How To Propagate Pachira Money Tree? (Soil+Water Propagation)

Have you ever imagined getting new plants out of your money tree(Pachira Aquatica)?

If you wanted more of your favorite plant, or maybe there is a problem with your money tree, and you wanted to give it a fresh start, you can do the same by using propagation.

You just need a healthy cutting out of your plant, which can be grown into a healthy and beautiful money tree.

You can propagate money trees by taking a cutting from the tree and placing it into the soil. You can even try water propagation, where you put the cutting inside a jar of water and wait for the roots to appear.

Propagation can be your last resort to save a dying money tree, but you can also use it to have more money trees. This way, you don’t have to buy a new plant and instead propagate your own plant to get new ones out of it.

We will discuss the different techniques of propagating the money tree in detail so that you don’t make any mistakes in the process.

Best time to propagate money tree

If you want to see your cutting growing fast, you need to give it enough sunlight. This is why early spring to late summer are ideal for propagating a money tree.

However, if your money tree has some problem due to which it is dying and to give it one more chance you need to propagate it during some other season, you can go ahead with that.

You need to make sure that you are using a healthy cutting to increase the chances of successful propagation.

If your plant is stressed, you need to try to revive it so that you can get a healthy cutting out of it. Propagating during stress might not give the best results.

Supplies required to propagate a money tree

Before we start with the propagation, it is better to keep some items handy so that you don’t have to go about looking for them.

Scissors or pruners: You need a good and sterilized pair of scissors or pruners to make a proper cutting on the money tree.

Pot and soil: If you opt for soil propagation, you will need a small pot and some potting soil and perlite.

Jar of water: In case of water propagation, you will need a jar of water.

Disinfectant: Keep some rubbing alcohol and cotton balls handy. You can use this to disinfect the pruners before and after pruning. It will help to avoid any infection or disease from spreading.

Ziplock bag: If you want to encourage growth and not allow the water to escape, use a zip lock bag to act as a greenhouse for your plant. Make sure to make the cuttings small or use a large size bag if you intend to use the zip lock bag.

Propagating a money tree

There are two methods of propagating a money tree which are: 

• Soil propagation
• Water propagation 

You can use any of these methods to propagate your money tree. We will explain all the steps of both processes to you.

How to propagate money trees in soil?

Before starting the process, select a spot where you want to do the propagation, as it can get messy.

Disinfect the pruners to be on the safe side and prevent the spread of diseases or infections from one plant to the other.

Now let’s check out the steps of propagating the money tree in the soil.

1. Choose a healthy stem

It is vital to choose a healthy cutting; therefore, you should not choose a soft or dry stem for the cutting.

You should take a cutting from below the leaf node of the money tree and let the cutting heal for few days before continuing with the process.

Leaf nodes look like small bumps on the stem, and this is where the leaves grow from. The roots will come out of these nodes after the leaves are removed.

Make sure that it has at least 3-4 leaf nodes available towards the bottom of the cutting.

2. Take the cutting

While taking a cutting, make sure that the cut is clean.

Use the disinfected pruners and make the cutting that is half to one inch below the foliage.

3. Insert the cutting in the soil

Take the pot and fill it with potting soil and add perlite to it. Perlite will help to make the soil well-draining. The pot should have drainage holes as well.

You can take more than one cutting. So, make some holes in the soil and insert the cuttings in them. Make sure to place at least 3-4 leaf nodes into the soil.

4. Use a zip lock bag

After inserting the cutting into the pot, you can use the zip lock bag to cover the cutting along with the container.

The zip-lock bag will provide a greenhouse effect to the cutting that will encourage its growth.

5. Take care of the cutting

After potting the cutting, place it in bright and indirect light. Don’t keep them under the direct sun, as you need to keep them slightly moist.

Make sure to water the cutting whenever required. Wait for at least 3 to 5 weeks for the roots to grow.

Once the roots have started growing, you can transplant the cuttings into a bigger pot.

Benefits of soil propagation

Soil propagation can be less stressful for the plant compared to water propagation.

You need to keep in mind that the soil should remain moist, and you should place the plant in a bright area that will encourage faster growth of the roots.

How to propagate money trees in water?

Propagating Money Tree in Water - Part 1

Other than propagating your money tree in the soil, you can propagate it in the water.

This is a simple way of propagation, and you just need a glass jar filled with water for this process.

1. Take the cutting

The initial steps remain the same as you need to take a healthy cutting from the money tree as explained for the soil propagation.

To sum it up, you need to take a healthy cutting right above the leaf node for the development of the roots.

Use sterilized pruners to make clean cuts.

2. Submerge in the jar of water

After taking the cutting, place it in the jar of water after trimming the leaves from it.

3. Place the jar in a bright area

Just like the placement of the pot in the soil propagation method, you need to place the jar in a bright area.

You can choose a south-facing window that gets the most amount of light throughout the day. However, don’t let the direct sunlight hit the jar.

Change the water of the jar frequently as it gets dirty in few days. Changing the water also encourages faster growth.

4. Check the root development

Keep checking the roots every few weeks. You might see tiny roots in about a month. Let the roots grow a little more.

Once the roots have grown 1-2 inches long, take the cutting out of the jar and repot it in a pot.

Use a pot with drainage holes and well-draining soil while repotting the new plant.

Disadvantages of water propagation

The roots that grow in the water are not as hardy as the roots that grow in the soil. After repotting the plant into the soil, the water roots need to develop new soil roots to survive.

In short, this means that the water-grown roots are more delicate and should be handled with more care.

Also Read: 12 Tips For Taking Care Of A Money Tree (Pachira Aquatica Care Tips)

Tips for taking care of the new money trees

How to Care For a Money Tree

If you want to keep your little money tree healthy, you can read the following points to understand what is suitable for it.

Light: Money trees thrive in a bright environment. You can keep it in a room with a lot of windows from which it gets indirect sunlight.

If your money tree is placed in a dark room, consider using artificial lights. Money trees are susceptible to direct sunlight that can cause dehydration and turn the leaves brown.

You can place your money tree a few feet away from a south-facing window or use blinds to protect it from direct sun.

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

Temperature: Money trees enjoy warm temperatures ranging between 65-80°F.

It is best to propagate the money tree in the summer months as the temperature remains ideal for the plants during this time. This also helps the baby plant to stay warm and grow fast.

However, you should avoid exposing your money to direct sunlight or a heater as they can damage your plant.

Humidity: Money trees prefer humid environments and the small plants love to be exposed to higher humidity levels.

You can place the small money tree with a humidifier to increase the humidity.

Water: It is important to remember that a small plant will require less water than a matured money tree. Therefore, you should start watering with a small amount of water.

If you notice yellow leaves, you should reduce the amount of water. If you see wrinkled leaves, you might need to mist the plant.

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

Pot: Use a pot that is two inches larger than the size of the money tree. If you don’t use the correct size, the plant can get overwatered, or its growth can become restricted. The pot should have drainage holes to allow excess water to pass out.

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

Final Words

Propagation is a great way of multiplying your money trees without investing more money and having another chance with the plant if it is on the verge of wilting.

You can successfully propagate a money tree in either soil or water if you follow the steps mentioned earlier in the article.

After successfully propagating the money tree, take care of the factors such as light, water, temperature, and humidity and try to provide the ideal conditions to the plant to keep it happy and healthy.

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