How to Propagate Money Tree
Money Tree is one of the easiest houseplants to propagate. Here are three reliable methods — choose the one that fits your comfort level and available supplies.
Water propagation (easiest method)
- 1 In spring or summer, choose a healthy stem with at least 2–3 leaf nodes and new growth at the tip.
- 2 Cut 6–8 inches just below a node with sterilized scissors.
- 3 Strip the lowest leaves so 1–2 nodes sit bare.
- 4 Place the cutting in a clear jar of room-temperature water, nodes submerged, leaves above the rim.
- 5 Set in bright indirect light and change the water every 3–4 days.
- 6 Roots appear in 2–4 weeks; pot up when roots are 1–2 inches long. Success rate is high - around 80% on vigorous spring stems.
Soil propagation (direct planting)
- 1 Take the same 6–8 inch cutting and dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder (optional but helpful).
- 2 Insert 2 inches deep into moist, well-draining mix or pure perlite.
- 3 Tent a clear plastic bag over it to hold humidity, propped so it does not touch the leaves.
- 4 Keep at 70–80°F in bright indirect light and water just enough to keep the mix barely moist.
- 5 Tug-test after 4–6 weeks - resistance means roots have formed; grow on as normal. Expect roots a week or two slower than in water, but the transplant shock is lower.
Troubleshooting
A cutting that rots in water usually sat too deep or the water went stale - keep only nodes submerged and refresh water on schedule. Cuttings taken from woody old stems root far less reliably than soft green tips. Never propagate from a plant showing trunk softness or root rot - the cutting carries the problem with it.
Propagation Tips
- ✓ Always use clean, sterilized tools to prevent infection
- ✓ Cuttings need bright indirect light — never direct sun
- ✓ Change propagation water every 5–7 days to prevent bacteria
- ✓ Be patient — rooting takes 2–6 weeks depending on the method
- ✓ Spring and summer are the best seasons for propagation