Money Tree Winter Care: Light, Water, Placement, Dormancy & More!

As the cold weather approaches, many plant enthusiasts wonder how to best care for their money trees in the winter.

This guide will explore the essential tips and strategies for nurturing a healthy and thriving money tree throughout the winter months. 

Generally, you must reduce the watering of your money tree during winter as their growth slows down and water takes longer to evaporate. Move it to a brightly lit spot and maintain a humidity level of 50% or above. Also, keep the money tree away from cold drafts to prevent damage.

If you don’t alter the care routine of your money tree in winter, you can end up overwatering or overfertilizing it.

The plant can develop problems due to the low temperature and low humidity levels during winter, so you must also consider that.

Now, let’s discuss the art of winter care for money trees and discover practical insights to ensure that your plant flourishes even in the colder months.

How To Take Care Of A Money Tree In The Winter?

Money trees belong to the tropical regions where they enjoy high temperatures and humidity. Since these go dormant during winter, the plant requires some care.

The money tree doesn’t require much water in the winter. They also don’t require any fertilizer at all.

We have suggested some essential factors to consider while caring for your money tree in winter. 

• Watering
• Fertilization
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Placement

Let’s understand these factors in detail.

1) Watering money tree in winter

During the growing season, the money tree prefers infrequent and deep watering. Depending on the soil’s condition, you can water the money tree once or twice a week.

However, when the plant is dormant in winter, it will require less water as it doesn’t grow actively during this time.

During winter, the plants absorb less water, so if you don’t reduce the watering, it can create an overwatered condition for your plant.

In no way does it mean that you should avoid your plant entirely and overlook its water requirements. Instead, consider watering when the soil is dry and give the soil enough time to dry between the watering sessions, as the soil might take longer to dry due to low light during winter.

Use a moisture meter to check the soil’s moisture and ensure that the top 1-2 inches are dry before you water your money tree.

If you water the money tree too often, it can lead to overwatering and root rot.

How can we avoid overwatering the money tree?

If you want to avoid overwatering your money tree during winter, you need to ensure:

• A sound drainage system with drainage holes on the pot
• A well-draining soil
• Using a moisture meter

Watering without checking the soil’s moisture can cause overwatering quickly during winter as the soil takes longer to dry. So, watering the plant when the soil is still wet will cause overwatering.

To avoid overwatering, you need a moisture meter. Put the moisture meter inside the soil and check it after some time to see its moisture level.

If the soil is wet, you should refrain from watering and give the soil a few days to dry out.

Working drainage holes are equally important, as the excess water runs out of the pot through these. Check the holes from time to time to make sure that they are not blocked.

Even if you follow a watering routine, you should check the soil to avoid overwatering or underwatering the money tree.

If your money tree is already overwatered, you must repot it, depending on the severity. If the roots are brown and mushy, you must prune the damages, get a new pot and fresh soil mix, and repot the plant.

If you notice any yellow or brown leaves on your money tree, consider pruning them.

Also read: How Often Should I Water My Money Tree? (Money Tree Water Requirements)

2) Fertilizing money tree during winter

Fertilizers help the plants to grow by adding nutrition to the soil. If you want to see more plant growth, you need to fertilize them during the growing season.

Money trees require a well-balanced liquid fertilizer(I prefer this one from Amazon), and since they are light feeders, you need to dilute the dose to make it half-strength to avoid overfertilization.

As the money tree enters the dormant period in winter, it slows down its growth along with the other processes. This happens because the money tree does not have ideal lighting conditions during this time.

If you fertilize the money tree during winter, the plant will not be able to use that fertilizer, which will build up in the soil, leading to the burning of the roots.

If this continues for some time, it can lead to root rot in your money tree. This is why it is suggested that you should not fertilize your plants in winter.

How to avoid overfertilization?

If you take note of the following points, you will be able to prevent overfertilization.

