How to Make Your Money Plant Full and Bushy: A Complete Indoor Plant Care Guide

The money plant—also known as Devil’s Ivy or Epipremnum aureum—is a favorite in homes and offices for good reason. It’s a low-maintenance indoor plant that purifies the air, looks stunning with its trailing vines, and is believed to bring good luck and prosperity in many cultures.

But if your money plant is starting to look long, leggy, or sparse, you might be wondering how to make it fuller and more vibrant.

Whether you’ve just brought home a small sapling or are trying to revive an old one, this ultimate indoor plant care guide will teach you how to make your money plant bushy and thriving with five expert-approved techniques. We’ll also explore popular varieties, care tips, and FAQs so you can grow your best indoor garden.

Why the Money Plant is the Ideal Indoor Plant

1. Beginner-Friendly and Tolerant of Neglect

What it means:
Money plants are incredibly forgiving. They don’t demand daily care, and they won’t wilt dramatically if you forget to water them for a few days.

Why it’s great:
For people new to gardening, a plant that doesn’t react badly to irregular watering or occasional forgetfulness is a blessing. Money plants can bounce back from underwatering and can tolerate less-than-ideal indoor conditions.

Fun fact:
Even if a money plant loses a few leaves, it can recover quickly once placed in the right environment again.

2. Grows in Soil or Water, Making it Versatile for Styling

What it means:
Unlike many plants that need soil to survive, money plants can grow hydroponically (in water). You can place cuttings in a glass jar, vase, or even a wine bottle filled with water, and they’ll thrive.

Why it’s great:
This opens up a world of design possibilities:

• You can grow them in transparent glass jars for a minimalist look.
• Style them in wall-mounted water holders, wine bottles, or mason jars.
• Keep them in soil-filled planters for a more traditional, fast-growing setup.

Tip:
If growing in water, add a liquid fertilizer monthly and change the water weekly to keep it clean and oxygenated.

3. Can Thrive in Low to Moderate Light Conditions

What it means:
Money plants don’t need direct sunlight to survive. They do well in bright, indirect light, but they also tolerate lower light, such as rooms with north-facing windows or spaces away from windows altogether.

Why it’s great:
This makes money plants ideal for:

• Apartments with limited sunlight
• Offices with fluorescent lights
• Bathrooms with small windows

Note:
Although they can live in low light, more light = better, bushier growth. They’ll also retain their leaf color better with indirect sunlight.

4. Easily Propagated From Cuttings

What it means:
If you snip a piece of vine that has a node (a small bump where leaves or roots grow), you can root that cutting in soil or water to grow a new plant.

Why it’s great:

• You can multiply your plant collection for free.
• It’s fun, educational (great for kids too), and satisfying to grow plants from scratch.
• You can replant those cuttings back into the original pot to make it fuller and bushier.
• Propagated plants also make thoughtful, green gifts.

Propagation tip:
Cut just below a node, remove the bottom leaves, and place the node in water. In 1–2 weeks, roots will appear!

5. Known for Its Feng Shui Benefits and Air-Purifying Qualities

What it means:
In feng shui, the money plant is believed to attract wealth, prosperity, and good energy. It’s often placed in homes, offices, or near entryways for positive vibes.

Additionally, NASA’s Clean Air Study listed pothos (money plant) as one of the top air-purifying plants. It can help remove toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from indoor air.

Why it’s great:

• Offers both aesthetic and spiritual benefits.
• Helps purify your indoor environment, especially useful in closed spaces like offices or city apartments.

Where to place it (feng shui):

Avoid placing it in the bedroom, as some believe it may create energetic imbalance in resting spaces.

Southeast corner (wealth area)

Near a cash counter or home office desk

1. Repot Mature Plants to Encourage New Growth

Repotting is a powerful first step in rejuvenating your money plant. Over time, the roots outgrow their container, leading to restricted growth and fewer leaves.

Why Repotting Is Important:

As the plant matures, its roots may start to circle inside the pot (rootbound condition), limiting water and nutrient absorption. Repotting gives them space to expand and draw in fresh nutrients.

