What Kind Of Pot Is Best For A Money Tree?

Choosing the right pot for your money tree can be daunting for some people. There are several factors to choose the right one, and in this article, we will learn all about what kind of pot is best for a money tree?

Money tree prefers to stay in just the right size pot where its root can hold on the soil but still have enough space to expand its roots. A terracotta pot or ceramic pots are the best ones for money trees to allow adequate air exchange. Make sure the pot has drainage holes in it.

When it comes to choosing the ideal pot for your money tree, you should mainly consider the size of the pot as the primary factor because it can make a lot of difference and have various effects on your plant’s health.

If you plant your money tree in the wrong pot, it will develop stunted growth or overwatering problems. Other problems can include pest infestation, root rot, or simply a root-bound money tree.

If you use a small pot, the plant will run out of nutrition fast, and its growth will become restricted. In contrast, a larger pot will hold too much water that can lead to overwatering.

In this article, we will discuss the problems of using the incorrect-sized pot and what would be the ideal spot for your money tree.

Factors to consider while selecting the pot for money tree

The pot plays a vital role as that is what holds the money tree in its place. If the pot is not correct, it can affect the soil, the roots, and the plant’s overall health.

You should consider these factors before getting a pot for your money tree. 

• Size of the pot
• Drainage holes
• Material of the pot

Let’s discuss these factors in detail.

Size of the pot

It might not seem significant, but the size of the pot can determine the growth of your money tree.

If you keep your money tree in a small pot, the soil will not hold sufficient nutrients, and therefore, the plant will run out of nutrition very fast. The plant might also become root-bound when it is placed in a small pot.

On the other hand, when the pot is bigger, the plant will get more nutrients from the soil and grow bigger than expected. This can lead to problems such as droopy leaves and the plant falling off.

Also read: What Happens If You Put A Plant in A Pot Too Big?

Drainage holes

Drainage holes are vital as they drain the excess water out of the soil and pot. 

Money trees don’t prefer sitting in the water for too long as that can lead to overwatering and root rot. If the pot doesn’t have proper drainage holes, the water will not pass out and will remain in the pot.

Therefore, when purchasing a pot for your money tree, make sure that the pot has drainage holes. If it doesn’t have drainage holes, you can make them under the pot and place the plant inside it.

Material of the pot

It is best to use ceramic, clay, or terracotta pots for your houseplants. These allow air to pass from the outside of the pot to the inside and vice versa.

Plastic pots are not ideal as the material restricts airflow, which can affect the plant’s root health.

How big of a pot does a money tree need?

You get different sizes of pot in the market, and choosing the right size can be tricky.

Before we tell you the pros and cons of using smaller or bigger pots for the money tree, we would like to explain how you can choose the correct sized pot in the first place.

So you need to get a pot that is one size bigger than your money tree.

You cannot choose a three or four-gallon pot for a seven-inch tall plant as that would be way too big for the plant.

So if you have a seven-inch tall plant, you will need a one-gallon pot. Once your money tree reaches one foot, you can repot the plant to a pot that is 2″ bigger than the current one.

And keep upgrading the size along with the size of your plant.

Now you might be thinking about what could possibly go wrong if you use a smaller or larger pot. That is what we will explain to you now.

Pros and cons of using a big pot

In a big pot, the roots have a lot of space to grow and don’t get restricted. 

When the money tree is placed in a bigger pot, the roots will keep growing, and if the plant gets proper light, water and nutrition, it will keep growing bigger.

However, that doesn’t mean that the plant grows faster than usual. The growth rate of the plant doesn’t depend on the bigger pot.

So, you might see more growth in your money tree when it is kept in a big pot.

But that is about it for the pros of using a big pot. Now let’s understand the cons of using a bigger pot.

Many houseplant owners think that they will not need to repot the plant anytime soon if they purchase a big pot. But that is a mistake. A bigger pot comes with a lot of disadvantages.

Root rot

When you are using a bigger pot, it will hold more soil that will retain more water. This will cause overwatering that will lead to root rot.

If you are repotting your money tree, don’t mistake getting a pot that is too big for it.

Along with root rot come stunted growth, droopy foliage, yellow leaves that eventually fall off.

Root rot is deadly as it damages the roots and makes the plant weak, causing the death of the plant if this condition extends without any care from you.

Therefore, to avoid such a deadly problem, avoid getting a bigger pot for your money tree.

Pest infestation

An overwatered plant will also invite pests that will thrive and cause more damage to your overwatered money tree.

When there is root rot, the pests will get attracted, and since the plant will become weak already, it will become more damaged and might even give up.

Stunted growth

If the money tree is potted in a bigger pot, the chances of overwatering increase, resulting in stunted growth.

Root rot can also be a reason behind the stunted growth of your money tree. Root rot invites pests that feed on the money tree and take out all the nutrition from it, due to which the plant fails to grow properly.

In a bigger pot, the money tree will focus more on the growth of the root, due to which there might not be as much growth in the other parts. This can also lead to stunted growth.

Pros and cons of using a small pot

If you want to keep your plant small in size, then you can use a small pot. However, you need to keep pruning the plant and the roots so that they fit in the small pot.

But the main problem with a small pot is that you will have a root-bound plant.

A root-bound plant has roots tied up that form a bundle inside the pot while displacing soil from the pot.

In a small pot, the roots grow big and outgrow the pot. If you don’t do anything about it, the roots will start struggling for space, come out of the drainage holes, displace the soil in search of space, and even crack the pots.

Some signs of a root-bound plant are that the roots will come out of the drainage holes, the leaves will turn yellow, and you won’t see much growth in the plant.

If you don’t repot the plant, it will die.

You can prune the roots and keep the plant in the same pot, but it would be best to repot the money tree.

What is the ideal pot for the money tree?

The size is the most crucial factor, so you should choose the pot that goes with the size of the plant.

An ideal size pot will be one size bigger than the current pot. The pot should be at least two inches bigger than the current one.

If you want to ensure that the plant has enough space for growth and gets the correct amount of water and nutrients, you need to get the right-sized pot for the money tree.

Don’t forget that the pot should have drainage holes to support sound drainage.

It is best if you use a terracotta or clay pot instead of a plastic one.

When to repot a money tree?

Repotting is essential as it helps save a root-bound plant, nourishes the plant with fresh soil, and protects it from diseases like root rot.

If you stop seeing growth in your money tree, you need to repot it.

You can tell that your money tree requires repotting if you see that roots are coming out of the drainage holes. All these are signs of a root-bound plant.

If the plant remains root-bound for too long, it can become stressed. The leaves will get discolored and start falling, and eventually, the plant might die.

You need to repot the plant during the growing season as that is when the plant grows the most, and the chances of damage or stress are less compared to the winter season.

It is advised not to repot during winter as the plant can get shocked quickly due to the low temperatures. So, you should avoid repotting in winter unless extremely important.

Final words

The size of the pot matters the most. So you need to select the size carefully. 

If you choose the right pot by following what we have mentioned in this article, you won’t have a problem.

You need to remember three main points that can sum up this article.

• Use a pot that is only one size larger than the size of the money tree.
• Make sure that drainage holes are there in the pot, and if not, don’t forget to make one.
• Use clay, terracotta, or ceramic pots as these promote good air circulation.

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Reference: NYBG, WIKIPEDIA, CABI, Missouri Botanical Garden, Effect of light intensity on plant growth.