My office is in the sunroom of our house. One day, I saw a beautiful Money Tree that I thought would look perfect on my desk. And it did until it started to turn yellow and droop. I knew my watering wasn’t the issue, and it turned out to be a problem with how much light it was receiving in that spot. Luckily, I was able to revive it by simply moving it to another area. If you’re looking for helpful answers on how much light your Money Tree needs, keep reading.
How much light does a Money Tree need? Money Trees can grow in a range of light quality but thrive best in bright, indirect light. Placing your Money Tree about three feet away from a south-facing window is an excellent option. But watch out, harsh, direct light can scorch the leaves, damaging the plant.
I’m going to break down why plants need light to survive and the differences between direct and indirect light, along with some ways to supplement your Money Tree’s light source. I’m hoping that I will answer all of your light questions. Let’s dig in!
Why Money Trees Need Light
Let’s all take a trip back to third-grade science class and rediscover the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is when plants convert energy from the sun into the energy needed for the plant to grow.
Chlorophyll (the chemical that gives plants their green color) captures sunlight and disperses the energy throughout the leaf, getting it ready to produce nutrients from the water and carbon dioxide it’s already taken in from the environment. Chlorophyll molecules are spread throughout the leaf (not just at the surface), so the plant has ample opportunity to absorb all the light it needs.
Like all other plants, Money Trees need consistent light to have enough energy to keep on growing. Their leaves have to have proper exposure to the sun throughout the day to store up energy. Without enough light, their growth will become stunted, and the stems may begin to stretch toward the light, resulting in a leggy, weakened plant.
How Much Light Do Money Trees Need?
Native to tropical environments, Money Trees can handle a range of light, but truly thrive best in bright but indirect light. Plants that don’t receive enough bright light will not grow to their full potential.
But watch out. Too much direct light is not the answer, either. This means you need to avoid placing the trees where they might get direct light throughout the day, as the direct light can burn the leaves.
A Quick Note on Dormancy and Money Trees
All plants have a growing season during the warm months of the year and a season where they are dormant when the temperature drops. During the plant’s dormant season, the growth of the plant will naturally slow down to adjust to cooler temperatures and less light throughout the day.
While not much is happening on the surface, the plant is doing necessary work behind the scenes. In dormancy, plants work to store up energy for a renewed growing season when the springtime comes.
If you’re not seeing any growth from your Money Tree during the cold months of the year, don’t worry. This isn’t a light problem or an overwatering problem. Your plant is merely working beneath the surface to store up what it needs for its upcoming growing season. For more information on Money Trees and dormancy, read this article.
The Difference Between Direct & Indirect Light
I’m sure you are familiar with the terms “direct” and “indirect light,” but what exactly do they mean when it comes to your Money Tree? Is there some way to measure the type of light? Simply put, direct light is unimpeded sunlight, while indirect light has been filtered or impeded in some way.
Still not sure what that means? You can always check the type of light your Money Tree is in by putting your hand out in front of the light. If your hand’s shadow has sharp edges on the floor or surroundings, you’re in direct light. If there are no sharp edges, you’re in a spot of indirect light, and you’ve found a sweet spot for your Money Tree.
Just like humans, Money Trees can get sunburned. When a plant starts to heat up, water moves up through the plant and out through the plant’s stomata, similar to how sweat escapes through our pores to cool us off.
If a plant gets so hot that all the water evaporates, there is now nothing to help cool it off, and the leaves become sunburned. That’s why too much direct light is harmful to plants like the Money Tree. If they get overheated, they can’t keep their delicate leaves cooled off, and they become damaged.
Where is the Best Location For Your Money Tree?
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, the best location for your Money Tree is near a south-facing window with bright, indirect light all day. East or west-facing windows make nice homes for Money Trees as well.
Notice I said “near” a south-facing window. Placing plants in the window sill, while aesthetically pleasing, is the most common way for the leaves to get sunburned. Instead, place the Money Tree a foot or two from the window and make use of plant stands or baskets to stagger your plants.
If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite would be true for your plant placement.
What Happens When Money Trees Get Too Much Light?
