Money tree plant is a decorative plant with heart-shaped leaves. This plant is often planted indoors and is believed to bring good luck and fortune. Although the money plant that we know today was native to the island of Moorea, it has now been widely distributed in most parts of the world.
Money plants do not need daily watering, however, certain ways need to be considered to make them green and lush. In this article, we will be discussing more about this in detail.
1. Checking the Soil Moisture
You will get the basic idea of when your money plant needs watering just by looking into the moisture of the soil in the pot. Look at the soil in the pot and if it is dry, it might be the right time to water.
You need to insert your finger into the soil to about one or two inches deep. If your finger feels wet, you do not need to water your money tree plant for a few more days. However, if the soil is dry, it might be the right time to water your plant. Make sure you water only the adequate amount of water.
2. Soak and Dry Method
Another way of watering your plant is by using a soak-and-dry approach. For this, you need to add water to the pot of the money plant consistently until the water rinses all the soil in the pot and starts draining out. Please avoid adding water until the water level in the pot drops at least one or two inches.
A majority of people have a habit of shallow watering money tree plants. Shallow watering only wet the surface of the soil and does not infiltrate water deep into the roots of money tree plants.
3. Using Room Temperature Water
It may sound weird that the money plant needs to be watered by the water at room temperature only. Money plants cannot withstand sudden temperature changes and can only make use of most of the water whose temperature is equal to the ambient room temperature.
Water beyond room temperature will shock the plant and might contract or expand the roots depending upon the temperature of the water. Cold water contracts the roots system while the warm water might expand them. This might damage its delicate root systems.
4. Adjust the Watering With Seasons
Just like humans, money plants need more water during spring and summer in comparison to the winter season. This is because money plants tend to lose more of their moisture to evapotranspiration in warmer climates. Thus, you need to adjust the watering of your money plant according to the seasons.
You can reduce the amount of water provided to the money plants in winter as the money plants are not active and moisture loss is significantly lower because of lower temperature.
Misting helps to increase the humidity. Money plants will get benefits by misting them in the hot and dry periods. However, you do not have to mist your money plants in the winter and the rainy season. Chinese money plant loves misting.
You can fill a spray bottle with room temperature water and spray the leaves of the money plants when the temperature rises. This will help to cool the plant and reduce its evapotranspiration to some extent.
6. Avoid Overwatering
You need to make sure that you do not overwater your money plant because overwatering will stretch its roots and the leaves and might turn the leaves brown.
You also need to check for appropriate drainage in the pot. If it lacks drainage, water will accumulate within it and might rot the roots. Water logging in the pot also restricts the growth of money tree plants, stunting their leaves and stems.
7. Water Quality
Water quality is an important element that influences the growth of money tree plants as they provide moisture and all the essential nutrients.
Drinking water is treated with chlorine and fluoride. These can affect the delicate roots of money tree plants and affect the coloration of leaves turning them into yellowish color and even causing their early fall. So, if you use tap water, make sure it is free of such elements. You can use a filter system that can remove such salt content as well. You can also use rainwater, but it needs to be free of contamination.
8. Watering Frequency
Unlike other plants, money plants do not require regular watering. However, its watering is influenced by the humidity, temperature, and other climatic factors. You can water them once or twice a week most time of the year. Make sure you do not over water your money tree plant.
During hot days, the water loss from the money tree plant might be high, so the plants need comparatively more amount of water. Likewise, money tree plants require very little moisture during winter as they are almost dormant with little growth at that time.
You can water your money tree plant in the morning as well as in the evening, however, morning is the preferable time for watering. When you water in the morning, it gives your money plant time to absorb the water as evapotranspiration is significantly lesser. This is also beneficial for photosynthesis in money tree plants.
Although watering in the evening also greatly reduces the loss of moisture, this however might make your money plants susceptible to different fungal diseases because of the humid conditions at night.
Although it sounds simple, ensuring that your money tree plant pot has effective drainage is a very essential task for effective watering. A drainage hole helps to drain the excess water when you water your money tree plant.
