Money Tree Flowers and How to Get Your Plant to Bloom
While known for its braided trunk, a mature Money Tree can flower. Understand the subtle factors that allow an indoor Pachira aquatica to produce its rare blooms.
The Money Tree, or Pachira aquatica, is a popular houseplant known for its braided trunk and lush, green leaves. Many who grow it admire its foliage and symbolic value, believing it brings positive energy and prosperity. While its leaves are a common sight, few owners realize that this tropical plant can produce stunning flowers. Witnessing a money tree bloom indoors is a rare event that signifies a mature and well-cared-for plant.
What Money Tree Flowers Look Like
The flowers of the Pachira aquatica are a short-lived display. They emerge as large, solitary blossoms that can measure up to 12 inches long. Their main feature is a dense cluster of 200 to 250 long, slender stamens, which are creamy-white or yellowish and sometimes tipped with red. This cluster of filaments gives the flower an appearance often compared to a shaving brush.
At the base of the stamens are five long, greenish-white or cream-colored petals that curl back as the flower opens. These blooms are nocturnal, unfurling in the late evening and releasing a sweet fragrance that is most potent at night to attract pollinators like bats. The entire display is fleeting, with each flower lasting for only about 24 hours before it begins to wilt.
Conditions Required for Flowering
Money tree flowers are seldom seen on houseplants because blooming requires specific conditions that are difficult to replicate indoors. A primary factor is plant maturity, as a money tree must be several years old and well-established to produce flowers. Braided specimens are also less likely to flower than those with a natural, single trunk.
Sufficient space for the root system is another consideration. Indoor pots inherently restrict root growth, which can limit the overall size and maturity the plant can achieve, thereby inhibiting its ability to bloom.
High light levels are a requirement for flowering. While money trees are tolerant of lower light conditions, they need much more to bloom, thriving on at least six hours of bright, indirect sunlight daily. Environmental stability, with consistent warmth and humidity similar to a tropical climate, also encourages the plant to enter a flowering cycle.
How to Encourage Your Money Tree to Bloom
While guaranteeing flowers is difficult, you can take steps to increase the chances. The most impactful action is to maximize light exposure. Move your plant to the brightest location in your home, such as a south-facing window with a sheer curtain to diffuse direct sun. If possible, relocating the plant to a protected patio or balcony during warm months can provide the light intensity it needs.
Fertilizing during the growing season can also encourage blooming. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer monthly during the spring and summer. For a mature plant, you can switch to a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content, as this nutrient supports flower development.
Allowing the plant space to grow is another step. Avoid heavy pruning and consider repotting your money tree every few years into a slightly larger container. Maintaining consistent care by watering thoroughly when the top inch of soil is dry and providing adequate humidity will support the overall health needed for it to flower.
After the Flowers Fade
If your money tree blooms, the show may not be over. After the flower wilts, the plant can develop a large, woody seed pod. This brown fruit can be up to 12 inches long and resembles a small coconut or cocoa pod. This pod takes several months to mature before it splits open to reveal numerous edible nuts.
These nuts are said to taste like peanuts or chestnuts when roasted and are consumed in the plant’s native regions. However, developing a seed pod indoors is even less common than flowering. The process requires successful pollination, which is unlikely to occur inside a home without manual intervention.