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Why Is My Money Tree Not Growing? (+How To Encourage Growth)

By Author Richa

Posted on Last updated:

Categories Money Tree, Plant Guides

Pachira Aquatica, or the money tree, is loved in the houseplant community because it does not demand much attention and is believed to bring good luck to the house. It is obvious to expect growth once you have got a money tree home. 

However, if you notice slow growth in your money tree, there might be a problem. So, in this article, we will learn why is your money tree not growing and how you can encourage growth.

Inadequate lighting, overwatering or underwatering, and lack of humidity are common reasons that cause stunted growth in a money tree. If you want to see good growth in the plant, you need to provide proper lighting, the right amount of water, fertilize them on time, and maintain ideal humidity.

There can be various other problems that can hinder the growth of the money tree. Let’s discuss the causes of slow growth in your money tree and find out how to encourage growth in the plant.

Money tree not growing
Please note: Simplify Plants is reader-supported. Some links in the post are affiliate links and I get a commission from purchases made through links in the post.

Are money trees slow-growing?

The money trees are fast-growing plants that can grow anywhere between 18-24 inches every year. They can grow up to 60 feet or more in their natural habitat.

However, it doesn’t grow that tall inside the house. It can grow to a height between 4 to 6 feet indoors.

If you fulfill the basic requirements of the money tree by providing it sufficient light, water, and fertilizer, you will see a lot of growth in the plant.

My money tree is not growing

Besides incorrect watering and inappropriate lighting, many other reasons can hinder the growth of your money tree.

Let’s look at all the factors that slow down the growth of your money tree in detail.

  • Overwatering
  • Underwatering
  • Pest infestation
  • Inappropriate lighting
  • Lack of humidity
  • Wrong pot size
  • Insufficient fertilization
  • Season
  • Stress

Watering issues

tap water

One challenge that the money tree owners generally face is understanding how much water the plant requires.

If you don’t water your money tree at regular intervals, it might be deprived of water.

However, both underwatering and overwatering can be the reason behind slow growth in your money tree.

Overwatering

Money tree overwater

Overwatering can seriously damage your money tree as it does not enjoy sitting in the water for a long time.

Overwatering leads to root rot, a disease where the roots start rotting after remaining wet for an extended period. The roots stop functioning, and the plant cannot get water or nutrition from the soil.

Due to root rot, the money tree becomes weak, its leaves start getting discolored, and you don’t see any growth in the plant.

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Solution

If you can identify the signs of overwatering at an early stage, you will be able to fix the issue before it goes out of hand.

To begin with, you should stop watering an overwatered money tree. Keep the plant under bright indirect sunlight and let the soil get dry.

Check the drainage holes of the container to make sure that they are not blocked. You can water the money tree after the soil dries up.

If the condition is severe, get rid of the damaged roots and repot the plant using fresh soil mix.

Underwatering

Money tree dry soil

Although money tree prefers infrequent watering, you should not neglect it or water it with long gaps in between. This can lead to an underwatered money tree.

Underwatering makes the plant dehydrated. The soil becomes dry, and the roots do not get any water or nutrition from the soil. Thus, it will have no energy for new growth.

Solution

Increase the water supply slowly and also increase the watering frequency. Check how your money tree responds. If you notice that it is responding well, recovering, and showing growth, you can readjust a watering regime accordingly.

However, you should never think of watering the money tree without checking the soil.

Also Read: What Kind Of Soil Does A Money Tree Need? (+Best Soil Mix)

Pest infestation

Aphids

Different kinds of bugs can attack your money tree and be the reason for the lack of growth in the plant. Some common bugs are mealybugs, scales, spider mites, etc. 

All these pests tend to suck the nutrition out of the plant, leaving it weak and vulnerable to other diseases.

Since the pests don’t leave any nutrition for the plant, the plant cannot grow after getting attacked by the pests.

