Soil For Money Tree: What Kind & Ideal Soil Mix Recipe

Selecting the right soil mix for your money tree is a crucial decision that can significantly impact the health and growth of this popular houseplant. In this blog, we will delve into the essential considerations for choosing the ideal soil for your money tree.

Whether you’re repotting an existing plant or bringing home a new addition to your indoor garden, understanding the specific soil needs of a money tree is key to fostering its well-being.

Money Trees thrive in loamy, well-draining, and aerated soil with a pH range of 6 to 7.5. An ideal mix includes 1 part peat, 1 part perlite, 1 part coarse sand, and a bit of compost. This combination ensures proper drainage while retaining enough moisture for healthy growth.

The soil should contain proper nutrition for the plant. Though the money tree can tolerate acidic and alkaline soils, the ideal pH is between 6.0 and 7.5.

With that said, you can prepare different types of soil mixes that do equally well for your Money Tree.

However, it would be best to consider other external factors while choosing the correct soil. Let’s understand how to select the best soil for your money tree.

What kind of soil for money tree?

While growing the Money Tree, I knew I had to take special care of the soil because it belongs to the tropical areas of Central and South America, where the soil remains consistently moist and not waterlogged with high humidity. 

I did not want to lose the plant. So, I researched before bringing it home. 

Money trees will need evenly moist soil. 

While this depends on watering, soil also plays a significant role. 

You can only keep the soil consistently moist if it drains the excess water and retains the required moisture. 

That is why you should use a well-drained potting mix.

Furthermore, the plant survives in acidic to alkaline soil where the pH should stay within 6 to 7.5. 

A soil mix containing a mixture of perlite or vermiculite with some peat and coarse sand or coco coir and compost would be suitable. 

Remember the points below while selecting the soil mix for your money tree:

The soil should contain sufficient nutrients that your plant requires.

• It should deliver water to all parts of the plant through the roots.
• The soil should be well aerated.
• It should hold enough water for the plant and support well drainage that allows excess water to drain out.
• It should contain the correct pH levels. 

Why Is It Important To Choose The Right Soil?

Choosing the correct soil for the Money Tree is essential because it gets all its nutrition and water from the soil. 

The plant remains in the same soil for as long as you decide to repot them again. 

The right soil type also makes an ideal growing environment supporting root growth, aeration, and other things. 

Even the pH levels are crucial. It can influence the proper balance of moisture and nutrients, promoting healthy foliage and overall plant vigor.

If you don’t choose suitable soil, it will affect the plant’s health, leading to several problems and diseases. 

Commercial vs. Homemade Potting Mixes 

Both commercial and homemade potting mixes work for the Money Tree. 

In the case of homemade potting mix, you have to buy different ingredients and mix them. 

You can even customize them according to the plant’s specific needs. 

Homemade potting mix sometimes contains recycled materials. 

So, you get sustainable products while reducing package wastage and carbon footprint. 

On the contrary, commercial potting mixes are premixed. 

These already contain the essential ingredients mixed very well in the correct ratio. 

They are convenient and easy to use. 

Making homemade potting soil mixes will be time-consuming, but that’s not the case for commercial mixes. 

Some commercial mixes will also contain fertilizer. 

So, this can benefit the Money tree plants, especially for beginners who don’t know about fertilizing them. 

Homemade soil mixes will contain some locally available products at a cheap cost. 

On the other hand, commercial potting mixes can be costly. 

You can choose homemade soil mix recipes if you want a sustainable soil mix for your Money tree. 

We will be sharing them in the next section. 

If you prefer a less messy way to make an ideal soil mix for your Money tree, try the commercial premixed potting medium designed specifically for the Money tree. 

Here are some of them:

• OSP Money Tree Soil Blend, All Natural Soil Mixture Formulated for Repotting and Planting Money Tree Plants,2 Quart Sized Bag
• House Plant and Tropical Plant Potting Soil (2 Quarts), Repotting Soil for All Types of Indoor House Plants, House Plant Repotting Soil, 2qt
• Hoffman 10404 Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix, 4 Quarts, Brown/A
• Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix

Money tree soil mix recipe

Now that you know the soil requirements of the money tree, you can prepare the perfect soil mix for the plant. 

Let’s see how we can do the same.

Below, we have shared some soil recipes. 

You can choose anyone from these and create the perfect soil mix for your money tree.

Or you can buy pre-made soil mixtures that are sold in the stores. 

We have shared some bagged mixes in the previous section. 

You can get a succulent or a cactus mix, as this soil will allow the water to drain quickly.

While selecting the soil, ensure it has peat moss, perlite, sand, pebbles, etc.

#Recipe 1

• One part peat moss
• One part sand
• One part perlite

Peat moss retains the moisture that your plant requires. 

However, it is too heavy for the Money tree. 

So, if you mix sand and perlite, it will become well-draining and ideal for the money tree.

You can also use vermiculite if you do not have perlite. 

Vermiculite is composed of various minerals and provides enough nutrients. 

Adding vermiculite will aerate your soil and make it lightweight.

#Recipe 2

You can prepare this recipe if you already have some cactus or succulent mix. 

This soil type is already well-draining, so we will add some peat moss to retain the moisture long enough for the money tree to absorb the same. 

• Two parts cactus or succulent mix
• One part peat moss

This recipe makes the soil well-draining and allows good aeration that will keep the roots healthy.

#Recipe 3

• One part compost
• One part perlite
• One part coconut coir

Coconut coir is a product of the coconut fiber industry and can be used in potting soil. 

However, it is not nutritious enough, so you must add other ingredients, such as compost, to add nutrition and perlite to make the soil well-draining.

#Recipe 4

• 2 parts pre-moistened peat moss or coconut coir
• ½ part pumice or perlite 
• ½ part coarse sand
• ¼ to ½ part vermiculite. Use ½ vermiculite if you want to water infrequently.
• ½ part pine bark. This is optional 

Pine bark will help improve moisture retention and add necessary nutrients after decomposing. 

Pumice is like perlite, a volcanic rock that improves aeration, loosens the soil, and prevents compaction. 

This is often used to balance clayey soil. Using coarse sand can be equally beneficial. 

If you haven’t pre-moistened the peat moss or coco coir, do it before mixing the soil ingredients. 

It would be damp and not sodden. 

#Recipe 5 

You will need this recipe if you have the habit of underwatering your Money tree. 

It would be great for the Money tree to grow in houses with aggressive climate control.

The HVAC systems can lower the humidity, dehydrating the plant and reducing its growth. 

• 2 parts potting soil 
• One part perlite 
• One part vermiculite
• 2 parts peat moss or coco coir

#Recipe 6 

If you tend to overwater your plant, you need a fast-draining soil mix to protect the plant from root rot. Here’s the blend:

• One part of potting soil 
• One part peat moss or coco coir
• One part pumice 

Preparing Money Tree Soil 

Soil preparation for the Money tree includes mixing all the ingredients well, transferring the mix to the pot, and planting the plant. 

Here are the steps: 

• Choose one of the above recipes and mix all the ingredients needed for the specific recipe in the correct amounts. If you use commercial or premixed potting soil that requires no extra additives, skip this step. 
• Collect the soil mix on a potting tray or a newspaper. Use a small hand trowel and mix them very well. If you prefer your hands, wear gloves before dealing with them. 
• Mix all the ingredients evenly. There shouldn’t be any lumps. The mixture should neither be too compact nor too runny. 
• You can check the texture by picking some soil, making a ball, and then breaking it by poking your finger. The structure and texture are perfect if the soil makes a good ball and breaks easily. 

Add the soil into the pot, plant the plant, and add the remaining soil. 

Tap it gently and water the plant very well. 

Maintaining Soil Health Of Money Tree: Practices For Good Soil

Maintaining the soil health of the money tree can keep the plant in good condition and encourage overall growth and development for prolonged periods. 

But how do you maintain soil health? Here are some best practices to follow for maintaining good soil health: 

• Money trees are prone to root rot. So, using suitable soil that drains well, accommodates thorough waterings, and retains sufficient moisture is crucial. A good mix will keep the soil in good shape for prolonged periods, further encouraging the plant’s growth and development. 
• Water the plant regularly. Consider thorough but infrequent watering for better results. Soil works as a reservoir. So, proper watering can prevent soil erosion and compaction, ensure good texture and structure, and improve moisture and nutrient uptake for the plant. Watering can reduce salt buildup from fertilizers. 
• The soil might deplete over time. You can maintain its health by replenishing the top few inches of the soil. 
• Improve soil’s retention qualities by adding good retention ingredients and preventing it from drying completely. 
• Improve soil health by providing adequate nutrients through fertilization. Feed the money tree plant with a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. 
• You can add pine bark to your soil mix. It will break down and add necessary nutrients while improving the moisture retention qualities. 
• You must repot your money tree every 2-3 years. Over time, the soil will lose its qualities, and you must replace it and add a healthy, fresh soil mix to keep your plant alive and healthy. 
• Ensure bright indirect sunlight. Otherwise, along with scorching leaves, direct sunlight can dry out the soil faster, leading to compaction. 

Final Words

Money tree requires well-draining soil to handle thorough watering, drain excess water, and retain enough moisture. Choose the correct pot that has proper drainage holes.

Repot the money tree every 2 to 3 years. Repot if the plant gets root-bound or has any disease or infection. Keep a check on the soil and add fertilizer to it whenever required.

Keep a check on the soil and the plant occasionally to ensure nothing is wrong.

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Reference: WIKIPEDIA.