At a glance
- No new leaves in a dim location: Low light; move to bright indirect light
- Stopped with yellowing leaves and wet soil: Overwatering or root rot; let dry and check roots
- Stopped in autumn or winter: Seasonal slowdown; normal, resume fertilizing in spring
- Growing but losing lower leaves: Normal leaf cycling combined with low light; improve light first
- Stopped after years in the same soil: Nutrient depletion; repot or begin fertilizing
- Stopped in a cool or drafty room: Temperature stress; keep above 65°F away from vents
How fast money tree normally grows
Money tree (Pachira aquatica) is a moderate grower when given adequate light and correct care. In good conditions during spring and summer, it produces new leaf flushes from the growing tips every few weeks, with each flush adding a new set of palmate leaves. Growth slows in autumn and often pauses in winter. The braided trunk nursery specimens commonly sold as houseplants grow more slowly than single-stem plants, partly because the braiding and multiple stems share resources. New growth on a braided money tree always emerges from the very tips of the stems; if the tips have been trimmed, a single new shoot will emerge from just below the cut.
Cause 1: Low light
Signs: No new leaves during the growing season. The plant is in a dim room or positioned several feet from a window. Existing leaves are a flat green. The plant may be slowly dropping lower leaves without replacing them. It has been in the same dim position for months.
Why it happens: Money tree needs bright indirect light to produce new leaves actively. It is more light-demanding than its reputation as an easy, adaptable houseplant might suggest. In dim positions, it stops producing new growth and may gradually lose existing leaves as they age without replacement. The palmate leaves are large and photosynthetically demanding, requiring a reasonable light source to support their production.
Fix: Move to bright indirect light within 2 to 4 feet of a window with good natural light. Money tree can tolerate a few hours of gentle direct morning sun. New growth should appear within 3 to 4 weeks during the growing season. Rotate the pot a quarter turn each time you water to ensure even light exposure and prevent the plant from leaning toward the window.
Cause 2: Overwatering and root rot
Signs: Growth has stopped and some leaves are yellowing. The soil has been consistently moist. The pot feels heavy between waterings. Some leaves may be dropping. The plant looks generally dull or unwell. The pot smells musty when watered.
Why it happens: Despite being native to wetland environments, the potted money tree sold as a houseplant is susceptible to root rot in consistently wet indoor potting soil. The conditions in its native riparian habitat (flooding and draining cycles with well-aerated soil) differ significantly from a pot that stays perpetually moist. Root rot destroys the root system's ability to take up nutrients and water, halting new growth.
Fix: Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Water thoroughly, then wait until the top 1 to 2 inches are dry before watering again. In low-light positions, this may mean waiting 2 to 3 weeks or more. If root rot has developed, remove from the pot, trim mushy dark roots to firm tissue, and repot in fresh well-draining mix. Growth should resume within 4 to 6 weeks as the roots recover.
Cause 3: Seasonal dormancy
Signs: Growth slowed or stopped in autumn or winter. The plant looks healthy. The care routine has not changed. It was producing new leaves regularly earlier in the year.
Why it happens: Money tree responds to the reduced light intensity and shorter days of winter by slowing its growth. This is a normal seasonal pattern. Even in consistently warm indoor conditions, the plant senses changes in light quality and reduces metabolic activity from autumn through late winter.
Fix: No action needed for a healthy plant in winter. Reduce fertilizing or stop entirely from autumn through early spring. Reduce watering frequency slightly. Resume monthly fertilizing when new growth appears in spring. A grow light can help maintain some winter growth if desired.
Cause 4: Nutrient deficiency
Signs: The plant has been in the same soil for more than a year without fertilizing. New leaves are smaller than established growth or lighter green. Growth is slow despite good light and correct watering. The soil looks pale and depleted.
Why it happens: Potting soil nutrients are exhausted within 6 to 12 months of use. Money tree is a moderate feeder during its growing season and benefits from regular fertilizing once the initial soil nutrients are gone. Unfertilized plants in old soil grow slowly and produce smaller leaves.
Fix: Begin monthly fertilizing from spring through summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Apply only after the plant has been watered so roots are not dry when receiving fertilizer. Do not fertilize in autumn or winter. Repotting in fresh potting mix every 2 years provides a soil nutrient reset even without additional fertilizing.
Cause 5: Root binding
Signs: The plant has been in the same pot for 2 or more years and growth has gradually slowed. Roots are circling or emerging from drainage holes. The soil dries out very quickly after watering. The plant was previously growing well but has slowed over the past growing season.
Why it happens: A root-bound money tree cannot expand its root system efficiently, limiting water and nutrient uptake. The limited soil volume also dries rapidly, causing more frequent moisture stress. Money tree grows from multiple braided stems and benefits from adequate root space to sustain their combined growth.
Fix: Repot in spring into a container 2 inches wider, using fresh well-draining potting mix. After repotting, water once and then allow the soil to dry partially before the next watering. New growth should resume within 3 to 4 weeks as the roots expand into fresh soil during the growing season.
Cause 6: Cold temperatures and drafts
Signs: Growth stopped or slowed during cool weather or after the plant was moved near an air conditioning vent, cold window, or exterior door. Some leaf drop may accompany the growth stall. Temperatures in the space drop below 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why it happens: Money tree is a tropical plant that grows actively between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Below 60 degrees, root function slows and growth pauses. It is also sensitive to cold and hot drafts: both air conditioning vents and heating vents create dry moving air that stresses the plant and can trigger leaf drop alongside growth stalls.
Fix: Move to a consistently warm, draft-free location. Keep away from air conditioning vents, heating vents, cold windows in winter, and exterior doors. Maintain temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Growth should resume within 2 to 4 weeks of consistently warm, stable conditions during the growing season.