Solution

Money tree neem oil

Neem oil is an excellent natural solution that can help you to eliminate pests from your money tree. You should spray neem oil solution on your money tree every day for at least two weeks.

You can even use neem oil to prevent pests from attacking your plant. However, if the infestation is severe, you will need to prune the affected parts of the plant.

Remember to keep your money away from the other plants so that the infection doesn’t spread.

Also Read: Does A Money Tree Attract Bugs? (Common Bugs+How To Get Rid Of Them)

Inappropriate lighting

Money tree low light

Although the money tree can tolerate low light conditions, keeping it under low light for long can slow down its growth.

When a money tree doesn’t get enough light, the photosynthesis slows down, due to which the plant cannot produce as much energy required for its growth.

When the money tree is placed in a low light area, it will develop leggy growth and have yellow leaves, other than slow growth.

However, an excess of light can also be a hindrance to the growth of the money tree. If the money tree receives a ton of direct sunlight, its leaves will get scorched, and you will notice tiny brown spots on the leaves.

Direct sunlight can also cause stress to your money tree, so the plant will focus its energy on recovering itself rather than new growth.

Solution

Money tree artificial light

If your money tree is placed in an area without enough light, you need to relocate the plant to a brighter spot. However, you should make the changes gradually to avoid causing any stress to the plant.

If your house doesn’t get enough natural light, you should consider artificial lights that can provide sufficient light to your money tree.

If your money tree is getting too much light outside, you need to place it under some shade to protect it from direct sunlight.

If your money trees place on the windowpane, use sheer curtains to filter the direct light so that the money tree doesn’t get sunburnt.

Also Read: How Much Light Does A Money Tree Need? (Money Tree Light Requirements)

Lack of humidity

Money tree misting

The money trees are humidity-loving plants. In their natural habitat, the money trees are used to getting a lot of humidity, which is a primary reason that causes the growth of the money tree.

Money trees prefer humidity levels between 50 to 70%, and they can show a lot of growth when they get the ideal humidity level. However, if the humidity levels drop, the plant will have a hard time not having much growth.

Solution

Money tree high temperature

First of all, you can use a hygrometer to check the humidity level of your house.

If the humidity level is too low, get a humidifier that can increase the humidity levels inside a room.

If you can’t get a humidifier, you can place your money tree in the bathroom, kitchen, or basement with high humidity levels compared to the house’s other rooms.

You can even prepare a pebble tray by placing some pebbles inside a tray and filling it with water. Place the money tree on top of the tray, and as the water evaporates, it will add moisture to your money tree.

Also Read: Should You Mist Money Tree? (Why, How Often & More)

Wrong pot size

Money Tree 18

If you use a pot that is too small for your money tree, you will notice that the plant has stopped growing.

This happens because the money tree outgrows the pot in some years and becomes rootbound. When a plant is rootbound, the roots don’t have any space left for growth, and they start displacing the soil.

If you notice that the roots are coming out of the drainage holes of the pot of your money tree, you have a rootbound plant.

Solution

The money tree is a fast-growing plant, and therefore, you should check on it to find out if it has space in its pot.

If your money tree is rootbound, you need to repot it in a bigger pot so that it has enough space for growth. While repotting, select a pot two inches larger than the plant and has working drainage holes.

Consider repotting the money tree during early summer and spring as that is the plant’s growing season. Avoid repotting during winter as the plant can get stressed due to low temperature.

Also Read: What Kind Of Pot Is Best For A Money Tree?

Insufficient fertilization

Money tree fertilizer

Most houseplants require fertilization for better growth. If your money tree is not getting periodic fertilization, it will run low on nutrition.

As houseplants, the money tree has access to a limited amount of soil. If you don’t fertilize the money tree, the soil will run out of all nutrients, and the plant will not get anything from the soil.

Due to a lack of nutrition, the money tree will not have any energy for new growth.

Solution

If you have not been fertilizing your money tree, it’s high time you start doing so. You can fertilize your money tree once a month during the growing season.