You should use a pot with a hole near or at its bottom. Additionally, you ought to check if the drainage hole has been blocked by any foreign objects or not. If there is no presence of drainage holes or if the drainage holes have been blocked, this will start rotting the roots of your money tree plant.
Make sure that you empty the saucer when it is full of water as this might also aid in the rotting of the roots of money tree plants.
When To Water Your Money Tree Plant?
It is vital to know when to water your money tree plant to maintain its growth. Money tree plants do not need constant moisture and you need to ensure that you do not overwater or underwater them.
There are a few key things that you need to notice before deciding to water your money tree plants. Let us explore such in detail.
Do a Finger Test
I have already mentioned about a finger test in the texts above. It is a simple, yet effective way of identifying if there is a moisture content in your soil or not and let you determine if it's the time to water your plant.
To do a finger test, gently put your finger into the soil at a depth of one or two inches. If your finger is moist, you do not need to water your money tree plant. However, if you feel the soil is dry, it might be the right time to water your money tree plant.
Most of the time, you can recognize if your money tree plants need watering just by looking at their leaves. Their leaves will show early signs of dehydration when they need water.
Curling of Leaves: When the leaves of your money tree plant are curled or have wrinkled, it is time to water the plant.
Yellowing of Leaves: The first sign you need to check for is the yellowing of the leaves. The leaves turn yellow when there is not enough moisture for the plant.
Browning of Leaves: Sometimes the leaves of the money tree plant turn brown or contain brown spots on the leaves. This means your plant needs watering.
Dropping of Leaves: If the leaves around the lower region of your money plant have fallen, it might be the reason for underwatering. So, make sure you water them.
Consider The Climate
We have already discussed climate becoming a detrimental factor when watering your money tree plant. The climatic components like humidity, temperature, light, etc. directly influence the water demand of the plant.
Money tree plants in colder climates have significantly lower loss of moisture and only need less amount of water. However, if the climate is very dry, your money tree plant might require frequent watering, whereas if the climate is mild or warmer, moderate watering will do the task.
Lift the Pot For Weight Check
This might not be the most accurate way of knowing if your money tree plants need water. But, this trick will help you to tentatively guess if your plant has dehydrated or not.
Simply lift the pot of your money tree plant from its base guess the weight of the pot. Then, compare this weight with the approximate weight of the saturated pot. The drier pot weighs relatively less than the saturated pot.
Check The Potting Mix
Potting soil keeps the soil drained and holds the necessary moisture and nutrients for plant growth. So, checking the potting mix will tell you when to water your money plant. If the potting mix is dry you need to water your money tree plant.
Money Tree Plant Water Requirement
For the optimum growth of the money tree plant, the moisture content in the pot should be balanced. The plants should not be underwater or overwatered as this might cause some stress in the plants affecting their growth.
It is also important to adjust the amount of water required by the plants based on the climatic conditions of your locality as the money tree plants in dry places require more water than relatively cooler locations.
Watering Frequency
As you might have already learned by now, money tree plants do not need regular watering. However, all plants are different, and the water they need is determined by the local microenvironment. If you are a beginner, having a water meter will let you you if it is time to water your plants.
Most money tree plants need watering once or twice a week. But, during the scorching climatic conditions, they need more water. When the surface of the soil runs dry, you might want to add water to the pot. You need to make sure that you do not overwater them as this might have negative consequences on them.
Watering Method
You can use the water at room temperature to water your money tree plants. During watering, you need to add water until it completely rinses the soil and outflows from the drainage hole of the pot. You need to have a saucer plate at the bottom of the pot to accumulate the drained water.
It is recommended to add water directly at the base of the money tree plant instead of watering through the leaves and stems. This will make sure that the plant will receive adequate water and prevent the loss of water as well.
Humidity
Humidity is an important aspect that needs to be considered when you want to water your indoor plants like money plants. Humidity makes the plants to be lush and green. This also prevents them from drying, curling, or other complications on the leaves. Too humid conditions are not good for money plants though.
