Does Money Plant Need Sunlight? [Answered]

Commonly known as Money Trees or Malabar Chestnuts, these plants are native to South America.

They are quite a common sight in American households.

These are mainly used as an attractive sight in indoor areas and are believed by many to bring good luck and happiness to those people who keep it in their houses.

But how do you grow this plant at home?

Does it require sunlight for better growth?

Let’s find out more in the following guide.

Contents:

Does Money Plant Need Sunlight?

Yes, it does need sunlight for the photosynthesis process.

Money Plant Trees or Malabar Chestnuts are plants that are ideal for both indoor and outdoor growth.

However, there are some differences in their growth and flowering pattern when we change their environment.

When grown outdoors, money trees can grow over 60 feet tall and reward the sight-watchers with gorgeous yellowish-white flowers.

Eventually, these flowers wither away, and seed pods replace them, containing small peanut-shaped nuts inside.

Outdoors, these trees can withstand direct sunlight, but they need to be kept in slightly less bright light indoors.

When it comes to indoor money plants, you will have to provide more care to them.

In the following section, you can find more tips and suggestions about it.

6 Tips To Grow Money Trees In Low Light

Here are some quick suggestions for you –

1. Avoid Direct Sunlight

When you wish to grow money trees inside your house, I suggest keeping them in a less bright room.

You can also place them under the fluorescent light.

Outdoors, these trees can survive in direct sunlight, but indoors they require a slightly warmer climate, not harshly warm.

2. Selection Of Soil For Your Plant

When choosing the right soil for potting your plant, you should always consult a gardener or ask in any local nursery.

Money plant requires soil that allows proper drainage of water and is rich in nutrients.

3. Water Them Properly

Now, when it comes to gardening, we all jump forward for the easiest job, i.e., watering the plant.

It is not as easy as it seems, though.

Money trees require more frequent watering in the summers and springs, whereas, in winters and autumn, you can water them in 2-3 days.

Excess watering may damage the roots of your plant and make it rot.

4. Potting Your Plant

When putting your money tree inside a pot, make a hole at the bottom of the pot beforehand.

It works as a medium for the excess water to drain out of the pot.

Because if too much water remains inside it, the roots may start to rot.

And the plant will not last for too long.

5. Best Conditions For Indoor Money Tree

Money trees do appreciate your efforts if you provide them with their ideal environment, i.e., slightly warm and more humid.

These native-American trees thrive in high humidity and mild climatic conditions.

In winters, the temperature inside your house is more likely to be dry and cold.

So, try keeping your plant over a water tray so that its humidity level is maintained.

6. Feed Them With Fertilizers

Next comes fertilizing your beloved plant.

This step also varies according to seasons.

Since your plant produces new leaves and flowers in the summer and spring season, you should fertilize it over a month with regular household plant food in diluted form.

And when winters arrive, you can fertilize it a maximum of once in two months.

Bonus Tip:

When kept indoors, your money tree tends to grow over 8 feet tall maximum.

If you don’t want it to become large, there is no need to repot it.

Although if you’re going to change its place and grow larger, putting it into a slightly large pot will do the task.

Your money tree will grow well if you do not move it from its original place much.

Replacing its environment leads to falling off of leaves.

Not to worry, though, it is temporary.

And boom!

You have planted your dear money tree at last.

FAQs

1. Can A Money Plant Survive Without Sunlight?

Money trees require a slightly warm and highly humid environment to grow well.

Therefore, they do not need direct sunlight.

Indoors, money trees should be kept in slightly warm places where it isn’t too hot, but have decent exposure to light.

2. Can Money Plants Grow In Shade?

According to the California Rare Fruit Growers Association, money trees grow best in both full sun and partial sun.

It means they can very well grow in the shade.

It is because money trees are plants that belong to warm climates.

3. Can Money Plant Be Kept In The Bedroom?

Yes, you can keep your money tree in bedrooms as long as you place them away from the winds because direct exposure to them leads to the falling of leaves of your plant.

So, pay attention while placing a money tree in your bedroom.

Keep it away from windows or doors opened and closed often.

Also, do not place it near vents and heating appliances.

4. Is It OK To Keep Money Plant In The Bathroom?

If your bathroom maintains a temperature level between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, you can keep it in there.

As mentioned earlier in the guide, money trees require a slightly warm and highly humid climate to grow properly.

Conclusion

Now that we have come to the end of our article, I think we can conclude with the fact that Money trees are one of the best choices for indoor plants.

If you wish to plant it in your backyard or small front garden, it is the right choice since you do not need to take care of it too much, and is relatively low maintenance.

All you need to pay attention to is the kind of environment where your beloved plant will thrive the best.