It would be best to use a liquid fertilizer for your money tree. Be careful while doing this, as you don’t want to add too much fertilizer to the plant.

Choose a fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 20:20:20 or 10:10:10 and dilute it to half strength and give it to your money tree.

Avoid fertilizing the money tree during the winter season as the plant does not grow during this time; therefore, it doesn’t require any fertilizer.

Season

Before you start worrying about your money tree not growing, keep in mind that it grows during the growing season and not during the dormant period.

Most houseplants experience growth during the summer and spring seasons. If you notice slow growth in your money tree during this time, you can look for problems in the plant.

However, if you notice slow growth or no growth at all during the winter season, you should not worry as it is absolutely normal. Winter is the resting period for the money tree when it does not grow and instead rests.

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

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Stress

Money Tree 11

Various reasons can lead to a stressed money tree. Some of the reasons for stress can be transportation, temperature fluctuations, transplantation, cold or hot drafts, etc.

If everything is fine with your money tree, you can look for signs of stress in the plant. If you find any reason for the plant to be stressed, it means that the plant is unable to grow due to that.

Solution

Whenever you are making any change for your money tree, never do it at one go as that can stress your money tree because it does not get enough time to adjust to the changes.

You should always make changes gradually so that the plant can adjust without being stressed.

You should avoid exposing your money tree to cold or hot drafts, direct sunlight for heating machines. These can affect the growth and health of your money tree in different ways.

After bringing a new money tree home or repotting your money tree, take good care of the plant to avoid getting it stressed.

How do you encourage money trees to grow?

Money tree bright light

Some quick tips that can help encourage growth in your money tree.

  • If the money tree gets ample light, it will be able to perform all the daily activities that will eventually lead to its growth. Try to provide 6-8 hours of indirect light to your money tree every day. 
  • Once you figure out the water requirements of your money tree, create a routine and water the plant whenever you find the soil dry.
  • Fertilizers are vital if you want to boost the growth of the money tree. Therefore fertilize the plant every month during the growing season.
  • Consider repotting your money tree every 3 to 4 years so that the old soil gets replaced with the new one, which will provide more nutrition to the plant.
  • Ensure that the money tree has a sound drainage system by using well-draining soil and making drainage holes in the pot.
  • Prune your money tree from time to time as pruning boosts the growth hormones and gets rid of damaged parts so that the plant can focus on new growth.

