I started with one sad little cutting in a jam jar on my kitchen windowsill. It looked half-dead. Yellow tips. No new leaves for weeks. I almost tossed it. Honestly? I thought I lacked some secret green-thumb gene.
Then I figured out how to grow money plant the way it actually wants to live. Not the way random blogs claimed. Now my vines trail over shelves, climb a moss stick, and push out big glossy leaves every couple of weeks. You can get the same results.
This guide walks through everything I do, from the first cutting to keeping the plant bushy and strong year after year.
Water or Soil: Which Way I Prefer to Start
Money plant (the common pothos type with heart-shaped leaves) grows just fine in water or soil. I tried both.
Water is the easiest entry point. You see the roots form. It feels rewarding fast.
Soil gives thicker growth and bigger leaves once the plant settles in.
I keep some in water for the windowsill look and move the strong ones into pots.
Growing Money Plant in Water
Take a healthy stem with 3 to 4 nodes. Those little bumps matter.
Snip just below a node. Strip the lower leaves so only the top ones stay above water.
Drop the cutting into a clean glass jar or bottle. Submerge at least one node. Fill with room-temperature water.
Place it where it gets bright indirect light. Change the water every 7 to 10 days. Rinse the jar so algae stays away.
Roots show up in 10 to 15 days. Keep the water fresh and the plant can live like this for years.
I once left one in the same jar for eight months. It kept growing. Slow, but steady.
Switching to Soil for Stronger Growth
When roots hit about two inches, I move most of my cuttings into pots. Soil-grown plants fill out faster.
Pick a pot with drainage holes. No exceptions.
My go-to mix:
- 40% regular garden soil
- 30% vermicompost or good compost
- 30% sand or coco peat
This keeps water moving. Roots breathe.
Plant the cutting so one or two nodes sit under the soil. Water lightly. Keep it in the same bright spot it already liked.
The first two weeks feel slow. Then new leaves appear and the growth picks up.
Light: The Factor That Changed Everything for Me
I used to stick my money plant in a dark corner because people said it “tolerates low light.”
It survived. It did not thrive.
Leaves stayed small. Vines stretched long and bare.
I moved it closer to an east-facing window. Bright, filtered light all morning. No direct afternoon sun.
Within three weeks the new leaves came in larger and the color deepened.
Bright indirect light is the real sweet spot.
Too much harsh sun scorches the leaves. Too little slows everything down.
I rotate the pot a quarter turn every week so every side gets its share.
If your only window faces south, hang a sheer curtain. That soft filter works perfectly.
Watering Without Killing the Roots
Overwatering killed my first three attempts.
I learned the hard way. Soggy soil equals root rot. Yellow leaves follow fast.
Now I check the top inch of soil with my finger. If it feels dry, I water. If it still holds moisture, I wait.
In summer I water two or three times a week. In winter once a week is usually enough.
Always let excess water drain out. Never leave the pot sitting in a saucer of water.
For water-grown plants the rule stays simple: fresh water every week or so and a clean container.
See, the plant forgives underwatering far more than the opposite.
Temperature, Humidity, and the Spots That Work Best
Money plant likes the same temperatures I do. 18°C to 30°C feels ideal.
I keep mine away from AC vents and cold drafts. Sudden chills stress it.
Humidity helps. In dry rooms I mist the leaves every few days or set the pot on a pebble tray with a little water.
It does fine in average home air, but a bit of extra moisture keeps the leaf tips from browning.
Bathrooms with good light work great. Kitchens too. Just avoid the spots right next to heaters.
Feeding for Bigger Leaves and Faster Vines
I used to skip fertilizer. The plant still grew, just slowly.
Now I feed during the active months. Spring through early fall.
A diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer every four to six weeks does the job. Half strength is plenty.
Too much burns the roots. I learned that one the expensive way.
Some months I add a small handful of vermicompost on top of the soil. Easy and gentle.
In winter I stop. The plant rests. No need to push it.
How I Make the Plant Bushy Instead of Leggy
Long bare vines look sad.
I prune.
Cut just above a node. New growth sprouts from that point and from lower nodes. One stem becomes two or three.
I stick the cuttings right back into the same pot or into water. Instant fullness.
Another trick: give it something to climb. A moss pole or coir stick.
Money plant is a natural climber. When it grows upward the leaves get bigger. Trailing vines stay smaller.
I tie the stems loosely to the pole as they grow. Water the moss too so the aerial roots can drink.
The difference shows up in a month.
Common Problems I Fixed Along the Way
Yellow leaves almost always meant I watered too often or the pot lacked drainage.
I cut back the water and switched pots. New growth came in green.
Brown tips pointed to dry air or hard water. Misting and filtered water solved it.
Slow growth? Usually low light or a pot that had become root-bound.
I moved the plant closer to the window or stepped up one pot size. Growth returned.
Pests are rare, but mealybugs showed up once. A soft cloth and diluted neem solution cleaned them off.
Watch the plant. It tells you what it needs.
Propagation: Turning One Plant into Many
I never buy new money plants anymore.
I just cut.
Healthy stem. Three or four nodes. Water or soil. Same steps as starting the first one.
I give the extras to friends. They almost always take.
One mother plant can fill a whole apartment if you keep propagating.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I change the water for a money plant growing in water?
Every 7 to 10 days works for me. Clean the jar at the same time so algae stays away and the roots stay healthy.
Can I grow money plant in low light?
It survives, but growth slows and leaves stay small. Bright indirect light gives the best results by far.
Why are the leaves on my money plant turning yellow?
Usually overwatering or poor drainage. Let the soil dry more between waterings and check that the pot has holes.
How do I make my money plant grow faster?
Give it bright indirect light, water only when the top soil dries, feed lightly in the growing season, and let it climb a support. Those four changes sped mine up dramatically.
Is money plant the same as Chinese money plant or money tree?
No. The common money plant most people mean is pothos with heart-shaped leaves. Chinese money plant has round coin leaves. Money tree is the braided one. Care needs differ.
Final Thoughts From My Windowsill
I still check my plants every morning while the coffee brews.
Some vines hang almost to the floor now. Others climb the moss stick and send out fat new leaves.
The process is simple once you stop overthinking it.
Start with a cutting. Give it light. Water with care. Feed a little. Prune when it gets leggy.
That is how to grow money plant the way that works for me.
Your turn. Grab a stem, find a jar or a pot, and put it in a bright spot.
Watch what happens over the next few weeks.
You might end up with more plants than you planned.
I did.