How to Fertilize a Money Tree | Feed for Active Growth

A money tree needs fertilizer once a month during spring and summer, using a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half-strength, and no feeding during dormancy.

Money trees are light feeders despite their robust look. Too much plant food causes yellow tips, browning edges, or sudden leaf drop. The fix: fertilize sparingly and only when the plant is actively growing. Here is the exact schedule, dilution, and application method to keep your money tree healthy without burning its roots.

If you’re looking for a product, we’ve tested top options in our recommended fertilizers for money plants—that page covers specific brands and N-P-K ratios.

When to Fertilize a Money Tree

The feeding window runs from early spring through late summer—roughly March through September. During these months the plant pushes out new leaves and stems, and extra nutrients support that growth. Once fall arrives and daylight drops, most money trees slow down; fertilizing then can force weak, leggy growth or leave unused salt in the soil. Stop fertilizing completely from October through February, unless you keep the plant under strong grow lights and it continues producing fresh leaves. If growth is visibly active, you can feed once per month through winter, but most houseplants do better with the rest period.

What Kind of Fertilizer to Use

A balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer is the most reliable choice. Look for an N-P-K ratio near 10-10-10, 5-2-3, or 3-1-2. Avoid high-nitrogen lawn fertilizers or bloom-booster mixes; money trees need an even spread of nutrients. Liquid fertilizer is easiest for typical 6- to 10-inch pots because you can measure exact amounts. Slow-release pellets also work if you scatter about half the label’s recommended amount on the soil surface and water it in. The broader consensus is that half-strength of a standard balanced feed is safest.

How to Apply Fertilizer—Step by Step

Before mixing, check that the soil is damp. Fertilizing dry soil can burn roots because mineral salts concentrate where moisture is scarce. If the top inch feels dry, water with plain water and wait a few hours or overnight before feeding.

• Dilute to half-strength. Mix your liquid fertilizer at about 50% of what the label says. For a concentrated 10-10-10 formula, this is roughly 1 teaspoon per gallon of water, then half that dose used. For gentle organic fertilizers, still cut the concentration in half.
• Apply to moistened soil. Pour the diluted solution evenly across the soil surface, not onto the trunk or leaves. Use enough that excess drains from the pot’s bottom holes—this spreads nutrients through the whole root zone.
• Let the pot drain fully. Empty the saucer after about 15 minutes. Money trees sitting in runoff water can absorb too much fertilizer salt through the bottom drainage, causing tip burn.
• Flush with plain water every fourth feeding. Apply plain water and let it drain thoroughly. This washes out accumulated mineral salts and helps prevent root damage over time.

Common Fertilizing Mistakes

The most common error is overfeeding. Money trees evolved in tropical wetlands where nutrients are spread thin; heavy feeding at full strength almost always causes leaf-tip burn or dropping lower leaves. If you see yellowing on new growth after fertilizing, flush the soil immediately with clean water and skip the next two feeding cycles. Feeding a stressed plant is the second biggest mistake. If your money tree just endured a transplant, pest infestation, or move to a darker room, let it recover for at least a month before adding fertilizer—it supports active growth, not recovery. Uneven application also causes trouble. Pouring fertilizer into one spot concentrates salts there; always distribute the solution evenly around the pot’s entire soil surface.

If your money tree lives outdoors in warm climates (zones 10–11) or spends summer on the patio in bright light, it may need feeding every two weeks instead of monthly because growth rate is faster. Indoors under standard conditions, once a month is enough.

FAQs

Can I use coffee grounds or eggshells on my money tree?

Skip them. Coffee grounds add acidity and nitrogen unevenly, and eggshells break down too slowly. A balanced liquid fertilizer gives measurable, consistent nutrition. Stick with the diluted commercial feed.

Should I fertilize a newly repotted money tree?

No. Fresh potting soil already contains nutrients, and roots need time to settle without chemical stress. Wait six to eight weeks after repotting before starting a fertilizer routine. Feeding too soon can slow root recovery.

My money tree’s leaves are yellowing after fertilizing—what went wrong?

This usually means overfeeding or fertilizer burn. Flush the soil with multiple rounds of plain water until it runs clear from the drainage holes, then let the plant sit unfertilized for at least two months before trying again at half the previous strength.