How to care for the Money Tree?

I really want a money tree, but I hate how they are braided. I also don't like how you have to keep cutting them back to keep them small. I want to let my future money tree get big. I saw one huge one that had been braided a foot from the pot, but them the rest of the long limbs where straight...and it looked funny.
-Will they do just fine w/o being braided?
-How tall do they get as an indoor plant?
-What light do they want?
-How often do I water them?
-How quickly do they grow?
Thanks.

No, they do not need to be braided.
They need some sun but can well indoors near a window.
They can take average watering.
They'll grow as big as you like.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56220/

I don't care for the braiding either. I saw one indoor tree as high as the ceiling, which was about 15' high. They're beautiful trees.

Cool, thanks. Now I just need to find an un-braided one.

My understanding is they grow well from seed. I ususally see single trunked trees in shops that sell Asian items.

As an indoor plant they will get very tall .... as long as you're able to maintain favorable cultural conditions and learn to do the root maintenance that is needed to keep them healthy over the long term - both are keys to longevity, good growth, and good vitality. They want lots of light, but won't tolerate full sun (outdoors) in mid-summer. Indoors, you should avoid direct afternoon sun unless there is good air movement in the room (fan).

Watering isn't something you should 'schedule' unless you grow in a very free-draining soil that supports little or no perched water. These soils are much more forgiving and allow much greater latitude when it comes to allowing you to water on a schedule, instead of on an 'as needed' basis, which is the much preferred method when using commercially prepared peat-based soils. Even though this plant grows in swampy areas and develops specialized root tissues (aerenchyma instead of parenchyma) that allow O2 for root metabolism to come from above ground instead of the root zone, it needs a soil that drains well and holds plenty of air in containers, even when saturated; this, because the plant isn't easily or quickly able to make the transition from soggy to well aerated, and will suffer in heavy, water-retentive soils.

The plant is genetically very vigorous and grows quickly in relation to most other trees. HOW fast it grows depends on your ability to eliminate those things that are limiting to growth. IOW - if you only provide cultural conditions the tree doesn't like, it will grow slowly or possibly decline steadily. If you provide cultural conditions it likes, the tree can grow to 8' ceiling heights in only a few years unless you prune.

You, as the grower, hold the answers to most of your questions in your own abilities. The plant is genetically programmed to grow fast and look beautiful. How well it lives up to it's potential depends on your abilities to minimize or eliminate the factors that limit growth and vitality.

Al

Thanks a lot. I re-start my search for container mix ingredients this weekend. Hopefully the greenhouse can get me an un-braided tree!

Good luck! Tapla always gives great advice and direction. Keep us posted with the results.

Well, still no sign of a single trunked Money Tree... Oh, BTW I'm talking about the Pachira aquatica. I don't know if it's been mentioned or anything... But I now know that to some people Jade plants are known as Money Trees...
Anyways, I went to the local nursery today, and I was looking at a braided Money Tree, and I saw that a stem had fallen off, and was half dead and sad on the dirt in the pot. I picked it up, and I told the woman that works there that she should stick it in water and see what happens, and she gave it to me!
I came home, stuck the poor thing in water and it's already perky-ish again ( granted two leaves may fall off ).
I saw somewhere online that they root in water, and even though water is a dreaded way to propagate, I'm just gonna see what happens. Can't hurt to try, right?

Can't hurt in the least. I assumed(I know...another bad...)that you meant Pachira aquatica. When you said Jade Plant, I got this picture in my head of that one braided. LOL

Good luck with your cutting!

I'm definitely new at gardening....as you can see I never knew an actual named "money tree" existed!

kwanjin, I appreciate it.

ticollins, They are often used for bonsai. They get large, but most never get taller than 3' due to how people braid them and slice them every time they get some growth on them. It would be like someone keeping a Maple 3' tall it's whole life by cutting it down every so often. I think it's wrong... So I hope my little cutting roots!

Stem dropped all the leafs and died. Back to square one. :L

You might check ebay for a money tree. I get a lot of plants on there and have good luck finding what I want.
Helen

HI I HAVE BEEN RAISING MONEY TREES SINCE 2006 I STARTED WITH 1 NOW I HAVE 6 3 ARE BRAIDED THEY WERE MAYBE 1 FOOT WHEN I GOT EACH 1 NOW SOME OF THEM ARE 5FT I WILL PUT THEM UP SOON YOU WILL BE PLEASED