How To Grow Money Plant: Beautiful Indoor Prosperity Guide

Imagine a lush, vibrant green plant cascading elegantly from a pot, adding a touch of nature and a whisper of good fortune to your home.

That’s the magic of the Money Plant. Renowned for its heart-shaped leaves and easy-going nature, it’s a favorite for both new and experienced plant parents.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to grow money plant varieties, ensuring they not only survive but thrive, bringing beauty and positive energy into your living space.

Whether you’re looking to start your plant journey or add another green friend to your collection, the money plant is an excellent choice.

It’s forgiving, adaptable, and incredibly rewarding to watch grow. We will cover every detail, from choosing the right cutting to advanced care techniques, so you can cultivate a stunning indoor garden.

What Exactly is a Money Plant?

Before we dive into the “how-to,” let’s get to know this popular plant. The Money Plant, scientifically known as Epipremnum aureum, goes by many names: Pothos, Devil’s Ivy, and Silver Vine. It’s a species of flowering plant in the arum family, Araceae, native to Mo’orea in the Society Islands of French Polynesia.

The “money plant” nickname stems from its association with prosperity and good luck in Feng Shui. The plant’s round, flat leaves are thought to resemble coins, symbolizing wealth. It’s believed that having a healthy, growing money plant in your home attracts positive energy and financial abundance.

Types of Money Plants

While the classic green variety is common, several stunning cultivars are available, each with unique leaf patterns and colors. Exploring these can help you choose the perfect one for your home’s aesthetic.

Golden Pothos: This is the most common type, featuring heart-shaped green leaves splashed with golden-yellow variegation.
Marble Queen Pothos: This variety has creamy white and green marbled leaves, creating a striking contrast. It requires brighter light to maintain its variegation.
Neon Pothos: As the name suggests, this plant boasts bright, chartreuse-green leaves that are almost electric in color. It adds a vibrant pop to any room.
Jessenia Pothos: Similar to the Marble Queen, but its variegation is a deeper, chartreuse-green against the darker green of the leaf.
Manjula Pothos: This patented variety from the University of Florida has large, wavy-edged leaves with a mix of cream, silver, white, and green variegation.
Pearls and Jade Pothos: A slower-growing variety with smaller leaves that have green centers and irregular splotches of white and silver-gray on the edges.
Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus): While not a true Epipremnum, it’s often grouped with money plants. It has dark green leaves with silvery splotches and a velvety texture.

Choosing the right variety often comes down to personal preference and the light conditions in your home. Variegated types generally need more light than their solid green counterparts.

The Two Main Ways to Grow a Money Plant

One of the best things about the money plant is its versatility. You can successfully grow it in both soil and water. Let’s break down both methods so you can decide which works best for you.

Method 1: Growing Money Plant in Water

Growing a money plant in water is arguably the easiest way to start. It’s a clean, low-maintenance method that allows you to watch the roots develop, which is fascinating. This is a perfect project for beginners.

Step-by-Step Guide to Growing in Water

Select a Healthy Cutting: The foundation of a healthy plant is a good cutting. Look for a stem on an existing money plant that is healthy and vibrant. Using a clean, sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears, cut a 4-6 inch section just below a leaf node. A leaf node is the small brown bump on the stem where leaves and roots grow. Ensure your cutting has at least 3-4 nodes and a few leaves.
Prepare the Cutting: Once you have your cutting, remove the leaves from the bottom one or two nodes that will be submerged in water. This prevents the leaves from rotting, which can contaminate the water and harm the developing roots.
Choose Your Vessel: You can use almost any glass or ceramic container. A clear glass bottle, jar, or vase is ideal because it lets you monitor root growth and water level easily. Make sure the container is clean to prevent bacterial growth.
Add Water: Fill your vessel with clean, room-temperature water. Tap water is usually fine, but if your water is heavily chlorinated, let it sit out for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to dissipate. Alternatively, you can use filtered or distilled water.
Place the Cutting: Submerge the bare nodes of your cutting into the water. The remaining leaves should be above the waterline.
Find the Perfect Spot: Place your vase in a location that receives bright, indirect sunlight. A spot near a north or east-facing window is perfect. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves and promote algae growth in the water.
Water Care is Key: This is the most crucial step for success. Change the water every 5-7 days to replenish oxygen and prevent stagnation. When you change the water, gently rinse the roots and the vase to remove any slime or buildup.
Patience is a Virtue: You should start to see small, white roots emerge from the nodes in about 2-4 weeks. Once the root system is a few inches long and looks well-established, your water-grown money plant is ready! You can keep it in water indefinitely or transfer it to soil.

