The money tree (Pachira aquatica) is one of the good luck plants in Feng Shui. It’s a beautiful plant with a braided trunk and foliage that comes in leaflets of five. Relatively low-maintenance, this lovely plant makes a wonderful gift because of its association with financial well-being. Moreover, its perfect for cat and dog owners as its one of the popular pet-safe plants.
Learning how to propagate a money tree isn’t difficult, even for beginners. It’s also an easy way to get more of these beautiful plants for your own home or to give to friends and family.
The money plant, also known as devil’s ivy or pothos, is one of the most popular and easy to care for houseplants With its lush cascading foliage, it adds a tropical vibe to any indoor space. An added benefit of this plant is how simple it is to propagate – meaning you can multiply your plants and share with family and friends! Here’s a complete guide to propagating money plant using different techniques
An Overview of Money Plant
Money plant is a vining plant with heart-shaped leaves that come in various shades of green, as well as variegated varieties. Scientifically known as Epipremnum aureum, it is native tropical forests of Southeast Asia. This hardy plant can thrive in bright indirect light to low light conditions, though it grows faster with more light It also withstands a range of temperatures and is moderately drought tolerant.
Money plant spreads readily on its own when allowed to trail. Simply clipping off a strand and planting it is often enough for it to root and create a new plant. This makes propagating money plant from cuttings an easy process.
When to Propagate Money Plant
Money plant can technically be propagated any time of year, but the best time is during the growing season in spring and summer. This takes advantage of the plant’s active growth phase. The higher temperature and humidity of these months also boosts success rates.
If propagating in fall or winter, you may need to provide supplemental heat and moisture. Take cuttings from healthy, established plants vs weaker or leggy ones.
How to Propagate Money Plant in Water
Propagating pothos in water is quick and incredibly easy. Follow these simple steps:
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Take 4-6 inch cuttings from the stem, cutting just below a leaf node. Remove lower leaves.
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Place the cutting in a jar of room temperature water. Make sure at least 2 leaf nodes are submerged.
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Set the jar in a spot with bright, indirect light. Change the water weekly.
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Roots will begin to sprout from the nodes in about 2-3 weeks. Once roots are 1 inch long, the cutting can be potted in soil.
Water propagation causes minimal stress to the plant. It also allows you to monitor the rooting process. Make sure to plant the rooted cuttings quickly once they have sufficient roots to avoid rot.
Propagating Money Plant in Soil
Propagation in potting mix is another simple process. Follow these steps:
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Take 4-6 inch stem cuttings as above, removing lower leaves.
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Dip the end of each cutting in rooting hormone powder/gel (optional but boosts success rate).
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Stick cuttings 2-3 inches deep in small pots filled with well-draining potting mix.
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Water gently to moisten soil without dislodging cuttings. Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy.
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Rooting will take 3-6 weeks. Harden off plant by gradually exposing to more sun before fully repotting.
The right soil moisture is key – too dry and cuttings shrivel, too wet and stems rot. Aim for evenly moist soil. Rooting hormone gives an extra boost but isn’t required.
Propagating Money Plant by Air Layering
Air layering, while less common, is another propagation method. It allows you to root a plant while still attached to the parent. Follow these air layering steps:
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Select a healthy stem with leaves and wrap this section with sphagnum moss.
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Cover the moss with plastic wrap, sealing the ends with twine or wire. This creates a mini greenhouse.
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After 1-2 months, roots should fill the moss. Cut below the roots and pot up the new plant.
This technique avoids stressing the parent plant. It also provides the cutting with immediate moisture and nutrients from the main plant while it develops roots.
Caring for Newly Propagated Money Plants
With proper care, your new money plant propagation with thrive. Follow these tips:
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Acclimate young plants slowly to more sunlight over a week or two. Start in bright, indirect light.
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Use well-draining potting mix and terra cotta pots with drainage holes. Add perlite to improve drainage.
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Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Allow soil to dry out between waterings.
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Mist frequently or use a pebble tray to provide humidity. Money plants enjoy 40-60% humidity.
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Keep new plants at consistent temperatures around 70°F. Avoid cold drafts.
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Fertilize monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
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Check for pests like spider mites. Isolate any infested plants to avoid spread.
