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Money plants flourish in average humidity. It prefers warm temperatures between 60-85°F and it must be kept away from direct sunlight. There are many benefits to growing a money plant in your home. As a low-maintenance plant, the money plant purifies indoor air by removing toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. Its vines and heart-shaped leaves can help reduce stress and anxiety while improving your mood and concentration. Having a money plant in your home or office is also thought to bring good luck, prosperity, and fortune according to the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui.
These vines can grow very tall, up to 20 meters high! But they are easy to care for and do not require much maintenance compared to other houseplants. You can grow them in soil or even just in a jar or pot with water. Many people believe money plants bring good fortune, wealth, happiness, and prosperity into a home. Money plants also purify indoor air, reduce stress and anxiety, protect from radiation, and spread positivity.
Here are 6 steps to growing money plant at your home garden
Selecting A Pot
Choosing the right pot is an important first step when growing a money plant at home. The pot size should match the plant's size, with a smaller pot for a new plant and a larger pot or jar as the plant matures. Select a pot with a stable base that will prevent the money plant from toppling over. Clay, ceramic, and plastic pots all work well. Be sure to use a neutral potting soil so the money plant can thrive.
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How To Plant
To propagate a money plant from a cutting, start by selecting a pot with drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the pot most of the way with potting soil from the nursery. Make a hole in the centre of the soil and insert a cutting taken from an existing money plant. Gently fill in the hole with more soil to secure the cutting. Water thoroughly to help the cutting develop roots. Money plants need a lot of moisture while rooting, so water again in 8-10 days, pouring a generous amount. As the new plant becomes established, add a wooden stake for it to climb up.
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Watering The Plant
When you give money plants too much water, it can make the roots rot. Rotten roots can't take in water and nutrients like healthy roots can. This causes the leaves to turn yellow and curl up. The leaves look unhealthy because the plant can't get what it needs from the soil. To avoid overwatering, only water your money plant when the soil is completely dry. Letting the soil dry out between waterings gives the roots a chance to get air and prevents rot. Check the soil with your finger before watering to be sure. If you see yellow, curled leaves, hold off on watering and let the soil dry out to help the plant recover.
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Fertilizers And Manures
While fertilizer is not strictly necessary for growing money plants, adding some can help them. You can use store-bought liquid fertilizers with nitrogen occasionally. But you can also make your own homemade fertilizer by mixing used tea leaves, coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, and garden soil. The nutrients from these natural ingredients will slowly release into the soil as the mixture breaks down, providing a gentle feeding for your plant's roots to absorb. Homemade organic fertilizers like this are cheap, easy to make, and gentler on plants than chemical types.
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Trimming Of A Money Plant
A money plant can grow very long and take up a lot of space over time. When this happens, it's a good idea to trim the plant back a little. Look for any dead, yellow, or dry leaves and cut those off first. This will help the plant use its energy and nutrients more efficiently.
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Then, carefully cut off about one-third of each long branch at a 45-degree angle using clean scissors or shears. Trimming the branches this way will help keep the plant more compact and tidier. Be sure not to cut off more than one-third of each branch so you don't shock the plant too much.
Also read: Start Your Own Organic Kitchen Garden
Taking Care Of Your Money Plant
Don't place it in very hot or cold areas. Check the plant's roots regularly by gently removing it from its pot. When the roots are crowded and circling the bottom, it's time to repot in a larger container.
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Make sure the new pot has drainage holes so excess water can escape. Water the plant less in winter since growth slows in the cold. Aim to keep the soil just slightly moist during this dormant period.
