Legend has it that it will reward the owner with financial fortune. It is also known as a source of good luck in many Kenyan homes.
Hosea Kipngetich who is a plant expert at Irish Gardeners in Lower Kabete broke down the ways of taking care of this plant.
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How to care for the Money Plant
The money tree is a plant that is often given as a gift of positive energy and good fortune. It comes from a humid tropical region and can therefore be challenging to care for in some climates. But with proper care, a money plant can grow to great heights and live a long, healthy life.
Light preference
Place your Chinese Money Plant in bright, indirect light to filtered sun. This placement will give it great light and warmth throughout the day for its leaves to soak up the sun’s rays for photosynthesis.
Water/Humidity
Be sure to water when you receive it. The potting mix should dry out completely between watering. “Check the soil once a week for moisture before adding more. If the plant droops, check the soil-moisture and adjust as needed. Over-watering or under-watering symptoms include stems that lose vigor and flop.” Says Kipngetich.
Rotate the Money Plant a quarter turn once a week to prevent it from reaching toward the light in one direction. A perfect habitat would be between 55°-86°F (13°-30°C)
Repotting Frequency
If you have it in perfect conditions, it may outgrow your pot eventually. As it produces offsets and the container is full, either pass them along by propagation or repot in a bigger container to give it room for more growth. Keeping the offsets on the mother plant will give it a fuller look. Use an indoor plant mix that has good drainage yet holds a reasonable amount of moisture, so it doesn’t dry out too fast.
Cleaning
Set your indoor plant in a kitchen sink and softly shower it with a minor flow to wash off any dust from the leaves. Let it drain and air dry.
Benefits of Money plant
Acts as an anti-radiator
The money plant is succulent and acts as an anti-radiator inside homes and office spaces emitted by computers, laptops, and mobile phones.
“Money plants help in reducing stress at work and helps in protecting your eyes when you have to constantly glare at your computer screens for work. At home, it cuts away the harmful radiations from electronic devices thereby protecting your family members.” Says Kipngetich.
Medicinal Benefits
Feng Shui experts recommend keeping one plant near the WiFi router can avoid children at home falling sick and elder people getting heartaches. It can reduce your anxiety and sleeping disorders also, it brings a healthy lifestyle. So, place a money plant in your bedroom or a living room to avoid any mental illness.
Lessening of Stress & Anxiety
Money plants according to Feng Shui enhance the positivity of the environment they are put in. That is the reason why having a money plant around the house is simply rejuvenating. No matter how much stress you are under, the sight of a money plant does magical things to your mind. You are able to think clearly and have a steady and composed approach hence fourth.
Common Problems
If your indoor plant isn’t getting enough light or water, the leaves will curl inwards. On the flip side, if it’s getting too much light exposure and water, it will roll outwards.
According to Kipngetich, newer leaves that turn yellow may be an indication that you have overwatered your plant. If that isn’t the case, try fertilizing it if it hasn’t been given this attention in a while. Clip older leaves at the base of the plant where they tend to yellow as they age.
Cost
In Kenyan cities and towns, the Money plant is sold in small bags at most shop gardens, the plant goes for Sh350 when sold in a bag. You can also find it available online, many online stores sell it at Sh1000 to Sh3000 depending on the size of the plant and the pot.