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

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  1. SarahEr says:
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    March 25, 2023 at 5:00 pm
    Whether you believe in God or not, this message is a “must-read”! All throughout time, we can see how we have been carefully conditioned coming to this point where we are on the verge of a cashless society. Did you know that the Bible foretold of this event almost 2,000 years ago? In Revelation 13:16-18, we read, “He (the false prophet who deceives many by his miracles–Revelation 19:20) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.” Speaking to the last generation, this could only be speaking of a cashless society. Why’s that? Revelation 13:17 says that we cannot buy or sell unless we receive the mark of the beast. If physical money was still in use, we could buy or sell with one another without receiving the mark. This would contradict scripture that states we need the mark to buy or sell! These verses could not be referring to something purely spiritual as scripture references two physical locations (our right hand or forehead) stating the mark will be on one “OR” the other. If this mark was purely spiritual, it would indicate both places, or one–not one OR the other! This is where it comes together. It is shocking how accurate the Bible is concerning the implantable RFID microchip. This is information from someone named Carl Sanders who worked with a team of engineers to help develop this RFID chip: “Carl Sanders sat in seventeen New World Order meetings with heads-of-state officials such as Henry Kissinger and Bob Gates of the C.I.A. to discuss plans on how to bring about this one-world system. The government commissioned Carl Sanders to design a microchip for identifying and controlling the peoples of the world—a microchip that could be inserted under the skin with a hypodermic needle (a quick, convenient method that would be gradually accepted by society). Carl Sanders, with a team of engineers behind him, with U.S. grant monies supplied by tax dollars, took on this project and designed a microchip that is powered by a lithium battery, rechargeable through the temperature changes in our skin. Without the knowledge of the Bible (Brother Sanders was not a Christian at the time), these engineers spent one-and-a-half-million dollars doing research on the best and most convenient place to have the microchip inserted. Guess what? These researchers found that the forehead and the back of the hand (the two places the Bible says the mark will go) are not just the most convenient places, but are also the only viable places for rapid, consistent temperature changes in the skin to recharge the lithium battery. The microchip is approximately seven millimeters in length, .75 millimeters in diameter, about the size of a grain of rice. It is capable of storing pages upon pages of information about you. All your general history, work history, criminal record, health history, and financial data can be stored on this chip. Brother Sanders believes that this microchip, which he regretfully helped design, is the “mark” spoken about in Revelation 13:16–18. The original Greek word for “mark” is “charagma,” which means a “scratch or etching.” It is also interesting to note that the number 666 is actually a word in the original Greek. The word is “chi xi stigma,” with the last part, “stigma,” also meaning “to stick or prick.” Carl believes this is referring to a hypodermic needle when they poke into the skin to inject the microchip.” Mr. Sanders asked a doctor what would happen if the lithium contained within the RFID microchip leaked into the body. The doctor replied by saying a terrible sore would appear in that location. This is what the book of Revelation says: “And the first (angel) went, and poured out his vial on the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore on the men which had the mark of the beast, and on them which worshipped his image” (Revelation 16:2). You can read more about it here–and to also understand the mystery behind the number 666: [url=https://2ruth.org]HTTPS://2RUTH.ORG[/url] The third angel’s warning in Revelation 14:9-11 states, “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.'” Great hope is in our midst, and is coming in a mighty way–the greatest revival for Jesus in the history of the world where we will see the most souls come to Him of all tribes, tongues, nations, and peoples (Rev. 7:9-10); for we have this promise in God’s Word in the midst of these dark times: “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years (not literal–rather a spiritual label for time spent in eternity); and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while (when the Antichrist and false prophet will rise up and God will test the world).” (Revelation 20:1-3) “The coming of the lawless one (the Antichrist) is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)” Who is Barack Obama, and why is he still around? So what about his name? The meaning of someone’s name can say a lot about a person. God throughout history has given names to people that have a specific meaning tied to their lives. How about the name Barack Obama? Let us take a look at what may be hiding beneath the surface. Jesus says in Luke 10:18, “…I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” The Hebrew Strongs word (H1299) for “lightning”: “bârâq” (baw-rawk) In Isaiah chapter 14, verse 14, we read about Lucifer (Satan) saying in his heart: “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” In the verses in Isaiah that refer directly to Lucifer, several times it mentions him falling from the heights or the heavens. The Hebrew word for the heights or heavens used here is Hebrew Strongs 1116: “bamah”–Pronounced (bam-maw’) In Hebrew, the letter “Waw” or “Vav” is often transliterated as a “U” or “O,” and it is primarily used as a conjunction to join concepts together. So to join in Hebrew poetry the concept of lightning (Baraq) and a high place like heaven or