Method 2: Growing Money Plant in Soil

Growing a money plant in soil allows it to reach its full potential, often resulting in larger leaves and more robust growth. The soil provides a steady supply of nutrients that water alone cannot.

Step-by-Step Guide to Growing in Soil

Start with a Cutting (or a Water-Propagated Plant): You can either plant a fresh cutting directly into soil or transfer a plant that has already rooted in water. If planting a fresh cutting, you can dip the end in a rooting hormone to speed up the process, though it’s not strictly necessary.
Select the Right Pot: Choose a pot that is 4-6 inches in diameter with at least one drainage hole at the bottom. Drainage is non-negotiable for money plants, as they are susceptible to root rot if their soil stays waterlogged. Terracotta pots are a great choice as they are porous and help the soil dry out evenly. For a stylish touch, consider this Self-Watering Planter Pot.
Create the Perfect Potting Mix: Money plants thrive in a well-draining, aerated potting mix. A standard indoor potting mix works well, but you can create a superior blend by mixing:
- One part potting soil
- One part perlite or pumice (for aeration)
- One part peat moss or coco coir (for moisture retention)
  This mix ensures that the roots get enough oxygen while staying lightly moist. Using a pre-made mix like Premium Indoor Plant Potting Mix can save you time.
Planting the Cutting: Fill your chosen pot with the potting mix, leaving a little space at the top. Make a small hole in the center with your finger or a pencil. Gently place the cutting into the hole, ensuring the nodes are buried under the soil. If transferring from water, place the rooted cutting in the hole and fill in around it. Pat the soil down gently to secure the plant.
Initial Watering: Water the plant thoroughly until you see water run out of the drainage hole. This helps the soil settle around the roots. Discard any excess water from the saucer.
Positioning for Success: Just like with water propagation, place your potted money plant in a location with bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun, which can burn the leaves.
Establishing a Watering Routine: This is where many plant owners struggle. The key is to water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. To check, simply stick your finger into the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it’s still moist, wait a few more days. Overwatering is the most common reason money plants fail.

Comprehensive Money Plant Care Tips

You’ve successfully planted your money plant. Now, how do you keep it happy and flourishing? Following these money plant care tips will ensure your plant stays lush and healthy for years to come.

The Ultimate Care Checklist

Care Factor	Guideline	Why It’s Important
Light	Bright, indirect sunlight. Can tolerate low light but may lose variegation.	Direct sun scorches leaves; too little light leads to leggy growth.
Watering	Water when top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Water thoroughly, then let drain.	Prevents both under-watering (wilting) and overwatering (root rot).
Humidity	Prefers average to high humidity.	Brown leaf tips can indicate air is too dry. Mist leaves or use a humidifier.
Temperature	Ideal range is 65-85°F (18-29°C). Avoid sudden temperature drops.	Consistent temperatures mimic its native tropical environment.
Fertilizer	Feed every 4-6 weeks during spring/summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer.	Provides essential nutrients for vigorous growth and vibrant leaves.
Pruning	Trim long, leggy vines to encourage bushier growth.	Pruning promotes a fuller plant and provides cuttings for propagation.
Repotting	Repot every 1-2 years or when it becomes root-bound.	Gives roots more space to grow and refreshes the soil.

Fertilizing Your Money Plant

While money plants are not heavy feeders, a little boost during the growing season (spring and summer) goes a long way.

Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer formulated for houseplants, diluted to half-strength. An excellent option is this Indoor Plant Fertilizer. Feed your plant once a month. Avoid fertilizing in the fall and winter when the plant’s growth naturally slows down.

Pruning for a Fuller Plant

If your money plant starts to look a bit sparse or has long, trailing vines with few leaves, it’s time for a trim! Pruning is the secret to a full, bushy plant.

