Many people buy a money plant hoping for luck and beauty. However, they end up with yellow leaves, drooping stems, or even a dying plant because they didn’t know how to care for it like the Reddit user Golandrinas. Hence, choosing the right one with proper knowledge about it makes all the difference between frustration and a thriving plant.
This guide fixes that by clearly explaining eight money plant varieties and how to care for them. We’ll also cover how to choose the best type for your home, quick fixes for common problems, and where to buy healthy plants.
Quick Glance at Money Plants
Money plants include Chinese Money Plant, Jade Plant, Money Tree, and others. These plants differ in origin, appearance, and growth habits, yet most adapt well indoors with simple care. Common issues like yellowing leaves, drooping stems, and pests can be solved easily, making them solid options for home décor.
Part 1. 8 Popular Money Plant Types: All You Need to Know
From climbing vines to stunning shrubs, these eight different types of money plants are the most common options:
1. Chinese Money Plant
Scientific Name: Pilea peperomioides
Origin/Native Region: Yunnan Province, Southern China
The Chinese Money Plant is a compact, modern-looking houseplant that symbolizes prosperity and thrives in small spaces.
Top Features
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Round, coin-like leaves on slender petioles forming a symmetrical, airy canopy |
| Growth Habit | Upright, bushy; produces many offshoots (pups) |
| Best For | Desks, shelves, windowsills |
| Buying Tip | Pick firm, bright leaves; avoid curled or drooping foliage |
Why It’s a Great Choice for Beginners?
It loves bright, indirect light and is easy to propagate from pups, perfect for multiplying plants to gift or decorate.
2. Jade Plant
Scientific Name: Crassula ovata
Origin/Native Region: South Africa and Mozambique
The Jade Plant is a classic, long-lived succulent often gifted as a symbol of friendship and good fortune.
Top Features
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Thick, glossy oval leaves; edges may blush red in strong light |
| Growth Habit | Slow-growing, woody-stemmed shrub |
| Best For | Living rooms, offices, entryways |
| Buying Tip | Choose plump, firm leaves; avoid wrinkled or mushy foliage |
Why It’s a Great Choice for Beginners?
Very drought-tolerant and forgiving, great for busy owners who may forget a watering.
3. Money Tree
Scientific Name: Pachira aquatica
Origin/Native Region: Central & South America (swampy regions)
The Money Tree is famous for its braided trunk and is used in Feng Shui to attract harmony and wealth.
Top Features
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Glossy, palmate leaves (5–7 leaflets) atop a thick, usually braided stem |
| Growth Habit | Upright small tree; several feet indoors |
| Best For | Room corners, offices, statement spots |
| Buying Tip | Look for firm, bright leaves and tight braids; avoid soft trunks |
Why It’s a Great Choice for Beginners?
Adaptable to a wide range of indoor light and tolerant of occasional watering lapses.
4. Golden Pothos
Scientific Name: Epipremnum aureum
Origin/Native Region: Solomon Islands, South Pacific
Golden Pothos is a fast-growing vine beloved for its style and longevity, one of the easiest indoor plants.
Top Features
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Heart-shaped green leaves streaked with golden-yellow variegation |
| Growth Habit | Very fast trailing or climbing vine |
| Best For | Hanging baskets, high shelves, trellises |
| Buying Tip | Choose vibrant variegation and firm leaves; avoid wilted stems |
Why It’s a Great Choice for Beginners?
Tolerates low light and irregular watering; nearly unkillable with basic care.
5. Silver Satin Pothos
Scientific Name: Scindapsus pictus
Origin/Native Region: Southeast Asia
The Silver Satin Pothos is a classy trailing vine with velvety leaves flecked in silver, ideal for shelves and baskets.
Top Features
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Matte green, heart-shaped leaves with silvery speckles |
| Growth Habit | Moderate trailing/climbing vine |
| Best For | Hanging displays, trailing along shelves |
| Buying Tip | Look for crisp silver markings; avoid dull, faded leaves |
Why It’s a Great Choice for Beginners?
