Pachira aquatica (Money Tree)
- Regular price
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€46,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€46,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Pachira Aquatica suitable for a home with pets? Yes, it is non-toxic to cats and dogs — one of the few large tropical plants completely safe for pets.
How often should you water a Pachira Aquatica in summer? About once a week in summer, letting the surface of the soil dry out between waterings — its fleshy roots store water, making it very tolerant of occasional forgetfulness.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🪵 Sculptural braided trunk • 🌿 Glossy green palmate foliage with five leaflets • ☀️ Indirect light • 💧 Moderate watering • 🍀 Symbol of prosperity • 🐾 Non-toxic • 🪴 4 sizes available • 📏 from H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm to H120 cm | Pot Ø24 cm
The Pachira aquatica, called the Money Tree or Guiana Chestnut, combines a spiral-braided trunk with a crown of palmately divided leaves bearing five glossy leaflets. A species native to the wetlands of Mexico, Central America and northern South America, it is the most sought-after of the catalogue’s good-luck plants.
Its distinctive feature is the braiding: several young plants are interwoven in the nursery while their stems are still flexible, then fuse together as they grow to form a single sculpted base. In its native habitat, the plant grows with its feet in the water along riverbanks and stores its reserves in fleshy roots — hence its tolerance of missed waterings indoors. Four sizes, from a desk plant to a living room tree.
Light & location
The Pachira needs generous but filtered light. Direct sun scorches the leaflets within a few hours, while a room that is too dark causes the lower leaves to drop and leaves the crown sparse.
- Light: bright indirect light — east- or west-facing window, or two metres from a south-facing window with a sheer curtain.
- Location: living room, office, bright entrance hall, bedroom — away from radiators and air-conditioning vents.
- Temperature: 18 to 26 °C — minimum 12 °C, very sensitive to cold snaps.
- Soil type: light and well-draining — universal potting soil mixed with perlite or coconut fiber.
The crown grows distinctly toward the light source: turning the pot a quarter turn every two weeks is enough to maintain a balanced shape above the braided trunk.
Watering & care
The Pachira’s fleshy roots store the water: waterlogged substrate makes them rot much faster than forgetting to water weakens them. The foliage always gives warning first, provided you know how to read the signals it sends.
- Watering: moderate — let the top 3 centimetres of the substrate dry out, approximately every 8 to 10 days in spring and summer, and every 3 weeks in winter.
- Drainage: essential — a pot with drainage holes, clay pebbles at the bottom, and a saucer emptied after each watering.
- Humidity: benefits from weekly misting of the foliage during the heating season.
- Cold: a cold draft or inadequately protected transport can cause a sudden loss of leaves — the plant recovers if you act quickly after the cold shock.
- Fertilizer: liquid fertilizer for green plants, diluted by half, once a month from April to September only.
- Repotting: every 2 to 3 years in spring, in a slightly wider pot — never burying the base of the trunk deeper than it was.
Leaflets that turn yellow along the edges while remaining firm indicate overwatering; leaflets that curl up as they dry signal the opposite.
Decor Ideas & Plant Pairings
The bare braided trunk topped with a compact crown creates a well-defined plant that adds structure without taking over. It works perfectly placed on its own or integrated into a group of tropical foliage plants.
- For a light tropical corner, pair it with an Areca Palm with fine, trailing fronds — the Areca's airy fronds frame the Pachira's dense crown without competing with it.
- For a duo of symbolic plants, place a Zamioculcas with dark, glossy foliage beside it — two plants reputed to bring good luck, with similar watering needs but contrasting silhouettes.
- For the larger sizes, place the H90 or H120 cm in an anthracite Elho Brussels decorative pot Ø25 cm — the dark matte finish visually isolates the braided trunk and gives it the appearance of a displayed object.
- For the desk size, the H35 cm fits in the matte white Gabriel decorative pot Ø14 cm with a honeycomb texture — the bright white highlights the graphic pattern of the miniature braid.
- To dress up an entrance, the black Jorck basket Ø26 cm made of woven fibres echoes the trunk’s braid — the same artisanal technique, on two different scales.
The H35 cm can be placed on a desk or shelf; from H90 cm onwards, the plant stands independently on the floor and becomes a centrepiece.
Verdeia tips
- Never untwist the trunk: the intertwined stems have fused as they grew and now form a solid structure. Trying to separate them tears the bark and permanently compromises the plant.
- Keep it away from cold sources: a poorly insulated window in winter, an entrance door, or an air-conditioning vent is enough to make the entire crown drop within a few days. This is the main cause of defoliation in this species.
- Prune the crown to make it denser: if the stems become elongated and sparse, cut them a few centimetres above a bud in spring. The plant will produce two new shoots from each cut, thickening the crown.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Pachira aquatica
- Common name: Money tree, Guiana chestnut
- Family: Malvaceae
- Origin: Mexico, Central America, and northern South America
- Dimensions on delivery: 4 sizes available, from H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm to H120 cm | Pot Ø24 cm
- Mature height: up to 2 metres indoors
- Light: bright indirect light, never direct sun
- Watering: moderate, allow the surface of the substrate to dry between waterings
- Humidity: benefits from weekly misting in winter
- Soil type: light and well-draining, pH 6.0 to 7.0
- Growth: moderate, braided trunk topped with a palmate crown
- Foliage: evergreen, palmate leaves with five bright green leaflets
- Care: easy
- Toxicity: 🐾 non-toxic to animals and children
- Decorative style: Urban jungle / Tropical Zen / Contemporary
Each plant is unique: the tightness of the braid, the number of intertwined stems, and the density of the crown naturally vary depending on the individual plant and growing time.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What to do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.