With proper light, moisture, humidity, and care a new money plant will establish quickly. Repot as needed when roots fill pots.
Advanced Propagation Methods
Once you’ve mastered basic money plant propagation, consider trying these advanced techniques:
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Planting in sphagnum moss – Planting cuttings in moist sphagnum moss encourages fast rooting. Keep the moss evenly moist.
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Dividing the roots – Carefully dividing congested rootballs into smaller sections when repotting is another propagation method.
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Leaf cuttings – While slower, it is possible to root a single money plant leaf. Cut where the leaf meets the vine and place in soil or water. At least one leaf node is required.
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Planting multiple cuttings together – Put 3-5 cuttings in one pot for a full, bushy new plant right away. Just don’t overcrowd.
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Rooting in perlite or vermiculite – These soilless mediums hold moisture while allowing oxygen flow to roots.
Troubleshooting Propagation Problems
If your money plant cuttings fail to root, here are some common issues and solutions:
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Rotting stems – This is caused by excess moisture. Allow soil or water to dry out more between waterings.
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Brown, shriveled cuttings – Increase humidity and water slightly more frequently. Don’t let soil totally dry out.
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Few roots – Boost light exposure, change water weekly, or apply rooting hormone to speed up growth.
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Drooping leaves – Indicates not enough water and humidity. Mist more and water when top of soil becomes slightly dry.
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Leggy growth – Give new plants more direct light to encourage fuller, compact growth vs tall and leggy.
Enjoy an Abundance of Money Plants
By learning various techniques for propagating money plant, you can easily multiply your plants and create new pots of this popular houseplant vine for free. Give money plant cuttings as gifts to spread the indoor gardening love.
If you want cascading money plant foliage like a pro, propagate several cuttings together in one pot for a fuller look right away. With the right care and environment, most cuttings will root within 2-6 weeks. Just be sure to meet the plant’s basic needs and troubleshoot any issues promptly. Soon you’ll have money plants galore to decorate with and share!
Money Tree Common Issues
Money tree owners often have issues with their plants, such as stems that are too tall and don’t have many leaves, leaves that turn yellow or brown, and stems that are soft and wilting. Your money tree may grow leggy if it’s not receiving enough light. The solution is to move it to a spot with bright but indirect sunlight.
Both too much and too little water can cause leaves to droop and turn yellow. The best way to tell which is which is to look at the soil. If the soil is dry, water your plant, and if it’s wet, refrain from watering for a while. Additionally, a soft trunk is a definite sign of overwatering.
Money Tree After Propagation: Care Tips
Once you’ve successfully propagated your money tree, it’s important to keep the new plants in conditions that will help them grow. Pachiras are aesthetic, low-maintenance and easy-to-grow plants. Still, there are a few things you need to think about and specifics about money tree care if you want to grow a healthy plant.
Propagate Money Plant or UFO Plant (Pilea Peperomoides) in Water – By Single Leaf and stem Cutting
FAQ
How do you propagate a money tree from a cutting?
How to propagate money plant babies?
How to propagate Chinese money plant?
Propagating Chinese money plant is super easy! You can give offsets and cuttings away to friends and family, expand your own Pilea army or even sell them. Although Pilea peperomioides can be propagated through stem cuttings, there is not much reason to do so.
How do you propagate a money tree?
The easiest way to propagate a money tree is in water. Among all the ways to propagate, doing it in water is a great way to be able to see the progress as your cutting grows new roots. Once the roots are long enough, you can transfer it to soil with ease. Let’s get started! You’ll need a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shares for this step.
When is the best time to propagate a money tree?
The best time to propagate a money tree using stem cuttings is when it’s healthy and growing well. You want to find firm stems that have nodes on them. The node looks like a bump and it’s where the new roots will begin to form. It’s best to propagate plants in the spring or summer when the conditions in your home are better.
When is the best time to propagate Chinese money plants?
Read on to learn more about its propagation. If you already have a happy and healthy Chinese money plant in your houseplant collection, the best time to propagate is in the early spring. But you can also propagate at other times. New pileas are easy to start pretty much anytime in the spring, summer, or even the early fall.