We’ve been talking about the dangers of excess light, but what actually happens when a Money Tree gets too much sunshine? How can you tell if there is a problem?
White or yellow spots on your Money Tree’s leaves are the most common sign that your tree is getting too much sun. And while discolored leaves are sometimes signs of other problems with the plant (overwatering, underwatering, or too little light), if your plant is very close to a window, there’s a good chance the plant is receiving too much light throughout the day.
To investigate, check the moisture levels of the soil first. If the soil doesn’t feel overly wet or extremely dry, the problem probably lies with the levels of sunlight the Money Tree has been receiving.
What To Do When Your Money Tree Has Been Overexposed to Light
Now that you’ve identified your issue, you’ll need to follow a few simple steps to nurse your plant back to health.
First things first: move the plant to a location with less harsh light. Moving your Money Tree won’t undo the damage that has been done to the current leaves, but it will keep it from being a problem in the future.
After your Money Tree is in a better location, trim off the damaged leaves with sterilized scissors or pruning shears. If you choose not to trim away damaged leaves, the discoloration won’t spread to other parts of the plant, and the plant’s overall health won’t be affected, but the bright green color will never return to those damaged leaves.
If moving your plant is not an option, you can alter the space to make in more Money Tree friendly. Try adding curtains, blinds, or a screen to filter the light source before it falls on your beloved houseplant.
What Happens When Money Trees Get Too Little Light?
While it’s true that Money Trees are okay in low light settings (even fluorescent lighting), we want our plants to do more than just “okay.” Unsure if your plant is getting enough light? Here are some warning signs to look out for.
If you notice your plant getting leggy or leaning toward the light, it may mean the plant is not getting enough light. When Money Trees are leggy, the leaves become small and sparse, and the stems are weakened. The scientific name for this state is etiolated. It means your Money Tree needs a better light source.
Without enough access to bright indirect light, the growth rate of your plant will be stunted. This is because your Money Tree is expending all of its energy to reach toward the light, instead of funneling that same energy into natural plant growth processes.
You can quickly fix the problem by moving the plant to a place with better sunlight, while still ensuring it doesn’t receive harsh, direct light.
What If I Have a Room With No Windows?
If your living situation is trying to stifle your inner gardener, don’t worry! There are options available to you. Depending on your access to natural light year-round, you may need to supplement with some grow lights. I go in-depth on the subject of grow lights in this article, but I’ll recap some of the highlights below.
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, plants need sunlight for energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into food. Without enough light, plants can’t produce the nutrients needed for growth.
Whether you live in an area without a lot of natural light or have a windowless office, you want to spruce up, grow lights are a great option. They prove to be a great solution by mimicking the hours of sunlight the plant would typically receive in the wild.
Plants thrive on their light source being regulated, so a small outlet timer will keep that on schedule. You find an outlet timer online or at most houseware stores. They often go on sale after the holidays since they are a popular choice for managing Christmas light schedules.
As with most equipment, you can spend a ton of money on your grow light setup, but there are plenty of options to provide for your plants while sticking to your budget. More expensive is not always better, so be sure to do your research about what fits your finances and lifestyle.
My favorite grow light is the Sansi 15W LED Bulb. This bulb has a standard E26 base, so it will fit into the lamps or light fixtures you already own. When I first purchased this light for a sickly-looking Schefflera, I could not believe the difference it made in my plant’s health. I have to admit that I had been skeptical before, but after one week with the Sansi bulb pointed at my plant, I was singing a different tune.
For more of the science behind grow lights, and information on the lights I use and love, click here.
Final Thoughts
Money Trees are great houseplants. They brighten up a room, and they can grow to be up to six feet tall indoors. But, they are slightly more finicky with their lighting needs that some of my other plants.
Too little light will stunt your Money Tree’s growth while too much can scorch leaves and cause discoloration. But once you find the perfect balance, your Money Tree will be with you for years to come.
If this all seems overwhelming, experiment with one adjustment at a time, and as you gain confidence by seeing your plant thrive, you can begin to build out your plant setup even more. All you have to do is get started.