Propagate money tree from a green stem cutting in moist mix.
Root a green stem cutting in moist mix
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Late spring through midsummer, from new growth | Do not take a cutting from a plant that is already dropping leaves |
| Piece | A 4- to 6-inch green stem with two or three nodes | Do not cut into the braided trunks |
| Mix | Moist peat and perlite, or peat and sand, in a small pot with a hole | Do not sit the cutting in soggy mix with no air |
| Aftercare | Warm, bright shade; keep the mix barely moist until it holds | Do not set it in hot sun while it has no roots |
Money tree roots from a green stem cutting. Take the piece in the growing season, and start it in a moist, airy mix rather than in a vase if you want a sturdier plant. [1]
- In the morning, cut a 4- to 6-inch green stem just below a node. Leave a few leaves at the top, and strip the lower ones. [2]
- Dip the cut end in rooting hormone if you have it. Shake off the extra. Hormone helps; it is not required.
- Stick about a third of the stem into moist peat and perlite, or peat and sand, in a 4-inch pot with a hole. Firm the mix so the cutting stands. [3]
- Tent a clear bag over the pot, and set it in bright shade. Keep the mix barely moist. Roots usually take four to six weeks. A light tug that holds means it is time to harden it off, then move it into regular houseplant mix.
Once the cutting holds, keep it as a houseplant on How to Grow Money Tree.
A cutting in a jar of water will often make roots you can see. Change the water, keep the leaves dry, and pot it up once the roots are a few inches long. Those roots are weaker at first, so keep the new pot barely moist while they adjust. One cutting is one stem. It will not come out braided; nurseries braid several young plants together.
When do I take a cutting?
Late spring through midsummer, from a healthy green stem. Do not cut into the braid.
Should I root it in water?
You can. Mix is the sturdier start. If you use water, pot it up once the roots are a few inches long, and keep the new mix barely moist.
Sow fresh seed if you have it
Seed is harder to find on a houseplant, because braided indoor trees almost never flower. If you have a fresh nut, sow it soon, barely covered, in warm moist mix. It often sprouts in about a week. [4]
- Sow the seed while it is still fresh. Do not store it dry for months.
- Press it into moist mix so it sits about half buried. Keep the pot warm and barely moist, in bright shade.
- Pot the seedling on once it has a few true leaves. A seed-grown plant is one trunk. Braid only while stems are still young and flexible, if you want that form later.
Will my houseplant make seed?
Almost never. Indoor braided plants stay in leaf. Seed comes from an outdoor tree that has flowered.
Take the next green stem in late spring, stick it in moist mix, and keep it barely moist until a light tug holds.
FAQ
Do I need rooting hormone?
No. It speeds things up. A green stem with a node will still root in moist mix.
Can I root a single leaflet?
Use a stem with a node. A leaflet without a node is a weak bet.
Will the new plant have a braided trunk?
No. One cutting is one stem. Nurseries braid several young plants in one pot.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pachira-aquatica/ - [2] Costa Farms -
https://costafarms.com/blogs/plant-finder/money-tree - [3] Weekand -
https://www.weekand.com/home-garden/article/propagate-pachira-aquatica-cutting-water-soil-18065788.php - [4] University of Arizona Campus Arboretum -
https://apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum/taxon.aspx?id=1222
This note is part of Pachira Guides.
More notes on making another plant live in Propagating Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors