Money plants grow fast — faster than most houseplants — and that speed has a cost: they deplete their potting soil of nutrients more quickly than slower-growing plants. Fertilizing money plants isn’t optional maintenance, it’s a requirement for the plant to keep performing at the level it should.
The good news: money plants are not fussy about fertilizer type, and the schedule is simple. Get these two things right and your plant will reward you with vigorous growth and large, healthy leaves.
Why Money Plants Need Fertilizer
Potting soil contains nutrients, but those nutrients wash out over time with repeated watering. In a 6-inch pot, most of the available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is depleted within 2-3 months of planting. After that, the plant is relying entirely on whatever you add. If you’re not fertilizing, growth slows, new leaves come in smaller, and the plant’s overall vigor declines.
This is confusing for people who don’t fertilize and see their money plant looking fine — the plant will still grow and stay alive without fertilizer, but at a fraction of its potential. The difference between an fertilized and unfertilized money plant in the same pot after 6 months is significant.
N-P-K: What the Numbers Mean
Most liquid fertilizers show three numbers on the label — 10-10-10, 20-20-20, etc. These represent the ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A balanced fertilizer has equal or near-equal amounts of all three. Money plants do well on balanced fertilizers.
Nitrogen drives leaf growth and green color. Phosphorus supports root development and flowering. Potassium maintains overall plant health and disease resistance. All three are necessary.
When to Fertilize
Growing Season (Spring Through Early Fall)
Fertilize from March through September when the plant is actively growing. A monthly application of liquid fertilizer at half the label’s recommended strength works well. Half strength is important — money plants are not heavy feeders compared to some houseplants, and full-strength fertilizer can cause salt buildup that damages roots.
The signs that fertilizer is needed: growth slowing despite good light and watering, new leaves coming in smaller than older ones, the plant looking healthy but not growing. These are nutrient depletion signals in an otherwise well-maintained plant.
Winter (October Through February)
Do not fertilize during winter. Growth slows or stops, the plant’s metabolic rate drops, and it uses significantly less water and nutrients. Fertilizer applied in winter accumulates as mineral salts in the root zone, which damages the roots and defeats the purpose. Resume feeding when you see new growth resuming in spring.
How to Apply Fertilizer
Water the plant the day before you fertilize. This pre-wetting ensures the soil is already moist, which prevents the fertilizer from burning the roots — a risk when applying concentrated nutrients to dry soil. Apply the diluted fertilizer solution as you would when watering normally, until it flows from the drainage holes.
What not to do: don’t apply fertilizer to bone-dry soil. Don’t apply full-strength fertilizer. Don’t fertilize a stressed plant that’s wilted from drought or root issues.
Dilution: The Half-Strength Rule
Most liquid fertilizers say to use 1 teaspoon or a capful per gallon of water. For money plants, use half that — 1/2 teaspoon per gallon. This is enough to provide nutrients without overwhelming the plant’s system. If you’re unsure of the concentration, less is more. A under-fertilized money plant looks better than an over-fertilized one.
Signs of over-fertilizing: crispy brown leaf edges that look like tip burn, white salt crust forming on the soil surface, sudden wilting despite adequate moisture. If this happens, flush the soil thoroughly with clean water and stop fertilizing for a month.
Slow-Release Fertilizers
Granular or slow-release fertilizers applied at planting time are an alternative to liquid feeding. They release nutrients gradually over 3-6 months depending on the product. This removes the need for monthly liquid applications but requires you to track when the nutrients will be depleted.
For money plants in permanent pots, slow-release is a reasonable option. Reapply as directed on the product label when growth begins to slow.
The Bottom Line
Fertilize monthly during active growth at half strength. Don’t fertilize in winter. Flush the soil once a year with clean water to remove salt buildup. That’s the complete money plant fertilizer protocol.
The signs you have it right: new leaves that are larger than the previous batch, vibrant green color, consistent vine growth throughout the growing season. If those three things are happening, the feeding is working.
