The Best Soil for Money Trees

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A money tree, also known as pachira aquatica, is thought to bring prosperity and good fortune to anyone who owns one. Though it is native to a tropical environment, it is remarkably easy to care for as a houseplant. It just needs to receive the correct amount of sunlight and water and be grown in the right soil. Choosing that soil is key, since money plants thrive in a well-draining soil with either a neutral or a slightly acidic pH level.

With so many potting soils available, it can be difficult for shoppers to narrow down the options. To help make the search easier, the following recommendations for the best soil for money tree gardeners were selected for their quality formulas, versatility, and value. Keep reading to learn about some key features to consider when shopping, and then explore the picks for some of the best soil for money trees on today’s market.

BEST OVERALL: FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil
RUNNER-UP: Rio Hamza Trading Money Tree Soil
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix
BEST FOR DRAINAGE: Money Tree Soil Blend All Natural Soil Mixture
BEST CACTUS MIX: Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix
ALSO CONSIDER: Sun Gro Black Gold Natural and Organic Soil

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Soil for Money Trees

While it’s easy to assume that all indoor plant soils offer similar performance, a number of factors affect their functionality and appropriateness for different plants. Keep reading to learn about several of the most important features to consider when choosing the best soil for your money tree.

Drainage

Money trees are used to growing in a tropical environment with high humidity levels, so they are healthiest when their roots are moist but not wet. If the soil is too wet, the plants can experience root rot.

To achieve the perfect level of moisture, choose a well-draining soil that’s loose yet rich. Generally speaking, well-draining soils are sandy and peat-based. It’s important that the soil can still retain some moisture in order to prevent under-watering. Along with choosing the right soil, it’s also essential for a money tree plant to be in a container with a drainage hole.

Nutrients and pH Level

The three primary macronutrients that houseplants need in order to thrive are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Commercial soil and fertilizers will often list an NPK ratio, which represents the balance of these three nutrients.

Money trees thrive when their soil has either a neutral or slightly acidic pH level. When the soil is a bit more acidic, the plant’s roots will more readily absorb nutrients. The ideal pH level for a money tree is between 6.0 and 7.5.

Ingredients

Since a well-draining soil is necessary when potting a tree, the best soil for money trees typically contains ingredients like sand, pebbles, perlite, or horticultural charcoal, all of which help facilitate drainage.

Look for soils containing either peat moss or sphagnum moss because moss makes soil slightly acidic. Since some mosses are not considered a sustainable ingredient, some gardeners instead opt for soils containing coconut fiber, which achieves the same effect but is more eco-friendly.

In addition to drainage ability, some of the best houseplant soils already include ingredients that act as organic fertilizers. Bat guano, compost, manure, or worm castings allow gardeners to fertilize less frequently.

Our Top Picks

Now that you’ve learned more about money tree care and the plant’s soil requirements, narrowing down the soil options can be easier. The following are some of the best money tree soil options for an indoor garden.

Best Overall

FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil

Pros

Versatile enough to use for other houseplants
Includes organic compost
Large economical bag

Cons

Not resealable

This product from Fox Farm is our top pick for money plants because of it’s well-aerated texture and highly nutritious ingredient list. It’s also incredibly affordable and comes in a large 12-quart bag.

The formula is enriched with beneficial microbes and mycorrhizal fungi, both of which encourage robust root development. It also protects against the types of mold that lead to root rot. This is a versatile formula with a 0.3-0.3-0.05 NPK ratio, and it can be used for indoor and outdoor plants. Bat guano and worm castings act as added beneficial ingredients that will help money plants thrive.

Product Specs

Bag size: 12 quarts
Key ingredients: Mycorrhizal fungi, worm castings, oyster shells, bat guano
Resealable: No

Runner-Up

Rio Hamza Trading Money Tree Soil

Best Soil for Money Tree Option: — Photo: amazon.com

Pros

Peat moss–based for ideal drainage
Includes worm castings
All-natural formula

Cons

Not resealable

Rio Hamza Trading has crafted this soil formula specifically for money trees. To ensure that the mixture drains well, it has been formulated with peat moss, bark nuggets, and perlite. In addition to all of the ingredients that contribute to ideal drainage, this formula also contains worm castings to add additional nutrients. The formula is all-natural and is intended to act as a supplement to the basic soil sold in big-box stores.

The bag contains 4 quarts of soil, which according to the manufacturer, should be enough to plant or repot one or two medium-size money trees. One downside is that the bag is not resealable.

