How to Save Your Money Tree

Before you throw the pot away, take a closer look. The money tree, botanically known as Crassula ovata and often called the jade plant, is tougher than it may seem. Once you understand what it needs, take a few targeted recovery steps and improve your watering routine, it can usually return to healthy, vigorous growth.

How to tell when your money tree is struggling

Money trees send very clear messages through their leaves and the smell of their compost. If you know how to interpret these clues, you can often identify the cause of the problem within minutes.

• Soft, mushy leaves and spongy stems: a classic sign of overwatering and developing root rot.
• Shrivelled, wrinkled or falling leaves: typically indicates a lack of water.
• A stale, musty smell from the pot: the compost has stayed wet for too long and the roots may be rotting.
• A very dry root ball that has pulled away from the edge of the pot: the root ball is bone-dry, so water simply runs down the outside rather than soaking in.
• A white, cotton-like coating on leaves and stems: a sign of mealybugs, pests that suck the plant’s sap.

Yellowish, soft leaves almost always point to too much water, while shrivelled leaves usually mean too little. Telling the difference determines the right rescue strategy.

Immediate help: what to do first

As soon as you notice your money tree weakening, follow a clear course of action. Impulsive measures, such as giving it even more water out of sympathy, will often make matters worse.

If waterlogging and rotting roots are the problem

When the compost is constantly damp, the leaves are mushy and the pot feels heavy, excess water is almost certainly to blame. In this case, every hour matters.

• Carefully lift the plant out of its pot.
• Shake off as much of the old, wet compost as possible, or gently loosen it with your fingers.
• Inspect the roots closely. Generously cut away anything black, slimy or soft with a clean, disinfected knife or pair of scissors.
• Leave the plant with its roots exposed to air-dry for 12–24 hours in a bright but shaded place.

This “drying shock” may sound severe, but it often saves the remaining root system. Unless the rotten sections are removed, the rot will otherwise spread again.

If the plant has dried out badly

If the root ball is dusty dry and has shrunk away from the sides of the pot, frantically flooding it from above will not help. At this stage, the compost barely absorbs any water.

A gentler option is known as soak or bottom watering:

• Fill a bucket or bowl with water.
• Place the entire pot in it, keeping the water level just below the rim of the pot.
• Depending on the pot size, wait 30–60 minutes until no more air bubbles rise to the surface.
• Take out the pot, allow it to drain thoroughly, and only then return it to its usual position.

The leaves will not plump up immediately, but within a few days you will see whether the plant has taken up the water successfully.

Controlling pests such as mealybugs

The fine, woolly coating left by mealybugs is often found in leaf joints and on new shoots. If allowed to spread, these pests can severely weaken a money tree.

• Move the plant away from other houseplants to prevent an infestation spreading.
• Wipe affected areas using a cotton pad or cotton bud and a little alcohol, such as 70% isopropanol.
• Repeat the treatment every 7–10 days until no new insects appear.
• For a severe infestation, use a suitable pest-control spray or a soft soap solution.

A money tree kept separately and checked regularly is the best protection against hidden pest infestations throughout the living room.

Repotting your money tree: a fresh start for damaged roots

After overwatering, or when the compost looks old and compacted, moving the plant into a new pot with free-draining growing medium can be the turning point.

The ideal setup for a resilient money tree

Component	Purpose
Pot with a drainage hole	Prevents water from sitting around the roots
Terracotta pot	Breathable material that allows moisture to escape more easily
Drainage layer (2–3 cm)	Protects against waterlogging; expanded clay or gravel can be used
Free-draining compost	Keeps air around the roots and lets water drain away faster

A reliable compost mix consists of:

• 50% succulent compost or ordinary multipurpose compost,
• 25% coarse sand,
• 25% perlite, pumice or lava granules.

After repotting, firm the compost only lightly and wait at least four to five days before watering carefully for the first time. Newly cut roots need this break so that cut surfaces can dry out instead of rotting again.

Watering without worry: finding the right rhythm

A money tree stores water in its thick leaves. This makes it easy to care for, but it also makes the plant vulnerable to being overwatered.

• During spring and summer, water roughly every 10–15 days, once the upper layer of compost has become clearly dry.
• In winter, watering once a month is usually enough, and it may need even less often in cooler positions.
• Rather than following a calendar, test the compost with your finger: if it feels dry 2–3 cm below the surface, it is time to water.

A quick finger test in the compost is more dependable than any watering app – and saves the lives of many money trees.

If you tend to keep topping up the water, schedule a fixed watering day in your calendar and leave the plant alone in between. It is better to water thoroughly once and then let the compost dry than to give it frequent small sips.

The best position: light, temperature and fertiliser

Light levels and choosing a spot

Money trees originate from sun-filled regions. They need plenty of light, although not every kind of sunshine is suitable indoors.

• A bright windowsill facing south or west is ideal.
• During summer, avoid direct midday sun through glass to prevent scorched leaves.
• If the room is very dark in winter, a plant LED can provide extra light.
• Avoid positions directly above radiators or in front of windows that are permanently left ajar, as dry central-heating air and draughts stress the plant.

Fertilising with restraint

A weakened money tree should recover and become stable before it receives additional fertiliser. Nutrients are like rich food: they only work when the “digestive system”, meaning the roots, is intact.

• From March to September, feed every three to four weeks with a heavily diluted succulent or cactus fertiliser.
• Do not fertilise in winter, as the plant enters a resting period.
• Never apply a strong feed immediately after repotting, as this can scorch fresh roots.

Staying consistent: preventing setbacks

Money trees forgive mistakes, but they need time to recover afterwards. Small new leaves that feel firm are a positive sign, even if the rest of the plant still looks rather battered.

Regular quick checks help prevent further problems:

• Once a month, check the compost and the bottom of the pot for excess moisture or dryness.
• Inspect both sides of the leaves for marks, coatings or insects.
• Turn the pot slightly from time to time, so the plant receives even light and does not lean to one side.

If you wish, older woody stems can be gently supported with a cane until the plant is strong enough to hold itself up again. Many money trees grow slowly at first after a rescue operation, then put on a noticeable burst of growth.

A closer look at money tree care

The money tree is a succulent. This group of plants has adapted to dry spells by storing water in its leaves and stems. That is precisely what often causes confusion: the plant appears plump and “juicy”, so people worry and water it again too soon. Once you remember that a money tree can go for weeks without rain in its natural environment, you will usually change your watering habits automatically.

Propagation is useful, too. If a healthy shoot or intact leaf comes off during the rescue process, it can grow into a new plant. Simply let it dry for one or two days, then place it in a small container filled with free-draining compost. This creates a backup money tree if the original one does not survive after all – and if it does, you will eventually have two strong plants in the living room.