How to Grow a Money Plant
A complete step-by-step care guide to growing, watering, and propagating the highly popular Devil's Ivy (Money Plant) at home.
The Money Plant (botanically known as Epipremnum aureum) is the ultimate starter houseplant. Whether you know it as Golden Pothos, Devil’s Ivy, or Money Plant, this climbing vine is popular for its beautiful heart-shaped leaves and highly tolerant nature.
In this guide, we will cover everything you need to successfully grow a lush, trailing Money Plant in your home.
Quick Plant Overview
- Scientific Name: Epipremnum aureum
- Difficulty Level: Easy (Perfect for beginners)
- Sunlight: Bright, indirect light (can tolerate low light)
- Watering: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry
1. Watering: Keep It Balanced
The number one mistake with Money Plants is overwatering. Because they are resilient, they are much better at handling brief dry spells than sitting in waterlogged soil.
The Golden Rule
Always stick your index finger into the soil.
- If the top 1 to 2 inches feel dry, it is time to water.
- If it feels damp or cold, wait a few days and check again.
In summer, this usually translates to watering every 7 to 10 days. In winter, as growth slows, cut this back to every 14 to 20 days.
2. Choosing the Best Light
Money Plants thrive in bright, indirect sunlight. Placing them near an east-facing or north-facing window is ideal.
Low Light vs. Direct Sun
- Low Light: The plant will survive, but it will grow slower. The beautiful yellow marbling (variegation) on its leaves will revert to solid green as the plant produces more chlorophyll to absorb scarce light.
- Direct Sunlight: Scorching hot direct afternoon sun will burn the leaves, causing permanent white bleached spots. Protect them with a sheer curtain if placed on south or west windows.
3. Propagation: Make New Plants for Free
One of the best features of the Money Plant is how easy it is to propagate. You can easily clone your plant in water!
How to Propagate in Water:
- Locate a Node: Look for a brown bump along the vine (this is a root node).
- Make the Cut: Using clean shears, cut a 4-6 inch vine section just below a node, making sure the cutting has at least 3-4 leaves.
- Pluck lower leaves: Strip the leaves closest to the cut end so they don’t sit in water and rot.
- Place in Water: Submerge the node in a jar of clean room-temperature water. Place the jar in indirect light.
- Watch Roots Grow: Change the water weekly. Roots will sprout in 7 to 10 days. Once roots are 2 inches long, you can transplant the cutting into soil or let it continue growing in water!