a dry winter. The University of Maryland Extension notes that most indoor environments lack enough humidity, particularly in winter, and adds two more ways to raise it: grouping plants together, or running a humidifier. It calls it questionable whether misting really raises humidity.

The ideal warmth varies a little by source. The NYBG gives 65 to 85 F as ideal; NC State says the plant thrives at 65 to 75 F in a humid setting. In general, the University of Maryland says, foliage houseplants grow best at 70 to 80 F by day and 60 to 68 F at night. The NYBG keeps it out of chilly drafts, air conditioning vents and the drying heat of heating vents, and warns that shifts in its environment cause leaf drop.

Soil, pots and repotting

A money tree may need a new pot every two or three years, the NYBG says. Repot in spring into a container only one size larger, with a drain hole. The NYBG asks for a houseplant mix that both holds moisture and drains fast; its own blend is equal parts organic compost and coarse sand (builder's sand) or perlite, with some peat or cocoa fiber added to hold water. NC State's version is a moist, well-drained mix built from peat moss, perlite, loam or sand.

Handle the roots gently. The NYBG says money trees often drop their leaves when the roots are disturbed too much, and that the leaves should come back with the next flush of growth if you are patient. One more tip from the University of Maryland Extension: do not fill the bottom of the pot with gravel.

Feeding a money tree

Feed during the growing season and stop in winter. The NYBG's schedule is a balanced organic fertilizer, diluted to half strength, fed every two weeks between March and September, and its quick answer page uses a liquid plant food every two weeks in the growing season, none in winter. NC State notes that yellow leaves can come from low humidity or too few nutrients in the soil.

Pruning a money tree

The NYBG prunes to shape a money tree in spring, when the plant is putting on strong growth, and suggests making it a yearly habit if you want to hold the plant's size. Use sharp, clean shears. Cut half an inch above a node or leaf, take no more than half the length of a stem, and never cut into the braided part of the trunks. New growth should come from near the cuts.

Some tidying can happen any time of year, by the NYBG's account: remove dead leaves or branches, cutting several inches below the dead part, and nip off new shoots that sprout from the base or along the trunk.

Why is my money tree dropping leaves?

Losing its leaves is a common problem, the NYBG's Plant Talk blog says, and in our reading it usually traces to a change. Find the cause in the table, fix it, then wait: the NYBG says the leaves will probably grow back in the plant's next flush.

Money tree leaf drop and yellowing: causes the sources name

What happened	What you see	Source
Repotted, or roots disturbed	Leaves often drop in shock; they should return with new growth	NYBG
Moved to a new spot, or hot or cold drafts	Leaves dropped in protest	NYBG
Autumn: shorter days, lower light	Leaves may yellow and fall; add light if you can	NYBG
Dry winter air, poor light or uneven watering	Crispy, curling, falling leaves (may indicate any of these)	NYBG
Overwatering, water splashed on the stem, or soggy mix	Yellowing leaves and rotting stems	NYBG
Soil left too dry	Leaf drop can occur	NC State
Low humidity or too few nutrients	Yellow leaves can occur	NC State
Brought back indoors after a summer outside	May lose some leaves while it adjusts to lower light	NYBG, University of Maryland

In our reading, most of these come down to change: a new pot, a new spot, a new season or a new watering habit. A money tree does best on a steady routine.

Can a money tree go outside in summer?

Yes, with care. The NYBG's quick answer page moves a money tree outdoors for summer into dappled light and brings it back in when fall arrives. Before it comes in, clean it up: check under the leaves for hitchhiking pests and clean the top of the soil. Expect it to lose some leaves as it adjusts to the lower light indoors; the University of Maryland Extension notes that moving plants back inside after a summer outdoors can cause leaf drop and yellowing.

NC State gives the cold limit: USDA zones 10 to 12 are the only ones where it is hardy, and in colder climates it should come indoors before the temperature drops to 45 F. Outdoors it also needs shelter from strong winds. Our frost dates page gives average first fall frost dates by ZIP code, though nights of 45 F usually come well before the first frost.

Money tree pests

NC State lists aphids, mealybugs, scale and fungus gnats as the insects to watch for, along with anthracnose, powdery mildew and root rot, which standing water can cause. Scale is common, the NYBG says, and it moves an infested plant away from other plants, dabs each scale with alcohol on a cotton swab, then rinses the stems and leaves with a strong spray of water or wipes them with a rag, checking weekly after that. Our fungus gnats and aphids guides cover two of these pests.

Most pests arrive on new plants, UW-Madison Extension says, so look a new money tree over closely, including leaf undersides, growing tips and roots, and keep it apart from your other plants for one to two weeks.

Does a money tree flower?

Not indoors. NC State says the tree has large, fragrant flowers outdoors, but houseplants are unlikely to flower, and that indoor or braided plants will not bloom. Planted outdoors in a warm climate, NC State says, it flowers in 4 to 5 years, each bloom lasting one day.