Low-maintenance, happy in medium-to-low light, and easy to propagate from cuttings.
6. Silver Dollar Vine
Scientific Name: Xerosicyos danguyi
Origin/Native Region: Madagascar
Silver Dollar Vine is a drought-tolerant succulent vine with coin-shaped leaves, great indoors near bright windows.
Top Features
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Round, flat, silvery-green leaves on slender stems |
| Growth Habit | Climbing/trailing succulent with steady indoor growth |
| Best For | Hanging pots, sunny sills, bright rooms |
| Buying Tip | Choose firm, silvered leaves; avoid shriveled spots |
Why It’s a Great Choice for Beginners?
Thrives on neglect and infrequent watering; loves bright light.
7. Lucky Bamboo
Scientific Name: Dracaena sanderiana
Origin/Native Region: Central Africa (mainly Cameroon)
Lucky Bamboo can grow in water or soil and is often shaped into spirals, popular in Feng Shui displays.
Top Features
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Upright green stalks with narrow leaves; often braided or spiraled |
| Growth Habit | Cane-like, steady growth in water or soil |
| Best For | Desks, tabletops, minimalist décor |
| Buying Tip | Pick firm, green stalks; avoid yellowing or soft spots |
Why It’s a Great Choice for Beginners?
Extremely low-maintenance and tolerant of low light, nearly foolproof.
8. Golden Queen Pothos (aka Marble Queen Pothos)
Scientific Name: Epipremnum aureum ‘Marble Queen’
Origin/Native Region: South Pacific Islands
Known as Marble Queen Pothos, this striking cultivar grows quickly and brightens rooms with creamy variegation.
Top Features
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Cream-to-golden variegation over green leaves for a bold, bright look |
| Growth Habit | Fast-growing trailing/climbing vine |
| Best For | Adding vibrant contrast to shelves and corners |
| Buying Tip | Choose bright, even variegation; avoid pale, limp foliage |
Why It’s a Great Choice for Beginners?
Handles a range of indoor light and is forgiving of missed waterings.
Shop Our Pothos Plant Collection🌱
Bring home the lush and low-maintenance beauty of pothos, perfect for any indoor space!
Explore NowPart 2. How to Grow and Care for Money Plants Indoors?
1. Light & Placement
Money plants grow best in bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch leaves; too little light slows growth. East or north-facing windows are ideal.
Placement Tips
- Keep 1–2 meters from a window with filtered sunlight.
- Use sheer curtains to soften harsh rays.
- For dark rooms, supplement with LED grow lights.
2. Water & Humidity Needs
Most money plants like a regular soak-and-dry rhythm. Overwatering causes root rot; underwatering leads to droop or yellow leaves. Average home humidity is fine, though light misting can help.
Watering Tips
- Check moisture with a finger ~2 cm deep; water when it feels dry.
- Use pots with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
- Reduce watering in winter as growth slows.
3. Soil & Fertilization
Choose a draining, nutrient-rich mix; dense, soggy soil suffocates roots. A balanced indoor potting mix plus the right fertilizer supports quick, healthy growth.
Helpful Tips
- Blend garden soil with coco peat and perlite/sand.
- Refresh the mix every 1–2 years.
- Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer (10-10-10) every 4–6 weeks in spring–summer.
4. Propagation Tips
Most money plant types for homes propagate easily from stem cuttings.
Propagation Steps
- Cut a healthy stem below a node with 2–3 leaves.
- Place in water or directly into moist soil.
- Refresh water every 5–7 days until roots form.
- Pot rooted cuttings for long-term growth.
Curious whether the Chinese Money Plant is tricky or beginner-friendly? Here’s what real plant parents had to say on Reddit.