How to Repot Your Money Plant:

1. Gently remove the plant from its pot.
2. Shake off old soil and untangle circling roots. Trim damaged ones if needed.
3. Choose a new pot that’s 1–2 inches larger in diameter.
4. Add fresh, well-draining potting mix (with perlite or vermiculite).
5. Replant, water thoroughly, and place in indirect light.

Pro tip: If any stems break off during repotting, don’t toss them—use them for propagation to thicken your plant.

2. Trim Long Vines to Encourage Fuller, Bushier Growth

A money plant can grow several feet long, but without trimming, it often becomes thin and leggy.

Benefits of Trimming:

• Promotes back budding—new growth emerges from leaf nodes.
• Helps shape the plant for a fuller appearance.
• Provides healthy cuttings you can propagate.

How to Trim Your Money Plant:

• Use sharp, clean scissors or pruners.
• Cut just above a leaf node (a knobby bump where roots or leaves grow).
• Remove any yellowing, dry, or damaged leaves.
• You can leave a few longer vines if you like a cascading look.

Trimming may feel scary at first, but your plant will come back stronger and denser.

3. Propagate for Volume: Plant Multiple Cuttings in One Pot

Propagation is one of the best hacks to instantly fill out your money plant. And the best part? It’s incredibly easy.

Water Propagation:

1. Strip the lower leaves from your cuttings, keeping 1–2 leaves on top.
2. Place the cuttings in a clear glass jar with the nodes submerged in water.
3. Place the jar in bright, indirect light.
4. Change water every 3–4 days to prevent rot.
5. Once roots are 1–2 inches long, plant them back in the original pot to add volume.

Soil Propagation:

• Plant cuttings directly into moist potting soil.
• Keep the pot in a warm, well-lit spot.
• Water gently and maintain light moisture.

Bonus tip: Mix different types of money plants like Neon, Marble Queen, and Golden varieties in one pot for a decorative, lush look.

4. Light Up Your Plant’s Potential

Money plants love bright, indirect sunlight. The amount of light they receive significantly affects leaf size, spacing, and overall fullness.

What Happens With Different Light Levels?

• Bright indirect light: Promotes large leaves, tight node spacing, and bushy growth.
• Low light: Slower growth, smaller leaves, and longer gaps between nodes.
• Too much direct sun: Leaves may scorch or fade.

Best Light Practices:

• Place near an east- or north-facing window.
• Avoid hot afternoon sunlight.
• Rotate the plant every week for even growth.
• In dark rooms, use LED grow lights for 8–12 hours a day.

Remember, more light = more energy for leaf production.

5. Water and Feed Consistently

Consistency is the final piece of the puzzle for thriving indoor plants like money plants.

Watering Tips:

• Water when the top 1 inch of soil is dry.
• Use pots with drainage holes to avoid soggy roots.
• Yellow leaves + wet soil = overwatering
• Brown tips + dry soil = underwatering

Fertilizing Tips:

• Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer (10-10-10 or 20-20-20) once a month during spring and summer.
• Skip fertilizer during winter when growth slows down.
• Over-fertilizing can burn roots and cause leaf drop.

Combined with light and pruning, good hydration and nutrients lead to a lush and bushy money plant.

Popular Varieties of Money Plant to Grow Indoors

Want to make your collection stand out? Try growing these stunning types of money plants:

Golden Money Plant

• Bright green leaves with golden-yellow variegation
• Fast-growing and beginner-friendly

Neon Money Plant

• Vibrant chartreuse leaves
• Eye-catching in low-light corners

Marble Queen

• Creamy-white marbled leaves
• Needs more light to maintain variegation

Satin Pothos (Scindapsus)

• Velvety green leaves with silver spots
• Looks luxurious in hanging planters

Mix these varieties in one large pot or across your indoor space to create visual contrast and appeal.

Bonus Tips to Keep Your Money Plant Thriving Indoors

Want to take your money plant from simply surviving to truly thriving? These often-overlooked but effective care techniques will help you maintain a lush, full, and vibrant houseplant that elevates your indoor décor and air quality.

1. Humidity: Create a Moist Micro-Climate

Why it matters:
Money plants (also known as pothos or devil’s ivy) originate from tropical regions, so they naturally love high humidity environments. While they’re adaptable to normal indoor air, boosting humidity can supercharge their growth, especially during dry winter months or in air-conditioned rooms.

