Problems

Money Tree Problems: Causes & Quick Fixes

Quick answer

Money Tree is prone to 16 common issues - each link below is a plant-specific fix guide.

Money Tree houseplant

Money Tree problems

Use the guides below to diagnose and fix common issues on Money Tree. Each problem page explains why it happens on this species and what to do first.

Or use our problem diagnosis tool to narrow down symptoms.

Common problems on Money Tree

Brown Tips

Low

Likely cause: Low humidity or salt build-up from over-fertilising

Quick fix: Increase humidity; flush soil with plain water

Full fix guide →

Root Rot

High

Likely cause: Persistently wet soil from frequent shallow waterings

Quick fix: Repot in fresh draining mix; adopt deep-water-then-dry cycle

Full fix guide →

Aphids

Medium

Likely cause: Aphids on Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) colonize the newest palmate leaf clusters at the crown and tender shoot tips. First step: isolate the plant and rinse insects off every leaflet underside and le

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Drooping Leaves

Medium

Likely cause: Drooping leaves on Money Tree mean roots are not delivering water to the leaflets. Before watering, probe soil 5 cm deep and lift the pot-dry and light means thirst; wet and heavy means pause and insp

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Fungus Gnats

Medium

Likely cause: Fungus gnats on Money Tree almost always mean the soil surface stays wet too long-especially around braided stems and cachepots. First step: stop watering until the top 5 cm of mix dries completely, a

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Low Humidity

Medium

Likely cause: Dry indoor air stresses Money Tree leaflets and invites spider mites. First step: move the plant away from heating or AC vents and run a humidifier until humidity near the canopy stays above 50%.

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Mealybugs

Medium

Likely cause: Mealybugs on Money Tree (*Pachira aquatica*) show as white cottony clusters tucked into palmate leaflet axils where five to seven glossy leaflets meet the central petiole, along braided-stem crotches,

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Mold on Soil

Medium

Likely cause: White or gray fuzz on Money Tree soil is usually harmless saprophytic mold on a damp surface-not a leaf disease. First step: scrape the top 1–2 cm, then let the top 5 cm of mix dry before you water ag

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Not Enough Light

Medium

Likely cause: Money Tree (*Pachira aquatica*) in too little light stretches between whorls, produces smaller compound leaflets, and leans toward windows. First step: move to bright indirect light-east or filtered s

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Overwatering

Medium

Likely cause: Overwatering on Money Tree shows as a heavy wet pot, limp palmate leaves on damp mix, and sometimes yellow lower leaves-with fungus gnats hovering nearby. First step: stop watering until the top 5 cm

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Slow Growth

Medium

Likely cause: Slow growth on Money Tree is often normal in winter or a sign of too little light-not hunger. First, check the season and whether the plant gets bright indirect light most of the day before changing w

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Spider Mites

Medium

Likely cause: Spider mites on Money Tree (*Pachira aquatica*) show as fine stippling across glossy palmate leaflets and silk webbing at petiole bases-often after dry winter heating near a braided lobby specimen. Fi

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Underwatering

Medium

Likely cause: Underwatering on Money Tree shows as a light pot, dusty dry mix 5 cm deep, and limp compound leaflets on a firm braided trunk. First step: confirm dryness with a finger probe and pot weight, then give

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Wilting

Medium

Likely cause: Wilting on Money Tree almost always means roots are not moving water-check soil moisture 5 cm deep and pot weight before you water. Wet soil with limp leaves needs drying and root inspection; dry soil

Quick fix: See plant-specific guide for step-by-step fixes.

Full fix guide →

Browse all plant problems

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Money Tree?

Deep water every 7–14 days in summer. Allow to dry at 5+ cm depth before next watering. Every 14–21 days in winter. Never let pot sit in water. In practice, water every 7–10 days in summer; every 2–3 weeks in winter. Insert finger 5 cm deep - water only when completely dry at that depth. Reduce watering significantly in winter - the most common mistake.

What light does Money Tree need?

Money Tree grows best in bright indirect light.

Is Money Tree safe for cats and dogs?

Money Tree is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. Always monitor pets around new plants and contact your vet if unusual symptoms appear.

How do I propagate Money Tree?

Propagate Money Tree from healthy stem or root divisions during active growth.

What soil is best for Money Tree?

Use standard potting mix with 20–30 % perlite. Well-draining - critical. pH 6.0–7.5. A good mix includes 50% potting mix, 30% perlite, 20% cocopeat. Excellent drainage essential - Pachira is paradoxically drought-tolerant in containers despite being a wetland plant.

What humidity does Money Tree need?

Money Tree prefers moderate to high (50–70%); appreciates misting or pebble tray in dry conditions. Normal household humidity is usually fine.

When should I repot Money Tree?

Repot Money Tree every 2–3 years; prefers snug pots, ideally in spring. Signs it needs a bigger pot: roots emerging from drainage holes, rapid drying after watering.

How this Money Tree problems guide is reviewed?

Editorial policyReview board

Written by · Reviewed by LeafyPixels Review Board · Updated June 17, 2026

This Money Tree problems problem guide was researched and written by . Problems symptoms on Money Tree, lookalike causes, and step-by-step fixes are cross-checked against extension pest, disease, and care references before publication.

We prioritize sources that hold up under scrutiny:

  • University cooperative extension bulletins and fact sheets (Penn State, Clemson, UMD, NC State, and similar programs)
  • Botanical garden and horticultural society publications
  • Peer-reviewed plant science and veterinary toxicology references where pet safety matters (including ASPCA Animal Poison Control)
  • Established reference works on indoor plant culture

The LeafyPixels editorial team then reviews the draft for clarity, step-by-step usefulness, and fit with real apartment and home conditions-not ideal greenhouse setups. When guidance changes materially, we update the page and note the revision date.

Sources used

  1. **five to nine lance-shaped leaflets** (n.d.) Pachira Aquatica. [Online]. Available at: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pachira-aquatica/ (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  2. **roughly 50% humidity** (n.d.) Pachira. [Online]. Available at: https://libguides.nybg.org/pachira (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  3. **twice the pot volume** (n.d.) Success Houseplants Fertilization. [Online]. Available at: https://lancaster.unl.edu/success-houseplants-fertilization/ (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  4. about 1/16 to 1/8 inch long (n.d.) Insects Indoor Plants. [Online]. Available at: https://extension.umn.edu/product-and-houseplant-pests/insects-indoor-plants (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  5. about ½ inch (1.3 cm) above a healthy node (n.d.) 239608. [Online]. Available at: https://libanswers.nybg.org/faq/239608 (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  6. Ask Extension (n.d.) Saprophytic mold FAQ. [Online]. Available at: https://ask.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=620408 (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  7. black sooty mold (n.d.) Mealybugs Indoor Plants. [Online]. Available at: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/mealybugs-indoor-plants (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  8. breed in the top layer of damp organic potting mix (n.d.) How Treat Pesky Fungus Gnats Houseplants. [Online]. Available at: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/how-treat-pesky-fungus-gnats-houseplants (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  9. bright indirect exposure (n.d.) Online resource. [Online]. Available at: https://hgic.clemson.edu/?s=indoor+plants+light+requirements (Accessed: 17 June 2026).
  10. cluster on new growth (n.d.) Insect Pests Houseplants. [Online]. Available at: https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/insect-pests-houseplants (Accessed: 17 June 2026).