Money Plant is a vague term. It generally consists of a large group of plants. These plants usually have five leaves or parts of a leaf, as five is considered a lucky number in most Asian cultures.
The most common of these Money Plants are the Chinese Money Plant, but Money Trees, Jade Plants, Rubber Plants, Silver Dollar Vines, and Golden Pothos are all considered Money Plants. However, when talking about Money Plants, it is most often the Chinese Money Plant that is being referenced. You may wonder how this plant grows and whether it is a climber or a creeper. The answer is both.
To grow a Money Plant like a creeper, you must remove any tall objects nearby that your plant can attach to and allow it to grow only on the ground.
Most of the time, creepers and climbers are distinctly different plants with different features. The ability to do both with one plant makes them unique and versatile to fit with whatever kind of design or growth suits your home or garden.
Is A Money Plant a Creeping Plant?
A Money Plant Tree can be either a climber or a creeper. The difference comes in how you treat them and the surroundings they have. Money Plants naturally tend to be climbers, as they have long, weak vines that enjoy attaching to things and growing upward.
They grow well in a variety of conditions, including in hanging pots, regular pots, or by being allowed to grow and spread.
What Is the Difference Between a Climber and a Creeper?
Climbers are plants that tend to grow up naturally. They have weak stems that can’t stand up on their own, but they will attach to nearby plants or objects to allow them to climb up. Outside, they will often climb to cover buildings, fences, and trunks of trees.
They may not have a large main plant and consist primarily of vines. There are many varieties of climbing plants, such as woody, non-woody, annual, and perennials. Some examples of popular climbers include:
- Jacobina Plant
- Mandevilla Vine
- Taro Vine
- Wisteria
- Chameli Plant
- Trumpet Vine
Creepers, on the other hand, are plants that enjoy just staying on the ground. They are also often called epiphytes. They are usually relatively small. Like climbers, their stems are weak and slender but grow quickly and spread out via runners. Usually, the base plant will be a shrub or herbaceous plant.
Some examples of well-known creepers are:
- Ivy
- Mint
- Cucumber
- Watermelon
How Do You Grow a Money Plant Creeper?
While technically, a Money Plant is a climber, they have the unique ability to grow both ways without any harm to your plant. If your Money Plant has no objects near it to climb upon, it will start to spread out and run along the ground like a creeper.
Therefore, if you want your Money Plant to grow like a creeper, it is best to leave it alone.
Money Plants tend to grow towards the light. So if your Money Tree is below a window, they will be more likely to grow upwards, versus if they are level with the light or outside, they will be fine growing out instead of up.
Does a Money Plant Grow Better in Water or Soil?
Money Plants grow better in soil than in water, but that doesn’t mean they can’t grow just fine in water. They grow a little slower when in the water and are not quite as big. Unfortunately, they do tend to die a little faster in water, only lasting a couple of years on average.
To grow your Money Plants best in water; the key is to change the water frequently. Generally, doing it every few days is best. Also, you may want to use tap water, which is full of nutrients your plant will need to grow and thrive. Filtered or distilled water is not good for your Money Plant, as it doesn’t provide any nutrients your plant needs to grow.
How Long Do Money Plants Live?
If given ideal conditions, Money Plants can easily live to be ten years old. If they stay in good health, they have the potential to stay longer. There is a rumor that the oldest Money Plant lived for over twenty years. This means you might be stuck with your Money Plant for a couple of decades if it gets the care it needs.
In the wild, Money Plants can live around thirty years or longer. The type of Money Plant that you get also determines how long it will live. Although they are known as Money Plants, they are several different kinds of plants, some even being trees, so each can last a very different amount of time.
Money Plant Growing Ideas
Since Money Plants can be climbers or creepers, you can grow them in many ways. Currently, one of the most popular trends is to turn them into walls. You simply take a frame, like a window frame, and cut out the bottom. Then, you can use thick rope, netting, or something else durable across the frame to give your Money Plant plenty of space to attach to.
You can upcycle things you have around your yard and home. For example, you can make a wreath of Money Plants by putting them inside and around an old bike tire. While we think hanging these like a wreath is best, some people treat them like unique hanging baskets so that the vines of the Money Plant hang down.
Some people get creative, making a tree out of old wood and Money Plants. You can take a big branch and put Money Plants around the bottom and baskets at the branches’ end.
That isn’t all – the only thing limiting the ways you can grow Money Plants is your imagination and the items you can find around your home.
How To Grow a Money Plant Faster?
Money Plants are said to bring good fortune and wealth to a home. Whether you are getting a Money Plant for the Feng Shui benefits or because they are neat, you likely want them to grow and vine as fast as possible.
Soil
If you want them to grow quickly, it is best to grow them in soil. While they can do fine in water, it does slow and stunt their growth a little. Soil contains the nutrients they need for growth, allowing them to get bigger much faster.
Water
You also want to make sure you don’t overwater your Money Plant. Usually, they only need to be watered about once every one or two weeks in summer, while in winter, they can go up to three weeks without water. The most important factor, though, is that you want them to dry out a little between waterings.
Light
Money Plants need a lot of bright but indirect light. They enjoy growing towards the light, so ensuring they get at least six hours of sun daily is ideal. They can also handle medium light, which brings slower growth than bright light.
Support
If you want your Money Plant to grow taller, you can put them near items they can climb up, such as a balcony or on a ladder or trellis. If you want them to grow bushier, pruning them regularly is a good idea, as it will allow them to grow thick, though a bit shorter.
Summary
Money Plants bring good luck into your home, but that isn’t all they are suitable for. They are pretty plants that are very versatile. They are naturally a climbing plant, but they can also spread out like a creeper in the right conditions.
To help your Money Plant grow as a creeper instead of a climber, it’s important to remove any tall objects nearby so your plant has nothing to attach to and must grow only on the ground. Money Plants do best when grown in soil versus water and are provided with regular watering and bright, indirect light.
They can also last for a long time, up to a couple of decades, if treated right. If pruned well, they can be thick plants that catch your eye. However, the best part is that they make excellent decorative plants. You can use them with old tires or window frames to create living art.