Product Specs

Bag size: 4 quarts
Key ingredients: Peat, bark nuggets, worm casting, and perlite
Resealable: No

Best Bang For The Buck

Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix

Pros

Fast-draining formula
Affordable price point
Readily available online and in stores

Cons

Not resealable

Miracle-Gro is an affordable and readily available brand that can be found both online and in many chain stores across the country. This bag contains 8 quarts of soil that’s specially formulated for cacti, palms, and citrus trees, so it’s designed to be incredibly fast draining, which also makes it ideal for money trees.

Ingredients like sphagnum peat moss, sand, and perlite ensure that water drains quickly so the plants don’t experience root rot. It’s enriched with fertilizer, and its NPK ratio of 0.06-0.02-0.04 means that it has a higher percentage of nitrogen, which helps to promote leaf and stem growth in money plants.

Product Specs

Bag size: 8 quarts
Key ingredients: Sphagnum peat moss, sand, and perlite
Resealable: No

Best For Drainage

Money Tree Soil Blend All Natural Soil Mixture

Pros

Peat moss-based for ideal drainage
Includes worm castings
Resealable bag

Cons

High price point based on quantity

This soil from Birch Seed Soils is specifically formulated for money trees. It’s incredibly well-draining, featuring ingredients like peat moss, sand, and perlite to ensure water drains quickly. The formulation also contains worm castings, which act as a natural and organic fertilizer. This soil is made with such a high concentration of quality ingredients that it can either be used alone or mixed with another more affordable soil to increase drainage.

The 2-quart bag is resealable, making it convenient and easy to use. The small quantity should be enough for repotting one or two medium-size plants or two or three small plants if used alone.

Product Specs

Bag size: 2 quarts
Key ingredients: Peat moss, perlite, worm castings, sand
Resealable: Yes

Best Cactus Mix

Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix

Pros

Fast-draining formula
Organic ingredients
Resealable bag

Cons

Should be mixed with standard potting soil

Cacti and succulents have many of the same soil requirements as money trees. All of these types of plants need a well-draining soil because they are susceptible to root rot. This Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix from Hoffman is designed for both jungle and desert cacti, but it’s also perfect for money plants. It’s an excellent choice for gardeners who have both types of plants in their homes.

The 4-quart resealable bag contains sphagnum peat moss, reed sedge peat, perlite, and sand, all of which contribute to the soil being quick to drain. It’s quite a coarse mixture that benefits from being mixed with a more basic soil.

Product Specs

Bag size: 4 quarts
Key ingredients: Sphagnum peat moss, reed sedge peat, perlite, sand
Resealable: Yes

Also Consider

Sun Gro Black Gold Natural and Organic Soil

Pros

Natural and organic
Economical price
Rich and loamy

Cons

Not resealable

This all-purpose soil from Sun Gro is rich and loamy, containing key ingredients like earthworm castings and sphagnum peat moss. Since it’s not necessarily formulated for maximum drainage, gardeners can mix perlite or pumice into the soil to increase drainage for money tree plants.

While the initial price of this product may seem high, it contains 60 quarts of soil, which is perfect for those shopping for a bulk quantity. It’s versatile enough to work for a wide variety of both indoor and outdoor plants. Based on the size, however, it’s unfortunate that the bag is not resealable.

Product Specs

Bag size: 60 quarts
Key ingredients: Earthworm castings, sphagnum peat moss
Resealable: No

Our Verdict

After reviewing many different soils for money tree plants, we recommend the FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil for its versatility, well-draining formula, and relatively affordable price. Those on a budget may appreciate the Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix, which offers similar performance at a lower price point.

How We Chose the Best Soil for Money Trees

Years of experience covering home and garden products as well as extensive product research went into creating this guide. We explored more than 20 soil options and weighed a number of practical considerations before making our recommendations.

Drainage: Since good drainage is the most important requirement for money plant soil, we aimed to only include options that were incredibly well-draining.
Ingredients: We prioritized soil that was made with natural and organic ingredients and included both fertilizers and elements that increase drainage.
Value: Plant soil varies widely in quantity, but we considered overall value for the cost when making our recommendations.

FAQs

While you now know more about choosing the best plant soil for money plants, you might still want more information about how to care for a money tree and how to use the soil. Here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about money tree plant soil.

Q. What kind of potting mix should I use for a money tree?

The ideal potting mix for a money plant is well-draining and it contains a small amount of fertilizer.

Q. Can I use cactus soil for a money tree?

Since cactus soil is designed to be well-draining, it’s an excellent option for money trees.

Q. Is Miracle-Gro soil good for money trees?

There are several soil options from Miracle-Gro that are suitable for money trees, but our top recommendation is the Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix.

Q. Are coffee grounds good for money trees?

Since coffee grounds are moist, gardeners should exercise caution when using them to fertilize money trees. They may cause the soil to become too damp.