How to do it:

• Mist the leaves gently with water 2–3 times a week.
• Place the pot near a humidifier or in a bathroom with natural light.
• Grouping several houseplants together also increases local humidity levels through transpiration.

Pro Tip: Use a pebble tray filled with water under the pot (without the pot sitting in water) to naturally raise humidity around your plant.

2. Dusting: Keep Leaves Clean for Maximum Growth

Why it matters:
Dust buildup on leaves blocks sunlight and reduces the plant’s ability to perform photosynthesis—the process by which it converts light into energy.

How to do it:

• Use a soft, damp microfiber cloth to gently wipe the leaves once every 2–4 weeks.
• For hard-to-reach spots, you can also use a soft brush or give your plant a light shower (if grown in soil).

Extra Tip: While you clean, take a moment to inspect the plant for pests or signs of stress.

3. Support Climbing: Encourage Natural Growth Patterns

Why it matters:
In the wild, money plants are natural climbers, attaching themselves to tree trunks or rocks using aerial roots. By mimicking this with a support system indoors, you help the plant grow stronger, taller vines and larger leaves.

How to do it:

• Add a moss pole, coir stick, or bamboo trellis to the pot.
• Gently tie or clip vines to the pole to encourage vertical climbing.
• As it climbs, the plant will reward you with more dramatic, lusher foliage.

Bonus Benefit: Climbing growth can make your indoor space feel like a mini indoor jungle—a major aesthetic win!

4. Pest Control: Keep an Eye on Unwanted Guests

Why it matters:
While money plants are generally resilient, they can occasionally attract pests like spider mites, mealybugs, or aphids, especially in dry or dusty conditions.

How to prevent and treat:

• Inspect leaves regularly, especially the undersides and nodes.
• If pests are spotted, spray with neem oil, a natural and effective pesticide.
• For mild infestations, a mix of water and mild soap can also help wipe pests off gently.

Preventive Tip: Proper airflow and humidity can deter many pests, so don’t overcrowd your plant shelf.

5. Decor Styling: Make the Most of Its Trailing Beauty

Why it matters:
Money plants aren’t just beneficial—they’re also incredibly stylish and versatile when it comes to interior design. Their trailing vines and heart-shaped leaves can add natural texture, movement, and charm to any space.

Creative styling ideas:

• Let the vines cascade down a bookshelf, sideboard, or kitchen cabinet.
• Hang them in macramé planters near bright windows for a boho-chic vibe.
• Place small cuttings in glass jars or propagation stations for a modern, minimalist look.
• Train them across a window frame or curtain rod using adhesive hooks.

Interior Tip: Choose terracotta or matte ceramic pots in earthy tones to enhance the organic feel and match various design styles—from modern minimalism to cozy rustic.

Quick Recap: 5 Tricks to Make Your Money Plant Bushy

1. Repot mature plants for new root and foliage growth.
2. Trim long, leggy stems to promote new branches.
3. Propagate and plant multiple cuttings in one pot.
4. Place in bright, indirect light or use grow lights.
5. Water and feed regularly without overdoing it.

Start Your Indoor Jungle with a Bushy Money Plant

Now that you know the tricks to grow a fuller, healthier money plant, it’s time to get your hands dirty—literally! With just a little trimming, light, water, and patience, your money plant will reward you with lush green vines and vibrant energy.

FAQs

How can I make my money plant grow faster?

Place it in bright indirect light, water consistently, and feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season.

Can I grow a money plant in water forever?

Yes! Money plants can grow in water indefinitely if you change the water regularly and provide occasional nutrients.

Why is my money plant leggy with small leaves?

It likely needs more light. Move it closer to a bright window or add grow lights.

How often should I repot a money plant?

Every 12–18 months or when roots start to grow out of drainage holes.

Which is better: growing in water or soil?

Both are good! Water propagation is decorative and low mess, while soil planting typically results in faster, stronger growth.

Looking to buy healthy money plants online? Browse our hand-picked collection of indoor plants, propagation kits, and decorative planters to level up your green space.