Houseplant Care
Best Soil for Money Tree Plants: A Well-Draining Mix Recipe
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What goes in a money tree pot, two home mixes compared with a university recipe, the swaps to avoid, and how to tell when the soil is too wet.
In Short
The best soil for a money tree is a well-draining but moist mix of peat, perlite and coarse sand, with perlite our pick over vermiculite, and the plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs. We compared our editor's two recipes with a university mix; soil that stays too wet fails.
- Skip garden soil in containers. Cactus mix drains fast and is likely too dry for a money tree rated moist and well-drained.
- Lift the pot after watering and again before the next. It gets lighter as the mix dries, so a pot that stays heavy points to wet soil.
More Takeaways
- If you mix with peat, add lime to bring it to about pH 6.0, because peat on its own is acidic.
Our Editor's Money Tree Soil Mix Recipe
In my experience, money trees do best in a mix that drains well and holds some moisture. The plant is rated for acid and neutral soil, and a peat-based houseplant mix is limed to about pH 6.0.
You can mix a light, well-draining potting mix for a money tree at home from one of these recipes:
- Recipe 1: Equal parts peat moss, perlite or vermiculite, and coarse sand
- Recipe 2: Equal parts coco coir, compost, and perlite or vermiculite
While mixing, I always add a bit of moisture to help the mix stick and blend well. Just be careful not to add so much water that the mixture becomes soggy.
Of the two drainage options, choose perlite for a money tree: vermiculite holds much more water, and perlite lets the excess drain.
If you prefer a less messy method, you can purchase a pre-mixed potting medium designed to keep your money tree healthy. Choose a peat- or coir-based houseplant mix with perlite added. Avoid anything sold as garden soil, which is not recommended in containers.
What Goes in a Money Tree Soil Mix
Pick a mix to compare our editor's two recipes with another mix and see what each ingredient does. The key correction is the perlite or vermiculite swap: perlite drains excess water readily, while vermiculite holds much more water, so they are not interchangeable.
Peat moss
Holds water and lets oxygen reach the roots; slightly acidic, so lime is added to balance the pH
Perlite
Drains excess water readily; holds water around the granules, not in them
James's recipes allow perlite or vermiculite; perlite is our pick.
Coarse sand
Adds weight and drainage; part of the extension peat mix
Coco coir
Peat alternative made from coconut husks; rinse before use
Compost
Adds organic matter; the extension indoor mixes leave it out
Vermiculite
Holds much more water than perlite and can hold too much for a plant that must not stay wet
The optional swap in James's recipes; in no mix shown here.
James's recipes are his own; the extension mix is Clemson Cooperative Extension's peat mix. Ingredient roles: University of Illinois Extension, Oregon State University Extension and Clemson.
Signs Your Money Tree Is in the Wrong Soil
Wilting or yellowing of the lower and inner leaves is the main sign of soil holding too much moisture, and a soft or rotting trunk or stem points the same way.
Cactus Mix, Garden Soil or Coffee Grounds?
This table answers the three shortcuts gardeners reach for, and the verdicts are far from equal. Cactus mix drains fast and is likely drier than a money tree wants, garden soil is not recommended in containers, and coffee grounds have little published research behind them.
| Option | Use It? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cactus or succulent mix | Not ideal | Mixes for cacti and succulents include bark and sand for fast drainage; the money tree is rated for moist, well-drained soil, so cactus mix is likely drier than it wants (our reading) |
| Garden soil | No | Garden soils contain too many bacteria and are generally not recommended for plants grown in containers |
| Coffee grounds | Unproven | Published research on spent grounds in houseplant pots is hard to find, and the extension answer is that you can, but it is not recommended |
Why a Money Tree Needs Well-Draining Soil
Money trees are native from southern Mexico to Bolivia and northern Brazil, where they grow in freshwater swamps, estuaries, riverbanks, and rainforests. As potted plants, they do not tolerate standing water, which can cause root rot.
For this reason, I always ensure my plants are grown in containers that have ample holes for drainage and a potting medium that allows water to pass through quickly.
How to Tell the Soil Is Too Wet
Three checks catch wet soil before the roots do. Lift the pot and compare its weight with just after watering; push a dowel to the bottom of a large pot, where moist soil sticks to it or discolors it slightly. After a good watering, water should run out of the bottom of the pot.
Why Soil Choice Matters
A money tree needs a potting mix that holds some moisture and still drains, such as peat moss with perlite, loam or sand.
For more, see our in-depth guide to Money tree plant care at home.
Good Luck Starts With the Right Soil
In feng shui tradition, the money tree is a lucky plant, its cluster of five green leaves said to represent coins. Belief holds that the plant's history may date back to the Han Dynasty. A healthy money tree starts in a light, well-draining mix.
For more houseplant guides, see our guide to the best soil for rubber trees.
Questions and Answers
Are money trees safe for cats and dogs?
Money trees are non-toxic to cats and dogs, though a pet that chews one may still get nausea, vomiting or loose stool. The seeds are the part to keep away from pets, since they can cause mild to moderate stomach upset. Contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center if any part is eaten.
What is the Pachira plant, and why is a money tree braided?
Pachira is the genus of the money tree (Pachira aquatica). The braided houseplant is Pachira aquatica or the similar Pachira glabra, and the braid is rumored to date from the 1980s, when a Taiwanese truck driver grew the plant as a bonsai.
What should I repot a money tree in, and how should I water it afterwards?
Repot into a pot with a drainage hole, using a moist but well-drained potting mix. Water thoroughly right after repotting until water runs out of the bottom. Pour off any water that collects in the saucer under the pot, and never let the pot stand in water.
Is coconut coir better than peat moss for a money tree?
Coconut coir is a workable replacement for peat moss. It is a lower-cost, more sustainable alternative, made from the outer husks of coconuts. Rinse coir thoroughly with water before use to avoid soil salinity issues. Peat's harvest is a concern because it is becoming rare.
Sources7 sources, linked in the text
Updates and CorrectionsOct 19, 2026 · 3 corrected, 1 clarified, 1 removed
- Added: A comparison of James's recipes with a university extension mix, a table on cactus mix, garden soil and coffee grounds, a wet-soil check, the ASPCA's pet-safety listing and three photos.
- Clarified: 2 health, edibility and toxicity statements now follow a named source; unsourced ones were removed.
- Corrected: The page said perlite and vermiculite can be swapped. Vermiculite holds much more water than perlite, so perlite is the better choice for a money tree.
- Corrected: The page said yellowing younger leaves signal soil that is too wet. The main sign is wilting or yellowing of the lower and inner leaves.
- Corrected: The page said money trees do best at pH 6 to 7.5. The plant is rated for acid and neutral soil, and an extension peat mix is limed to about pH 6.0.
- Removed: An unsourced claim that slow growth means the soil pH is wrong.
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