My friend told me this Chinese money plant is really hard to care for. My plant app and personal experience says it’s easy. What’s your experience?
byu/LAbombsquad inhouseplants
Part 3. How to Choose the Best Money Plant Variety for Your Home?
- Space Available: Small apartments suit compact plants like Chinese Money Plant; larger rooms fit Money Tree or Jade.
- Light Conditions: Pothos varieties handle low light; Silver Dollar Vine prefers bright spots.
- Style Preference: Lucky Bamboo suits minimalism; Marble Queen Pothos adds vibrant contrast.
- Care Level: Beginners thrive with low-maintenance picks like Golden Pothos or Jade.
- Pet Safety: Some (pothos, philodendrons) can be toxic if chewed; keep out of reach or choose safer options like Silver Dollar Vine.
Where to Get Your Money Plant?
Buy from local nurseries, garden centers, and even supermarkets. Common species like Jade or Pothos are easy to find. A convenient online source is MyGreenScape, with healthy houseplants for beginners and doorstep care tips.
Part 4. Common Issues & Fixes for Indoor Money Plants
1. Yellow Leaves
Cause: Most often due to overwatering, roots suffocate when wet too long, and chlorophyll breaks down.
Solution: Let the top layer dry before watering again and always use pots with drainage.
2. Drooping Stems
Cause: Thirst or insufficient light.
Solution: Water regularly but not excessively and move to bright, indirect light.
3. Brown Leaf Tips
Cause: Dry air or salt build-up in the soil; HVAC can lower humidity.
Solution: Lightly mist for a few days, and flush soil with clean water or use distilled water.
4. Slow Growth
Cause: Depleted nutrients over time limit new leaves/vines.
Solution: Feed with a balanced natural fertilizer every other month in the growing season.
5. Pest Infestations
Cause: Mealybugs, spider mites, and others sap energy from leaves and stems.
Solution: Wipe leaves with a damp cloth; for heavier infestations, use neem oil or insecticidal soap and isolate affected plants.
Common Plant Pests & How to Fight Them 🐞
From fungus gnats to spider mites, learn how to identify, prevent, and treat the most common plant pests.
Read GuidesConclusion
Money plants are beautiful, beginner-friendly houseplants. From Golden Pothos to Silver Dollar Vine, we covered eight popular types and quick solutions for common issues. Choose the right variety for your light and space, place it well, and enjoy stress-free greenery.
For healthy saplings you can trust, explore the collection at MyGreenScape to find quality plants and helpful growing tips for growing money plants indoors with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a great starter money plant?
Jade Plant and Golden Pothos are top beginner picks. They tolerate low light, irregular watering, and bounce back from common mistakes, while adding a symbolic “good fortune” touch.
2. Can money plants grow in low light?
Yes. Golden Pothos and Silver Satin Pothos cope well with low light. Growth is slower, but they stay healthy indoors with minimal fuss.
3. How fast do money plants grow indoors?
It depends on the variety and room conditions. Golden Pothos can trail several feet per year in strong light; Jade and Money Tree are slower. Proper watering and the right fertilizer speed things up.
4. Does the money plant survive in water?
Many plants do. Lucky Bamboo and Golden Pothos cuttings root in water. Keep the nodes submerged and change the water weekly.
5. Do money plants purify indoor air?
Some can help. Pothos varieties appeared in NASA’s widely cited Clean Air Study for removing certain pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde.
6. How do I care for my money plant in winter?
During the winter months, reduce watering for your money plant since its growth slows down. Keep it in a spot with indirect sunlight and avoid placing it near drafts or heaters. A little extra humidity from misting can also help keep it healthy during the dry, cold season.
7. How do I adjust my money plant care as the weather warms up in spring?
As temperatures rise, increase watering for your money plant to match its faster growth. You can also start fertilizing with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4–6 weeks. Place it in a brighter spot with indirect sunlight to encourage healthy growth, but avoid direct sun, which can scorch the leaves.