Learn How to Care for Money Plants

Understanding Money Plants: What They Are and Why People Grow Them

Money plants, scientifically known as Epipremnum aureum or Pothos, are tropical vining plants that have become popular houseplants around the world. The name "money plant" comes from folklore suggesting that keeping one in your home brings financial prosperity, though the real appeal lies in their practical qualities as indoor plants. These plants feature heart-shaped leaves that can be solid green or variegated with yellow or white markings, depending on the variety. The vines can grow quite long—sometimes reaching 10 feet or more indoors—making them suitable for hanging baskets, shelves, or as climbing plants on moss poles.

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What makes money plants particularly valuable for people learning about plant care is their remarkable resilience. Unlike many houseplants that demand specific conditions, money plants tolerate a range of light levels, humidity, and watering schedules. Studies from horticultural research centers have shown that money plants rank among the easiest houseplants to maintain, which explains their prevalence in offices, dorm rooms, and homes where plant care experience varies widely. They're also noted for their air-purifying properties—NASA research has identified them as plants that can help filter common indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene.

Money plants come in several varieties worth knowing about. The standard green variety is the most common and forgiving. Golden Pothos features yellow or cream-colored variegation on green leaves. Marble Queen has white and green variegation. Neon Pothos displays bright lime-green leaves. Each variety has slightly different light requirements, with variegated types generally needing more light to maintain their coloring. Understanding which variety you have or plan to purchase helps you set up the right growing conditions from the start.

Takeaway: Money plants are adaptable houseplants suitable for beginners because they tolerate various conditions while still thriving with proper care. Identifying your specific variety helps you tailor lighting and environmental conditions for the best growth.

Light Requirements: Finding the Right Balance for Healthy Growth

Light is one of the most important factors in money plant care, and fortunately, these plants are quite flexible. Money plants can survive in low-light environments—such as offices with only fluorescent lighting or rooms with north-facing windows—but they won't thrive as robustly. When money plants receive inadequate light, their growth slows noticeably, leaves become smaller, and the space between leaf nodes (called internodes) stretches out, creating a sparse, leggy appearance. In very low light, variegated varieties may revert to solid green as the plant prioritizes survival over color production.

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Optimal conditions for money plants involve bright, indirect light. This means placing them near a window where they receive filtered sunlight throughout much of the day, or in a room with bright ambient light. A south or west-facing window typically provides excellent light. If you place a money plant directly in a south-facing window, the intense afternoon sun can sometimes scorch the leaves, so a sheer curtain can help diffuse harsh rays while maintaining brightness. East or north-facing windows work well too, though growth may be slower than in brighter locations.

One practical method for assessing whether your money plant has sufficient light involves observing its growth pattern over several weeks. Healthy money plants in good light produce new leaves relatively consistently—typically every 1-2 weeks during growing season. If you notice a plant hasn't produced a new leaf in a month, it's likely signaling that light is insufficient. In this case, moving the plant closer to a window or supplementing with a grow light can improve performance. LED grow lights placed 6-12 inches above the plant for 12-14 hours daily can work well if natural light isn't available.

Variegated money plant varieties require more light than solid green types to maintain their distinctive coloring. When variegated plants don't receive enough light, they often revert to producing solid green leaves as an adaptation to maximize photosynthesis. If you want to maintain the variegation patterns, position variegated varieties in brighter spots than you would a standard green money plant.

Takeaway: Money plants survive in low light but thrive in bright, indirect conditions. Monitor new leaf production to gauge whether your plant's current location provides adequate light; adjust placement if growth noticeably slows.

Watering Practices: Avoiding the Most Common Money Plant Problem

Overwatering is the leading cause of problems in money plant care, responsible for more plant deaths than any other factor. Money plants prefer soil that dries out somewhat between waterings rather than soil that remains consistently wet. When roots sit in waterlogged soil, they're unable to access oxygen, leading to root rot—a condition where roots essentially suffocate and decay. Once root rot develops, it's difficult to reverse, though catching it early and repotting the plant in fresh soil can sometimes save it.

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The water needs of a money plant depend on several factors: the size of the plant, the pot size, the type of soil, humidity levels, temperature, and season. A money plant in a small pot with fast-draining soil in a warm, dry room will need more frequent watering than one in a larger pot with denser soil in a cool, humid environment. Rather than following a fixed schedule like "water every 5 days," the better approach involves checking soil moisture before watering. Insert your finger into the soil about an inch deep. If the soil feels dry at this depth, watering is appropriate. If it still feels moist, wait a few more days.

During the growing season—spring and summer—money plants typically need water every 7-14 days, though this varies based on conditions. In fall and winter, growth slows considerably, and plants need less water, sometimes only every 2-3 weeks. A useful guideline is that if the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry, you can water. When you do water, water thoroughly until liquid drains from the bottom of the pot, then empty any standing water from the saucer. This thorough watering ensures the entire root ball receives moisture.

Room humidity affects how quickly soil dries. In dry environments, soil dries faster. In humid environments, it stays moist longer. You may need to adjust watering frequency seasonally—during winter when heating systems dry indoor air, you might water slightly more often, though the plant still needs less water overall due to slower growth. Watching your specific plant's behavior provides more useful information than any general schedule.

Takeaway: Check soil moisture before watering by inserting your finger an inch into the soil; water only when this depth feels dry. This prevents overwatering, the primary cause of money plant problems.

Soil and Container Selection: Building the Foundation for Success

Money plants aren't particularly fussy about soil type, but they do need well-draining soil. Standard potting soil works adequately, though many growers improve drainage by mixing standard potting soil with perlite or orchid bark in a ratio of about 3 parts potting soil to 1 part drainage amendment. This ensures water passes through the soil relatively quickly rather than pooling around roots. If you have cactus or succulent potting mix on hand, you can use that too—it's designed for fast drainage and works well for money plants.

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The container you choose matters more than many people realize. A pot with drainage holes in the bottom is essential for money plant health. Without drainage holes, excess water accumulates at the bottom of the pot, creating the waterlogged conditions that lead to root rot. The ideal pot size is one that's only slightly larger than the plant's current root system—typically 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the previous pot. Surprisingly, putting a small money plant in a very large pot can actually cause problems because the excess soil holds moisture longer, increasing the chance of overwatering.

Money plants grow well in various pot materials: terracotta, plastic, ceramic, or fabric pots all work. Terracotta pots allow soil to dry faster due to the porous nature of the material, which can be helpful if you tend to overwater. Plastic pots retain moisture longer, which may be preferable in dry climates. Hanging pots or baskets are popular choices since money plants naturally vine and trail, making them ideal for displaying above eye level where the trailing stems can showcase the plant's natural growth pattern. Moss poles or bamboo stakes are also options if you prefer an upright, climbing display rather than trailing.

Repotting becomes necessary as money plants grow, typically every 12