Is a money tree toxic to cats and dogs?

The two sources we read disagree. The ASPCA lists money tree (Pachira aquatica) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, though its listing still names nausea, vomiting and loose stool as clinical signs. NC State's plant database rates the poison severity as low but marks the plant as a problem for cats, with mild to moderate stomach upset: vomiting, diarrhea and drooling. In our reading, keep a money tree where a cat cannot chew it. NC State's other caution is for people, not pets: some sources say the seeds are potentially toxic, and houseplants never produce seeds. If a pet seems unwell after chewing a plant, the ASPCA's line is (888) 426-4435, or call your veterinarian; a consultation fee may apply, the ASPCA says.

Money tree supplies

For pruning, our pick is the Corona ClassicCUT BP 3160, a forged bypass pruner whose resharpenable blade takes green or dry stems up to 3/4 inch, with slim handles for small or medium hands, so one tool takes both the shaping cuts and the dead branches. Where a room lacks the bright light a money tree wants, you will need to supplement it with artificial light. For one plant, our pick is the SANSI 36W BR30 grow bulb: a 36 W bulb with an E26 base for a floor or clamp lamp; its maker says to hang it 30 to 50 cm above the plant.

What you'll need for money trees

Picks on Amazon

• Corona ClassicCUT BP 3160 Check price on Amazon
• SANSI 36W BR30 LED Grow Light Bulb Check price on Amazon

Sources we used

Our money tree figures rest on the pages listed here, copied the day we read them, October 29, 2026.

• New York Botanical Garden: "Money tree (Pachira aquatica)" (updated 2026), "How do I care for my money tree houseplant?" (2025) and the Plant Talk post "The Key to Good Fortune with Your Money Tree" (2024)
• "NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Pachira aquatica"
• University of Maryland Extension: "Temperature and Humidity for Indoor Plants", "Watering Indoor Plants", "Potting and Repotting Indoor Plants" and "Lighting for Indoor Plants"
• "UW-Madison Extension: Houseplant Care" (revised 2024)
• "University of Minnesota Extension: Lighting for indoor plants and starting seeds" (reviewed 2026)
• "ASPCA Animal Poison Control: Money Tree"
• "Corona: ClassicCUT Bypass Pruner BP 3160" and "SANSI: BR30 36W LED Grow Light Bulb" (the product pages of both makers)

Related guides

• Low light houseplants, for a room too dim for a money tree.
• Pothos care, a vine that copes with less light.
• Wandering jew plant, a trailing plant that likes bright light indoors.
• Fungus gnats, which NC State names among money tree pests.
• Frost dates, for planning when a summering plant comes back inside.

Frequently asked questions

How do you care for a money tree plant?

Keep it in a room with sun most of the day but out of the direct beam, water thoroughly and let the mix nearly dry, and hold it at 65 to 85 F with humidity around 50 percent, as the NYBG advises. Feed at half strength every second week, March through September, repot every two or three years, and avoid moving it.

How much light does a money tree need?

Bright, filtered light. The NYBG puts it in a room that is sunny for most of the day but keeps it out of the window itself, because strong direct sun can sunburn the leaves; NC State says it likes indirect sun or partial sun and shade. It copes with some light shade, though poor light may bring a slow decline.

How often should I water my money tree?

There is no fixed schedule. The NYBG waters thoroughly, empties the run-off dish after 15 minutes, and waters again only when the mix is nearly dry, without letting the roots dry out. In winter the mix may dry faster or slower than in summer, so check it each time. Never leave the pot in standing water.

Why is my money tree dropping leaves?

Usually because something changed. The NYBG says money trees often drop leaves after their roots are disturbed, after being moved, in hot or cold drafts, and in autumn as the light falls. Crispy, falling leaves may point to dry air, poor light or uneven watering. Fix the cause and wait; the leaves will probably return with new growth.

Why are the leaves on my money tree turning yellow?

Yellow leaves with rotting stems point to overwatering, water splashed on the stem, or soil that stays too wet, the NYBG says. NC State adds that yellow leaves can come from low humidity or too few nutrients. In autumn, the NYBG says, leaves may yellow and fall as days shorten.

Is a money tree toxic to cats and dogs?

The sources disagree. The ASPCA lists money tree (Pachira aquatica) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, though its listing names nausea, vomiting and loose stool as clinical signs. NC State rates the poison severity as low but lists the plant as a problem for cats, with mild to moderate stomach upset such as vomiting, diarrhea and drooling. Keep it out of a cat's reach.

How big does a money tree get?

Indoors, braided money trees usually reach three to six feet, the NYBG says, while NC State puts the usual houseplant ceiling at 6 to 8 feet. In its native wetlands the tree can reach up to 60 feet. Pruning in spring, the NYBG notes, helps hold an indoor plant at the size you want.