Why Are My Money Tree Leaves Turning White?

The money tree is a plant with a long history, that’s rumoured to bring fortune and good luck, but when my leaves first started turning white/yellow I remember I began to panic, thinking I’d lost yet another plant. Luckily that wasn’t the case.

The most common reason this happens is due to too much sunlight, and there are a few other causes which we will get into later, but one of the lesser known reasons is that your plant may have outgrown the pot its in.

When the leaves start changing to this colour, it’s usually not a good sign but it does also happen naturally as the plant ages.

But either way, don’t fret, as it’s not the end of the world, your plant can be saved if you follow the advice I’ve put together below.

What Can I Do To Resolve It?

Once the leaves have begun yellowing, it’s definitely not the end of the plant so there are a few things you can do to save it, but unfortunately, there’s no way to restore the colour on the leaves that have already changed colour. 

Trim Away Damaged Leaves

If your money tree leaves have already turned white/yellow then there’s no going back, you’re going to have to trim away the discoloured leaves if you can’t stand the sight of them.

I personally use these from Amazon to prune the leaves on my plants. I find them to be quite comfortable in my hand and are quite precise for trimming.

However, leaving the leaves on the plant will cause it no harm and the discolouration will not spread or have any impact on the health of your tree.

Repot Your Money Tree

An uncommon cause but still one to look out for, sometimes your money tree may have outgrown the pot and will need re-potting into a larger planter.

Water & Feed

Keeping the soil slightly moist will help prevent this from occuring, along with a fortnightly feed as part of a good plant care routine.

How To Prevent This From Happening

The key to prevention is knowing the causation, this is essential to stopping yourself from making the same mistakes as before. 

So let’s get into what can cause this common problem with money trees.

Neem Oil

Neem oil is a fantastic, natural way to help prevent diseases and pests from destroying your plant. Personally, I tend to use this one on Amazon. All you need to do is apply a little to your plant every so often and hopefully you’ll have the same results as me.

Too Much Light

If a money tree is exposed to too much light then this can cause discolouration on the leaves, essentially burning them.

To prevent this from happening, keep it out of direct sunlight but not in total darkness.

Shock

These are sensitive plants, they can easily be shocked and this can bring on multiple problems.

To avoid this, there are a few things you can do:

1. Ensure that the temperature doesn’t fluctuate rapidly.
2. Keep it away from air vents / heaters.
3. Rotate the plant every few days but very slowly and only do a slight rotation.

Pot Size

After a while it will outgrow its pot, this is known as being “pot/root bound”.

Prevent this situation from arising by moving your money tree to a new planter when it has outgrown its old one.

In-Depth Care

If you’re wanting to know more about caring for your money plant, then check out this informative video below.

It’s full of some fantastic hints and tips to get the most out of your money tree.