Humidity can be maintained by using a humidifier and to some extent by spraying water on the leaves of money tree plants and areas around them. When it's too hot and dry, increasing humidity in the room will increase their chance of survival.
Temperature
Money tree plants need almost a constant temperature for their growth. They can thrive much better at room temperature. However, the ideal temperature for the growth of a money plant is between 65-80°F.
Money tree plants grow lush, green, and tall when it is relatively warmer and might find it hard to survive in colder temperatures and frost. This is why you need to avoid placing the pot of money tree plants near the door or windows from where cold breezes come in the winter.
Size of The Pot
As the size of money tree plants varies, there is no exact size of the pot that money tree plants need. However, the size of the pot determines how tall a plant can grow as small pots might restrict the growth of money tree plants. A larger pot can hold more water and retain more nutrients that will be available for the growth of money tree plants.
You can have a larger pot with a depth of at least 8 inches because this allows some room for the roots to grow. A large-sized pot is appropriate if you want to keep that plant indefinitely.
Best Water For Money Tree Plant
Previously, we have discussed the quality of water that the money plants need for their optimum growth. You need to provide good-quality water to encourage the money plant to reach its potential.
What Water Quality Is Best For Money Tree Plants?
Do you remember what was the water quality requirement for money tree plants? Yes, it is the water at room temperature without any salt content in it. The municipal drinking water is often treated with chloride and fluoride, and adding them to your money tree plant will affect their growth and survival.
If you want to use tap water for your money tree plant, try keeping it in a bucket outside for about 24 hours. During this time the chloride and fluoride will get a chance to dissipate.
Using Rainwater and Distilled Water
Rainwater and distilled water are the perfect choice if you do not want to use tap water. If distilled water is not economical for you, rainwater is also fine. This water is almost free of nutrients and other contamination and ensures the effective growth of your money tree plant.
You can also make a spray with rain water and distilled water for misting purposes. If you live in an area with excessive rainfall, rainwater is the best option for you as rainwater is pure and has an optimum pH level.
The Importance of Water Temperature
The temperature of the water added to the money tree plant is crucial for the plant's health. Money tree plants love water at room temperature and water above or below this temperature will disrupt the functioning of the roots and damage them.
Thus, water at room temperature will be easier for the roots of money tree plants to tolerate and absorb.
Signs of Overwatering
You need to be careful when watering your money tree plant and be certain that you are not providing your money tree plant with more water than it needs. This overwatering will show some early signs in the money tree plant. Some of these signs are explained in the text below.
Brown Spots
Although underwatering also causes the browning of leaves of money tree plants, overwatering will have a halo around the brown spots. If there is a presence of such circles around the brown spots, it usually means the plant has been overwatered.
Drooping of Leaves
When the soil where the money tree plant grows is kept too wet for a long time, this might cause drooping of its leaves. The moisture will usually dry if given some time. However, if it fails to dry and waterlogging is still a problem, you need to get the plant out, put it on a dry towel or paper, and absorb its moisture.
Loss of Leaves
The money tree plant will lose its leaves when it is not adequately watered or overwatered. In the case of underwatering, the plant will lose the leaves from the base, while overwatering causes the random loss of leaves.
Molding on the money tree plant is one of the signs of overwatering. Overwatering increases the moisture content and humidity, which aids in the thriving of molds in the soil and on the money plants. If the mold reaches the stem of the plant, you might have to get rid of these infected parts. This will also make the plant susceptible to other diseases and pests.
Overwatering can cause logging of water in the pot which increases the risk of rotting the delicate roots of the money tree plant. Rotting of roots often loosens the soil and releases a foul smell. The stem of the money tree plant will also become soft and weak in such cases.
You need to treat the rotting of the roots as soon as you find out, otherwise, this might cause the death of the plant too.
Stunted Growth
Overwatering your money tree plant logs the water in the pot. This inhibits the growth of the plant which produces stunted leaves and the branching is reduced, making the plant unattractive. This is because most of the plant's energy is utilized to fight against waterlogged conditions instead of focusing on its growth.