• Fertilize the money tree during the growing season, spring and summer.
• Feed the money tree with a diluted dose that is half the strength of what is prescribed.
• Do not fertilize during the winter months.
• Use a well-balanced fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10:10:10 or 20:20:20.

How do you treat an overfertilized money tree?

If your money tree is already overfertilized, you must eliminate excess fertilizer. We have jotted down a few points that can help you with this.

1. First, take your money tree out of the pot. Do this gently to avoid causing any damage to the plant. 
2. Wash the soil from the roots. 
3. Prune the damaged leaves and roots. 
4. Wash the roots thoroughly to remove the excess fertilizer. Continue doing this at least three times. 
5. Once you have washed the extra fertilizer, it is time to repot the plant. 
6. If you plan to use the old pot, wash it well with bleach and allow it to dry before you repot the plant. 
7. You can also get a new pot for the repotting. 
8. Get a well-draining soil mix and fill the pot halfway with it. 
9. Place the money tree in the middle and add soil from all sides so no gaps remain. 
10. Water the plant appropriately and avoid fertilizing for at least a month.

Also Read: Does Money Tree Need Fertilizer? (How Much, How Often & Best Pick)

3) Money tree temperature tolerance

In its natural habitat, the money tree enjoys high temperatures. Even as houseplants, the money tree prefers warm temperatures ranging between 65-80°F

During the dormant period, the temperatures drop significantly, which can cause various problems if your money tree is exposed to it.

Winter comes with low temperatures, frost, cold drafts, and everything harmful to your money tree.

If your money tree is outdoors during winter, it can get severely stressed or shocked due to the temperature changes.

Therefore, you must keep your money tree indoors in winter and not expose it to low temperatures. Increase the temperature by placing your plant a few feet away from the fireplace or the furnace.

4) Maintain humidity during the winter months

The money tree is a humidity-loving tropical plant that requires at least 50% humidity levels.

The humidity levels become extremely low during winter, and there are different ways of adding humidity to your money tree.

Using a humidifier is the easiest and most convenient way of increasing the humidity inside your house.

You can also place your money tree on a pebble tray. You can create a pebble tray by placing some pebbles on it and filling it with water. As the water evaporates, it adds moisture around your money tree.

Another easy way to increase your money tree’s humidity is to relocate it to the bathroom, kitchen, or basement. These rooms usually have higher humidity levels than other rooms in your house.

Grouping your money tree with other plants or keeping it near an aquarium are different ways of adding humidity to your plant.

5) Placement of the money tree during winter

We know that the intensity and duration of light reduce during winter, which is the main reason your plants become dormant during this time.

However, keeping the money tree in a low-light area for a prolonged period can cause many problems for the plant.

You should find a spot for your money tree where it gets a good amount of light. You can consider replacing the money tree under the direct sun for some time in the winter.

If you think your plant is still not getting enough light, you can purchase artificial lights that are available online. This can help your money tree by giving it sufficient light in the winter.

You must consider one more point while placing your money tree to protect it from cold drafts and frost. If your money tree is placed near a window that gets any of these, you must move the plant away or close the window.

Avoid placing your money tree too close to the fireplace or any heating source, as that can burn the plant’s leaves. 

Although a money tree is not considered toxic, you should still place it away from children and pets to avoid stressing the plant.

Final words

To sum it up, the winter care of your money tree will include the following points.

• Re-evaluate the watering schedule and reduce the watering during winter. Water only when the soil gets dry.
• You do not need to fertilize the money tree in winter as the plant does not require any fertilizers during this time.
• Use a humidifier or pebble tray, or relocate your money tree to the basement or the bathroom to increase the humidity around your money tree.
• Protect your money tree from the cold drafts, frost, and low temperatures during winter.
• Do not keep your money free in a low light condition for way too long. Use artificial lights to provide sufficient light to the plant.
• Place your money tree a few feet away from a heating source to increase the temperature for it. However, don’t place it too close, as the heat can be harmful to the plant.

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Reference: WIKIPEDIA.