When to Prune: The best time is during the spring or summer growing season.
How to Prune: Using clean scissors, snip off any long, leggy stems. You can cut them back by as much as one-third. Always make your cut just after a leaf node. This encourages the plant to send out new shoots from that node, creating a denser appearance.
Bonus: Don’t throw those cuttings away! You can propagate them in water or soil to create new plants for yourself or to give as gifts.

The Many Money Plant Benefits

Beyond its good looks and ease of care, the money plant offers several benefits that make it a valuable addition to any indoor space.

Air Purification: The money plant is a NASA-approved air-purifying plant. It is effective at removing common indoor pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene from the air, helping you breathe cleaner, fresher air.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Studies have shown that interacting with indoor plants can reduce psychological and physiological stress. The simple act of caring for a plant can be meditative and calming.
Enhances Well-being: In Feng Shui, the money plant is believed to bring positive energy, prosperity, and good luck when placed in the southeast corner of a home or office. Its vibrant green leaves are also said to reduce eye strain.
Improves Humidity: Plants release moisture into the air through a process called transpiration. This can help improve humidity levels in dry, air-conditioned rooms, which can be beneficial for your skin and respiratory system. For more information, check out our article on The Best Plants for Improving Indoor Air Quality.

Troubleshooting Common Money Plant Problems

Even this easy-going plant can encounter issues. Here’s how to diagnose and fix the most common problems.

Yellow Leaves: This is often a sign of overwatering. Check the soil moisture. If it’s soggy, allow it to dry out completely before watering again. Ensure your pot has good drainage. Yellow leaves can also indicate a nutrient deficiency, so if you haven’t fertilized in a while, it might be time for a feed.
Brown, Crispy Leaf Edges: This usually points to low humidity or under-watering. The air might be too dry. Try misting your plant a few times a week, placing it on a pebble tray with water, or using a small humidifier. Also, check if the soil is bone-dry.
Brown, Mushy Stems: This is a classic symptom of root rot, caused by severe overwatering. You need to act fast. Remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots. Healthy roots are firm and white; rotten roots are brown, soft, and mushy. Trim away all the rotten parts with sterile scissors and repot the plant in fresh, dry soil.
Pests: Money plants are generally pest-resistant but can occasionally attract mealybugs or spider mites.
- Mealybugs: Look for small, white, cottony masses on the stems and undersides of leaves.
- Spider Mites: You might see fine webbing on the plant or tiny specks on the leaves.
- Treatment: Isolate the affected plant. You can dab mealybugs with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. For both pests, spray the entire plant with a solution of neem oil or insecticidal soap. For persistent issues, a product like Neem Oil Pest Control Spray is highly effective.
Loss of Variegation: If your Marble Queen or Golden Pothos starts turning solid green, it’s likely not getting enough light. Move it to a brighter location with more indirect sunlight to bring back its beautiful patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How fast does a money plant grow?
A money plant is a relatively fast grower, especially during the spring and summer. With proper care, it can grow several inches per month. Growth slows down significantly in the fall and winter.

Q2: Is the money plant toxic to pets?
Yes, the money plant (Epipremnum aureum) is toxic to cats and dogs. It contains insoluble calcium oxalates. If ingested, it can cause oral irritation, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. It’s best to keep the plant out of reach of curious pets, perhaps in a hanging basket or on a high shelf.

Q3: Can I keep my money plant in the bathroom?
Absolutely! The bathroom is often a perfect spot for a money plant. It typically has lower light and higher humidity, conditions that mimic the plant’s native tropical habitat. It will thrive in the steamy environment created by showers.

Q4: Why is my money plant vine so long and with few leaves?
This is known as “leggy” growth and it’s a sign that the plant is stretching to find more light. Move it to a brighter spot and prune the long vines back. Pruning will encourage the plant to branch out and become much fuller and bushier.

Q5: Should I use a support for my money plant to climb?
You can! In the wild, money plants are climbers. Providing a moss pole or a small trellis allows the plant to climb upwards. This encourages the leaves to grow much larger, similar to how they grow in their natural environment. A sturdy Climbing Moss Pole can help you achieve this impressive look.

Growing a money plant is a simple pleasure that brings so much life and vibrancy to your indoor environment. By following this comprehensive guide, you are well-equipped to cultivate a stunning specimen that will bring you joy for many years to come. Happy planting