Plant care guide
Money Tree Yellow Leaves: Wet Roots, Dry Air or Hunger?
Updated
Why are my Money tree leaves turning yellow?
Yellow money tree leaves most often trace back to the pot: mix that stays wet or water left standing in the saucer. NC State Extension also links yellowing to low humidity and too few nutrients. A move, a dry spell or a pot-bound root ball are the other common causes.
What to do first
Check the top 5 cm (2 in) of mix and the saucer first. If the mix is wet, stop watering and check the roots and the base of each braided stem. If it is dry, water thoroughly. Then look at feeding, humidity and recent moves.
Yellow leaves on a money tree are worrying, especially on a braided plant you have had for years. The cause is usually in the pot, not on the leaf. Check the mix before you water again.
NC State Extension’s money tree profile says Pachira aquatica grows in freshwater swamps and along riverbanks. That does not make a wet pot safe. NC State says standing water is not tolerated and can cause root rot.
Read the leaves and the mix
| What you see | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Yellow leaves that are still firm, mix damp | Too much water |
| Yellowing plus a soft, dark base on one stem of a braid | Root or stem rot on that stem |
| Yellow, limp leaves, mix dry and pot light | Too little water |
| Gradual, even yellowing of older leaves, plant not fed for months | Nutrient shortage |
| Yellowing with brown, crisp tips, dry room or near a heater | Low humidity |
| Leaves yellow and fall soon after a move | Change in light or position |
| One or two old inner leaves, plant otherwise healthy | Normal shedding |
Normal shedding. Iowa State University Extension’s diagnosis guide says a few older inner leaves shed by a healthy-looking plant are nothing to worry about.
Firm or wilted? A Colorado Master Gardener answering on Ask Extension gives a useful rule for money trees. Yellow leaves that are not wilted suggest overwatering. Wilted yellow leaves suggest underwatering.
The causes to check
Wet mix and rot. The same answer advises watering when the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil has dried. It warns that money trees do not like wet feet. University of Maryland Extension’s root rot page lists yellowing, browning, dieback and wilting. Rotted roots are brown to black and soft. Some root rots cause wilting even when the mix is moist.
Braided money trees are several stems twisted together. Check each stem at the soil line. One soft stem can rot while the others stay firm.
Thirst. NC State notes that leaf drop can occur if the soil is too dry. Clemson Extension’s disorders factsheet adds that lower leaves may yellow if a plant stays dry for an extended time.
Low humidity or nutrients. NC State lists both: yellow leaves can occur if the humidity is too low or the soil lacks nutrients. It gives a preferred range of 18–24 °C (65–75 °F) in a humid environment. Clemson links yellowing lower leaves to nitrogen or iron shortage, especially in pot-bound plants.
A cramped pot. The Ask Extension answer suggested repotting a money tree whose pot looked small for its size. Clemson says plants in pots that are too small drop leaves.
A recent move. The NYBG Plant Information Service’s money tree care page says money trees dislike being moved and respond by dropping leaves. A plant brought in after summer outdoors may lose some leaves while it adjusts to lower light.
What to do
- Empty the saucer and any decorative outer pot.
- If the mix is wet, stop watering. Ease the plant out and check roots and stem bases. Maryland Extension advises clean pots, sterile potting mix, and cuttings only from healthy tissue.
- If the mix is dry, water until it runs from the drainage holes, as NYBG describes. Let it drain, then wait until the top layer dries again.
- Feed in the growing season. NYBG suggests a liquid plant food every two weeks in spring and summer, and none in winter.
- Raise humidity near the plant. NYBG suggests standing the pot on a tray of wet pebbles, kept above the waterline.
- Stop moving it. Choose bright, indirect light and leave the tree there. NC State warns that direct sun can scorch the leaves.
- Keep it warm. NC State says to bring a money tree indoors before temperatures drop to 7 °C (45 °F). Keep it away from drafts, as NYBG advises.
Yellow leaves will not green up again. Remove them once you have found the cause, and judge the fix by new growth.
Related problems
If the tips are browning rather than whole leaves yellowing, see our money tree brown tips guide. For light, potting and pruning, read the money tree care guide. NC State also lists aphids, mealybugs, scale and fungus gnats, so check stems and leaf undersides too.
Related guides
Other money tree problems we cover: root rot.
References
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Pachira aquatica
- Ask Extension (Colorado Master Gardener): Diagnose problem with Money Tree
- NYBG Plant Information Service: How do I care for my money tree houseplant?
- University of Maryland Extension: Root Rots of Indoor Plants
- Clemson Cooperative Extension, HGIC 2251: Houseplant Diseases & Disorders
- Iowa State University Extension: Diagnosing Houseplant Problems from Improper Environmental Conditions
How this guide was put together: NC State Extension, Ask Extension (Colorado Master Gardener), NYBG Plant Information Service, University of Maryland Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension and Iowa State University Extension guidance.