[Ebook Việt Hoá] Houseplant Party (Lisa Eldred Steinkopf) – MONEY TREE: Pachira aquatica

Wouldn’t it be nice if a plant could grow money? You can own a money tree, but unfortunately, you shouldn’t expect any money to appear. As the word aquaticain the botanical name implies, this plant likes water; keep it moist. In its natural habitat in Mexico, it grows in freshwater swamps and along riverbanks. While it may grow in standing water in nature, don’t let it stand in water in your home, because it could end up with root rot.

Money trees may attain a height of up to 60 feet (18 m) in nature, but expect it to only reach 6 to 8 feet (about 2 m) in your home. Place this plant in bright light, such as an east or west window.

In nature, money trees produce flowers, which in turn become fruit. The fruit is eaten raw, roasted, or ground into flour. Unfortunately, however, it most likely will not produce flowers in your home.

The practice of feng shui utilizes the money tree to bring good luck. The five leaflets that form each compound leaf are thought to represent the elements: water, metal, wood, fire, and earth. It is most often sold in a braided form and can be found for purchase as a large-specimen floor plant. If your money tree develops yellow leaves, it may be suffering from low humidity. Place it on a pebble tray filled with water to raise the humidity around the plant (more on this technique in section 2). If it has brown crispy leaves, that may indicate it is too dry. Though it won’t bring you monetary gain, it’s a beautiful plant to grow in your home.