the heights of heaven (Bam-Maw), the letter “U” or “O” would be used. So, Baraq “O” Bam-Maw or Baraq “U” Bam-Maw in Hebrew poetry similar to the style written in Isaiah, would translate literally to “Lightning from the heights.” The word “Satan” in Hebrew is a direct translation, therefore “Satan.” When Jesus told His disciples in Luke 10:18 that He beheld Satan fall as lightning from heaven, if this were to be spoken by a Jewish Rabbi today influenced by the poetry in the book of Isaiah, he would say these words in Hebrew–the words of Jesus in Luke 10:18 as, and I saw Satan as Baraq O Bam-Maw. The names of both of Obama’s daughters are Malia and Natasha. If we were to write those names backward (the devil does things in reverse) it would be “ailam ahsatan”. Now if we remove the letters that spell “Alah” (the false god of Islam being Allah), we get “I am Satan”. Mere coincidence? I don’t think so! Obama’s campaign logo when he ran in 2008 was a sun over the horizon in the west, with the landscape as the flag of the United States. In the Isalmic religion, they have their own messiah that they are waiting for called the 12th Imam, or the Mahdi (the Antichrist of the Bible), and one prophecy concerning this man’s appearance is the sun rising in the west. “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.'” (Revelation 14:6-7) Why have the words of Jesus in His Gospel accounts regarding His death, burial, and resurrection, been translated into over 3,000 languages, and nothing comes close (the Quran about 110 languages)? Because the same Spirit of God (YHVH) who created all people likewise transcends all people; therefore the power of His Word is not limited by people; while all other religions are man-made, therefore they tend to primarily stay within their own culture. The same God who speaks to all people through His creation of the heavens and earth that draws all people around the world likewise has sent His Word to the ends of the earth so that we may come to personally know Him to be saved in spirit and in truth through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus stands alone among the other religions that say to rightly weigh the scales of good and evil and to make sure you have done more good than bad in this life. Is this how we conduct ourselves justly in a court of law? Bearing the image of God, is this how we project this image into reality? Our good works cannot save us. If we step before a judge, being guilty of a crime, the judge will not judge us by the good we have done, but rather by the crimes we have committed. If we as fallen humanity, created in God’s image, pose this type of justice, how much more a perfect, righteous, and Holy God? God has brought down His moral laws through the 10 commandments given to Moses at Mt. Siani. These laws were not given so we may be justified, but rather that we may see the need for a savior. They are the mirror of God’s character of what He has written in our hearts, with our conscious bearing witness that we know that it is wrong to steal, lie, dishonor our parents, murder, and so forth. We can try and follow the moral laws of the 10 commandments, but we will never catch up to them to be justified before a Holy God. That same word of the law given to Moses became flesh about 2,000 years ago in the body of Jesus Christ. He came to be our justification by fulfilling the law, living a sinless perfect life that only God could fulfill. The gap between us and the law can never be reconciled by our own merit, but the arm of Jesus is stretched out by the grace and mercy of God. And if we are to grab on, through faith in Him, He will pull us up being the one to justify us. As in the court of law, if someone steps in and pays our fine, even though we are guilty, the judge can do what is legal and just and let us go free. That is what Jesus did almost 2,000 years ago on the cross. It was a legal transaction being fulfilled in the spiritual realm by the shedding of His blood with His last word’s on the cross crying out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). For God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23). This is why in Isaiah chapter 53, where it speaks of the coming Messiah and His soul being a sacrifice for our sins, why it says it pleased God to crush His only begotten Son. This is because the wrath that we deserve was justified by being poured out upon His Son. If that wrath was poured out on us, we would all perish to hell forever. God created a way of escape by pouring it out on His Son whose soul could not be left in Hades but was raised and seated at the right hand of God in power. So now when we put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14), where God no longer sees the person who deserves His wrath, but rather the glorious image of His perfect Son dwelling in us, justifying us as if we received the wrath we deserve, making a way of escape from the curse of death; now being conformed into the image of the heavenly man walking in a new nature, and no longer in the image of the fallen man Adam. Now what we must do is repent and put our trust and faith in the savior, confessing and forsaking our sins, and to receive His Holy Spirit that we may be born again (for Jesus says we must be born again to see and enter the Kingdom of God in John chapter 3). This is not just head knowledge of believing in Jesus, but rather receiving His words, taking them to heart, so that we may truly be transformed into the image of God. Where we no longer live to practice sin, but rather turn from our sins and practice righteousness through faith in Him in obedience to His Word by reading the Bible. Our works cannot save us, but they can condemn us; it is not that we earn our way into everlasting life, but that we obey our Lord Jesus Christ: Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23) “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (Hebrews 5:9) “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.'” (Revelation 21:1-8)
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