Last Updated on November 18, 2022
Knowing what is the Best Soil for Money Plants will afford you a thriving indoor or outdoor garden throughout the year. There are several different species of these plants that you can choose to grow. However, making sure that you have knowledge of their nutrient, water, and light demands is key to maintaining them successfully.
Although they are simple indoor plants, they dislike being waterlogged. Money plants favor soil that drains excess moisture while securing them in a steady organic-rich environment. This is due to the fact that root rot can occur if the medium is very wet. That is why most of these plants do well in potting soil that has a sufficient amount of organic matter to keep them healthy and happy.
Ensuring that the growing medium meets the demands of these succulents is vital. Aside from that, implementing other money plant care strategies may also prove effective in enhancing its growth and longevity. The information below will help you understand your plant’s needs a little better so that you will know which environment is best suited to grow them.
Knowing Your Money Plant
The money plant is a tall, hairy-stemmed biennial that is known by many names. It is often referred to as the silver dollar, dollar plant, moonwort, and honesty plant amongst others. It is an indigenous evergreen in southeastern Europe and the western Asian regions. This plant is renowned for bringing luck, positivity, and success according to local age-old tales.
Aside from that, money plants are also amongst the greatest air-purifying succulents since it improves oxygen flow and filters the air in their surroundings. Some varieties can be easily identified by their shaped leaves, which are rounded. These succulents are mostly grown as house plants as cultivating them in an outside garden requires specific care.
Using the best soil for money plants is recommended if you want them to reach their full potential. They are a great addition to any environment as they shed an aura of beauty to their surroundings. So, aside from the luck they supposedly bring, they have several other benefits as they are quite simple and easy to grow and maintain.
Soil For Money Tree Plants – Our Recommendations
Money trees do well in soil that is neutral to slightly acidic with a preferred pH of 6.0 to 7.5. The roots of the plant will easily absorb nutrients if the soil is a little more acidic. Therefore, it is vital to do a pH test when choosing the best soil for money plants. In the wild, these plants can endure brief periods of flooding, but it needs to recede fast to avoid the roots from rotting.
Therefore, when grown in pots, it is essential that a well-draining growing medium is used for the best results. A sandy, peat-moss-based soil and a pot with sufficient drainage to prevent root rot are recommended. Also, keep in mind that even though these plants prefer humidity, overwatering should be avoided. It is best to moisten the soil when the top layer feels dry as this is a reasonable routine to maintain a healthy plant.
You can also opt to grow your plant in cactus soil. It’s a wonderful substitute rather than making your own potting soil mix as it also drains nicely. However, make sure that the one you choose has a sufficient amount of dried peat moss. Also, keep in mind that sand is an essential component in the money plant soil mix. The weight of the sand is necessary to support these plants because they can be top-heavy. Here’s a video that teaches you how to grow bushy money plants.
Potting Mix for Money Plants – Best Recommendations
There are several potting mixes that you can easily acquire at your local nursery or garden center to grow your plant. However, going for the best soil for money plants is highly recommended if you want to see them thrive and grow healthily.
There are also several growing medium amendments that will be beneficial to your indoor succulent if properly implemented. Listed below are the best recommendations and additions for DIY organic-rich soil.
1. Money Plant Potting Soil
A loamy, well-draining potting mix is preferred by money trees. They can survive in soil that is either acidic or alkaline, but they do best in a substrate that has a slightly acidic to neutral pH between 6 and 7.5. These glorious evergreens will thrive in soil that is made up of a combination of equal parts perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, coarse sand, coco coir, and compost.
2. Coffee Grounds
When used as compost tea, coffee grounds are most beneficial for money plants. This is due to the fact that the natural nutrients that plants require can be found in large quantities in coffee grinds.
3. Money Plant Pot Size
Make sure the pot is the proper size for your plant. It should have a diameter of at least six inches with several drainage holes. When purchasing a pot, it is vital to keep in mind that these plants will get damaged if proper drainage requirements are absent.
4. Fertilizing
Feed your money tree an organic indoor plant food once a week during the summer and once every other week during the fall and winter. This is an important step in maintaining it when its development slows down as it will replenish its vitals.
5. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt aids in seed germination, promotes bushier money plant growth, and keeps pests at bay. Additionally, it offers essential nutrients as a complement to your usual fertilizer which is great for these succulents.
Money Plant Care Tips
The money tree has dark green foliage with multiple tightly braided trunks. They are cultivated around the world and are frequently utilized as bonsai trees in places like Taiwan. It is also given as a common gift for birthdays, bar mitzvahs, baptisms, weddings, anniversaries, and housewarmings. This is due to the myth that as the plant develops and prospers, so will its owner.
However, for it to thrive, the best soil for money plants is a must. Even though they are not high maintenance, affording them the proper care will allow them to grow well. Here are a few care tips that you should take heed of when growing these air-purifying succulents in your home or office environment.
Tips:
Sunlight – Indirect light is essential for money trees since direct sunlight will burn their leaves. If grown indoors, then a shaded window is best. Otherwise, mimicking its natural habitat in the partial shade beneath other trees is recommended.
Humidity – This plant requires moisture to thrive. Keeping it in a room with a humidifier or misting the plant is a terrific technique to maintain it.
Root Care – Although money trees need to have moist leaves, their roots shouldn’t be submerged in water. Therefore, you should pick a planter that has drainage holes and use well-draining potting soil to avoid root rot.
Fertile Soil – A potting mixture with fertilizer and peat moss can be used to start your money tree. Once a month during the growing season, you should add liquid fertilizer for favorable results.
Repotting – You will need to sometimes re-pot your money plant if you intend to keep it in one. In this case, you should choose a pot that is the same diameter as the plant’s foliage. Ensure that you maintain a consistent soil combination when repotting.
Pest Control – These plants are prone to fungus gnats, aphids, and mealybugs if they are left in wet soil. However, they may also contain spider mites if their soil is overly dry. If this occurs, it is best to use a systemic insecticide or neem oil as a natural bug repellant.
Pruning – Early in the growing season, prune undesirable branches, making each cut just above a leaf node.
Growing Preferences – US hardiness zones 10 to 12 are ideal for money plants to thrive. This is because they are not resilient to severe frost and should be kept in temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees F.
Conclusion
When first propagating a money tree, intensive care is required for proper establishment. Thereafter, it will become a low-maintenance species if it survives to maturity and grows a strong root system. To take proper care of it and make sure it grows well, using the best soil for money plants is key.
Since few places in the United States replicate the tree’s natural habitat, active maintenance is required for it to thrive. As a houseplant or outdoor plant, remember to give it indirect sunlight and water to encourage development. You would be glad to know that this plant also does well in solar-colored light and likes solar-powered illumination.
Also, the money plant’s leaves can become burned and fall off if they receive too much direct sunshine. That is why you should place the plant pot close to a south-facing window in summer and move it to an east window in the cold season. Once a week, rotate it 90 degrees to make sure it gets the proper amount of light for uniform growth. For more information about these lush evergreens, click on the link.