Money Plant Care: How to Identify and Look After Your Plant

Money plant care starts with identifying which plant you own. The name “money plant” is used for several different houseplants, and their growing requirements are not identical.

In the UK, money plant often refers to the jade plant, Crassula ovata. Chinese money plant usually means Pilea peperomioides, with its round leaves on long stalks. You may also encounter a money tree with a woody trunk or a trailing plant sold under the same common name.

This can make care advice confusing. Instructions intended for a succulent jade plant may leave a different plant struggling.

This guide explains how to recognise the most common money plants, choose an appropriate position and manage watering, feeding and everyday care.

Which Money Plant Do You Have?

Look at the leaves, stems and overall growth habit.

The label’s botanical name is the most useful starting point because common names vary between retailers and countries.

Appearance	Likely plant	Botanical name
Thick, fleshy oval leaves on branching stems	Jade plant	Crassula ovata
Round, coin-shaped leaves on long individual stalks	Chinese money plant	Pilea peperomioides
Several leaflets spreading like fingers from one point, often above a woody or braided trunk	Money tree	Pachira aquatica or Pachira glabra
Trailing stems with heart-shaped leaves, sometimes marked with yellow	Golden pothos	Epipremnum aureum

This table is a guide rather than a complete identification key. Other plants can look similar.

If the plant does not match confidently, establish its identity before making major changes to its care.

Jade Plant: The Familiar Succulent Money Plant

Crassula ovata is a succulent with fleshy leaves and stems that become woody as the plant matures.

It can develop a miniature tree-like appearance, particularly when grown in a bright position.

Leaves are usually green, although varieties differ in shape and colouring. Some develop reddish margins under suitable light.

A jade plant stores water in its tissues, which affects how it should be watered.

It generally needs a brighter position and more drying between waterings than a Chinese money plant.

A dim room and persistently wet compost are a poor combination for this plant.

Chinese Money Plant: Round Leaves on Long Stalks

Pilea peperomioides has distinctive rounded leaves attached to long stalks.

The stalk joins the underside of the leaf away from its edge, helping create the familiar umbrella-like appearance.

Young plants form a compact display, while older specimens can develop a visible central stem.

They may also produce small offsets around the base.

Chinese money plants suit bright, indirect light and a growing medium that drains freely.

They need checking for water more frequently than many succulents, but they should not remain permanently saturated.

Money Tree: A Different Type of Houseplant

Pachira plants are often sold as money trees.

They commonly have several leaflets arranged together, creating a hand-like shape. Some are sold with braided trunks, although braiding is a trained appearance rather than a separate species.

A money tree needs space for its canopy and a stable growing position.

Bright, indirect light is a useful starting point. Check the compost before watering and allow excess moisture to drain.

Despite the name Pachira aquatica, a potted money tree should not be assumed to need permanently waterlogged compost.

Golden Pothos: A Trailing Money Plant

In some places, “money plant” refers to golden pothos.

This plant produces trailing or climbing stems with heart-shaped leaves. Many forms have yellow or cream markings.

It needs a different approach from a woody jade plant.

Give stems room to grow and provide suitable support if you want a climbing display.

Bright, indirect light generally supports good growth, although pothos can tolerate less light than some houseplants.

Lower light usually means slower growth and a reduced demand for water.

Where Should You Put a Money Plant?

Choose a position according to the identified plant.

For a Jade Plant

Use a bright position with suitable sunlight.

Introduce a plant gradually to stronger sun if it has previously been grown in shade.

Avoid sudden exposure to intense summer sunshine through glass.

For a Chinese Money Plant

Choose bright, indirect light.

Rotate the pot occasionally if you want balanced growth, because leaves can lean towards the window.

Avoid a permanently dark corner.

For a Money Tree or Pothos

A bright position away from prolonged harsh sunshine is a useful starting point.

Keep foliage clear of radiators, cold glass and frequently opened exterior doors.

A room’s appearance is less important than the light actually reaching the leaves.

How Often Should You Water a Money Plant?

There is no reliable watering schedule that suits every plant called a money plant.

The species, pot size, compost, room temperature and season all affect how quickly moisture is used.

Check the root-zone conditions before watering.

For jade plants, allow the compost to dry substantially between waterings. They generally need particularly cautious watering during slower winter growth.

For Chinese money plants, check when the upper few centimetres begin drying. Avoid repeatedly allowing severe drying of the entire root ball.

For money trees and pothos, allow some surface drying while assessing moisture deeper in the pot.

Use the plant’s identity to guide the routine.

How to Water Properly

For an ordinary pot-grown plant, water when required and allow excess moisture to escape through the drainage holes.

If using a decorative outer pot, check that water has not collected around the base of the inner container.

Repeated small splashes can leave parts of the root ball dry while other areas remain wet.

Equally, a pot that stays saturated for days may need its drainage, compost or location reviewed.

Avoid assuming every drooping leaf needs another drink.

Roots damaged by excess moisture can also struggle to supply water to the foliage.

Choose a Suitable Pot and Compost

Most money plants are easier to manage in a growing pot with drainage holes.

A decorative outer pot can then provide the appearance you want without preventing drainage.

The growing medium should suit the plant.

Plant	Useful compost approach
Jade plant	Suitable peat-free cactus and succulent mix
Chinese money plant	Free-draining peat-free houseplant compost
Money tree	Suitable peat-free houseplant mix with reliable drainage
Golden pothos	Suitable peat-free houseplant compost

Avoid using dense garden soil in a small indoor pot.

A layer of stones at the bottom does not replace drainage holes or correct an unsuitable growing medium.

Feeding Your Money Plant

Feed according to the plant’s needs and active growth.

Spring and summer are usually the main feeding period for houseplants in UK homes, although conditions vary.

Follow the product instructions and account for fertiliser already included in fresh compost.

Do not use extra feed to compensate for a dark position or damaged roots.

Succulents such as jade plants generally need a modest approach.

Avoid combining several products or applying strong fertiliser to a stressed plant.

When growth slows considerably, reduce or pause feeding as appropriate.

When to Repot

Inspect the roots before deciding a plant needs a larger pot.

Useful signs include roots becoming heavily congested, water behaving unusually when applied or the plant becoming unstable.

A few roots appearing through drainage holes do not automatically mean urgent repotting is needed.

Spring is a practical time for routine repotting because many plants are beginning active growth.

Choose a modest increase in pot size where needed.

An unnecessarily large pot can leave a small root system surrounded by compost that dries too slowly.

Keep the plant at an appropriate growing depth and handle its roots carefully.

Why Are the Leaves Turning Yellow?

Yellowing has several possible causes.

An occasional older leaf naturally ageing is different from widespread deterioration.

Check:

• Whether the compost is wet or dry.
• Whether the pot drains.
• Whether water is trapped in an outer pot.
• Whether the position provides enough light.
• Whether pests are present.
• Whether the plant has recently experienced a major change.

For a jade plant, soft yellow leaves alongside wet compost suggest a different problem from slightly wrinkled leaves in very dry conditions.

Identify the situation before treating it.

Why Is My Money Plant Dropping Leaves?

Leaf drop can follow changes in watering, temperature, light or root health.

Consider what happened before the problem began.

Was the plant moved beside a radiator? Did it travel home in cold weather? Has the compost remained wet? Was it suddenly placed in direct sun?

Remove fallen material and stabilise the growing conditions.

Avoid repotting, pruning, feeding and moving the plant repeatedly without a clear reason.

Several simultaneous changes make it harder to judge what is helping.

Why Is My Money Plant Growing Tall and Weak?

Weak or stretched growth can indicate insufficient light, although the natural habit differs between plants.

A Chinese money plant may develop a visible stem as it matures. Pothos naturally produces long stems.

For jade plants, widely spaced leaves and weak growth are a reason to review light levels.

Move gradually to a more suitable position where needed.

Do not assume heavy feeding will produce a compact plant in a dim room.

Prune only once you understand the plant’s identity and how it responds.

Propagation Depends on the Plant

Different money plants need different propagation methods.

Jade Plant

Healthy stem or leaf material can be used to raise new plants.

Allow cut surfaces to dry appropriately before placing them in a suitable succulent propagation medium.

Avoid keeping the material saturated.

Chinese Money Plant

Established offsets provide a practical starting point.

Separate a healthy young plant carefully, ideally with useful roots attached, and pot it into suitable compost.

Golden Pothos

Use healthy stem cuttings containing a node.

A leaf without a suitable node is not a dependable starting point for producing a new vine.

Money Tree

Stem cuttings are possible, but success depends on suitable material and propagation conditions.

Do not assume methods used for jade plants will work equally well.

Money Plant Care in Winter

Shorter days often slow growth.

Keep plants away from freezing windowsills, cold draughts and direct radiator heat.

Check moisture individually. Plants in cooler rooms may dry slowly, while heated conditions can change the routine.

Jade plants generally need particularly limited watering when growth is slow.

Avoid unnecessary repotting during winter unless the plant has a problem that requires attention.

A quiet growing period is normal and does not mean the plant needs constant intervention.

Check for Pests

Inspect leaf undersides, stems and growing points regularly.

Possible pests include mealybugs, scale insects and spider mites.

Look for sticky deposits, visible insects, webbing or unexplained damage.

Separate affected plants where practical and identify the pest before choosing a treatment.

Follow treatment instructions and confirm suitability for the plant.

Do not apply household mixtures simply because they are described as natural. Leaves can be damaged by unsuitable products.

Money Plants, Pets and Children

The shared common name makes accurate identification particularly important.

Jade plants and golden pothos can be harmful to pets if chewed.

Do not assume every plant sold as a money plant has the same safety profile.

Keep plants out of reach where necessary and check advice using the botanical name.

If a child or pet may have swallowed a harmful plant, seek appropriate professional advice promptly and provide its identity if known.

Does a Money Plant Bring Good Luck?

Money plants are associated with prosperity and good fortune in various traditions.

They can make thoughtful gifts, particularly when accompanied by the correct name and simple care instructions.

However, there is no gardening evidence that owning one changes financial outcomes.

Its practical value comes from enjoying the plant, learning how it grows and keeping it healthy.

Choose it because you like its appearance and can provide suitable conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Jade Plants and Chinese Money Plants the Same?

No. Crassula ovata is a succulent with thick oval leaves. Pilea peperomioides has round leaves on long stalks.

Can a Money Plant Grow in a Dark Room?

These plants need adequate light. Low-light tolerance does not mean they can grow indefinitely without a suitable light source.

Should I Water Every Week?

Check the compost instead. Different species and conditions require different intervals.

Can I Put One Outside in Summer?

Some can spend suitable weather outdoors after gradual acclimatisation. Their temperature limits and light requirements still apply.

Should I Mist the Leaves?

Routine misting is unnecessary for jade plants and does not replace appropriate growing conditions for the other plants.

Identify First, Then Build a Care Routine

Money plant care becomes much clearer once you know which plant you own.

Use the leaves, growth habit and botanical label to establish its identity. Then match its light, compost and watering to that plant.

Start with a suitable position and dependable drainage, observe how the pot dries and adjust care as the seasons change.

Keep smiling, keep shining, keep gardening with Ben.