How To Easily Propagate A Money Tree For A Happy And Healthy Plant

The money tree (Pachira aquatica) is a lush rainforest tree that's native to north Brazil, southern Mexico, and Bolivia. It's also commonly known as the Malabar chestnut and it's often grown as an indoor plant. In fact it's one of many indoor plants that will thrive in a small space. According to the University of Arizona, gardeners in USDA zones 9b through 11 can grow this plant outdoors, but it's frost tender and prefers high humidity. If you have one of these gorgeous plants growing in your home, you can easily multiply a money tree by propagating it. 

You can propagate your money tree cuttings in water or soil. Either method will result in a new plant. But one of the benefits of propagating in water is that you can actually see the roots start to form and then grow. But it does mean that you'll have to pot the new plant into soil once the roots are well developed. When propagating in soil, this step is not necessary and you'll only have to repot the plant once it starts to get too large for the pot.

For this easy method, you'll need a healthy plant to take your cutting from. Select a young side stem and cut it from the main plant just below a leaf node using a clean pair of pruning shears. If you don't have a pair of these essential gardening tools, you can use a clean pair of kitchen scissors or even a sharp knife. The leaf node is the exact point where the leaves are joined to the stem. Remove the lower leaves so that there are just one or two leaves left at the top of the cutting.

Fill a small glass, jar, or vase with water and put your cutting into it. The nodes on the base of the cutting should be submerged, but make sure that the upper leaves are not in the water. Put your cutting in a warm spot that gets plenty of bright, but indirect sunlight, and change the water at least once a week to keep it fresh. Keep an eye on your cutting so that you can see it start to produce some tiny roots. This can take as long as 30 days. Once you see a nice set of roots that are at least 1 to 2 inches long, you can then pot your new plant into soil. Make sure you use a quality potting mix that can drain freely.

If you want to propagate your money tree cutting in soil, the method for taking the cutting is the same. Cut a young stem from the parent plant just below a leaf node. Remove the lower leaves and make sure that there are only one or two leaves at the top of the cutting. Fill a small pot with a quality potting mix that drains well. Make a small hole in the mix using a pencil or dibber. Dip the base of the cutting in rooting hormone and insert it into the soil. For the best results, cover your cutting with a plant cloche or a plastic bag. This will give it a nice humid environment and encourage rooting.

Place the pot with your cutting in a warm spot that receives plenty of indirect sunlight, and keep the soil nice and moist. It will take around three to five weeks for your cutting to produce roots. Take the plant cloche off after this time and watch as your plant starts to show signs of new growth. Don't forget to learn more about how to grow and care for your money tree so that you have a happy and healthy plant for many years to come.