Introduction
One of the most commonly seen houseplants is a money plant. They thrive in both semi-shade and full sun. The Golden pothos, Ceylon creeper, and Hunter’s robe are all names for money plants. Feng shui money plants have five leaves per branch to represent the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Lucky and prosperous times at home can be guaranteed with the help of money plants. They are aesthetically beautiful, but they also have an uplifting effect on the environment.
“Honesty,” or “money plant,” is the common name for the herbaceous biennial member of the mustard family known scientifically as Lunaria annua (Brassicaceae). The coin-shaped, silvery seed pods that this plant produces are much sought after for use in dried flower arrangements. Still, a cluster of plants with magenta blossoms creates a stunning display of color. The 1/2-inch blossoms have a light, pleasant scent and are perfect for arranging. There is also a white-flowered variation, however, it is much rarer.
The seeds do not mature into full-sized plants until the following year, making this a biennial. That will mark the beginning of the second year of the cycle. Each plant produces several bloom stalks in the early spring of the second year. These stalks can reach a height of three feet. These racemes, which are flower stalks, are covered in vibrant pinkish-lavender blooms that endure for two to three weeks. There are 4 petals on each flower. This plant is a biennial, meaning it blooms and dies after two years. The silvery seed pods will give fall color and texture to the wooded area if the seed stalks aren’t gathered first. Long-tongued bees and butterflies play an important role in pollinating these blooms.
Landscape Use
The ideal conditions for the growth of money plants are rich, moist, and well-drained forest floors. It thrives in shady or partially sunny areas, such as the border of a forest. Its coarsely serrate, pointy, oval-shaped leaves pair well with fine-textured spring bloomers like Christmas fern, daffodils, native columbine, dwarf-crested iris, and green and gold.
If you let a money plant go to seed, you can expect to see new seedlings in your garden the following spring. You can increase the frequency with which your plants bloom by saving part of the seed and planting it in late summer the following year. You can help the plant colonize new places by breaking off flower stalks once they have dried and scattering them over the wooded area. Seeds may fail to germinate if covered by too much mulch, yet it is not uncommon for them to sprout in the leaf litter in wooded areas. Apply slow-release fertilizer or a complete organic fertilizer to your plants in the spring, when new growth has appeared.
Money plant (Lunaria annua) seed pods, which are about 1.5 inches across when dried, with silvery, translucent partitions in the center that make for very appealing dried arrangements. Gather a group of flower stalks, knot them together, and hang them upside down for 2 to 4 weeks to dry the seed pods (called silicles in the botanical world), which can then be used in floral arrangements. Simply rubbing the seed pods between your thumb and finger will peel off the brown outer coats on both sides. There are ways to collect seeds and store them safely for later use. The money plant is frequently misidentified as the similar-looking biennial plant known as dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis), which shares the mustard family with the money plant and has the same shade of yellow blooms. Dame’s rocket, a vigorous self-seeding plant, has spread from its original cultivation sites and is now considered an invasive species in several areas of the United States. Rapid colonization of damp, fertile soil is possible. Its proliferation is due in no small part to the fact that it is a staple in so many commercially available packets of wildflower seeds. The Dame’s rocket is an introduced species from Eurasia and Asia. This invasive plant blooms later in the spring and has thinner leaves and long, slender seed pods instead of the rounder pods of the money plant.
Have you ever wondered why this plant is called the Money Plant?
The name “money plant” comes from the fact that the plant’s leaves are round, plumb, and flat, and may, with little artistic license, be mistaken for a coin.
A well-known tale attributes the creation of the money plant to a low-income Taiwanese man. He had gotten himself into a lot of trouble and he appealed to God for help with his money problems. One day he came across a plant in his garden that he believed would solve all of his issues. The plant he prayed over and nurtured eventually produced seeds, nuts, and other plants. He finally resolved his financial woes after selling the plants. Because of its association with good fortune and financial success, money plants are frequently presented as presents.
The best Feng Shui location for your money plant.
Money plants are considered bad Feng Shui and should never be placed in the northeast. It causes financial problems at home and has negative effects on family members’ health. The southeast is the best location for a money plant. Lord Ganesha’s direction is associated with good fortune and well-being. Growing a money plant indoors, as opposed to outside, is also recommended for optimal advantage. It is recommended that married couples who share a home not place the money planted east to west. Fights and disagreements may break out as a result. Symbolizing actual currency, the money plant is a common garden fixture. Increased household income is directly correlated to the health of the money plant. The more leaves your money plant has, the more cash you’ll bring in, legend has it. The money plant is regarded as extremely unlucky if its stems and leaves are allowed to fall to the floor. Money plants are said to spread joy and love inside a household since their leaves are fashioned like hearts. Relationships in the home can benefit from growing a money plant as well.
Prosperity and Good Luck
Trees and plants offer numerous benefits to human life, including safety, sustenance, and breathable air. Having some houseplants around can increase your chances of financial success. Herbs and flowers such as basil, jasmine, lemon, sage, Shami, lavender, roses, orchids, and rosemary are all examples. Several indoor plants were found to be effective at filtering out volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a study on houseplants’ ability to clean the air. NASA and their partners conducted studies that showed how effectively houseplants could clean the air in enclosed spaces. The money plant (Scindapsus aureus or Epipremnum aureum) is prized for its symbolic meaning as well as its practical uses. The “money plant” commonly grown in Asian households is scientifically known as Scindapsus aureus. There are several other names for the “money plant” besides “money plant,” including “pothos,” “silver vine,” “devil’s ivy,” and “Solomon Islands ivy.”
Plant of Wealth
This plant was first discovered in Southeastern Asia and New Guinea. It is a member of the Araceae family, which includes over a hundred different genus types of plants. The plant gets its name from the fact that its leaves mimic coins in shape and size (being round, flat, heart-shaped, dark green, and plump). It can be planted as a trailer plant or a climbing plant, and it lives for multiple years. Heart-shaped leaves that are three to four inches long appear on young plants. For the most part, indoor cultivation is the norm for this plant.
Read More: Best Gift Jade Plant in Bangalore
Several Good Reasons to Start a Money Garden
Among the best plants for purifying the air of synthetic chemicals released by synthetic furniture and cleaning products, the money plant is highly regarded by Feng Shui practitioners. It refreshes the house by purifying the air and letting more fresh air in. It is considered good Feng Shui practice to have at least one plant within sight of any electronic device, including TVs, computers, and wireless access points. Stress and worry can be alleviated by placing a money plant in front of a sharp corner or angle. Having fewer disagreements and better sleep is a nice side effect. After all, one’s emotional state can greatly influence their level of motivation and drive to succeed.
Money Plant Vastu
Those versed in the principles of Vastu believe that having plants about the house might help us feel more at ease. Indoor money plants are said to attract wealth and prosperity. However, you shouldn’t plant them in the ground outside your house. To improve your fortune, remove any dried leaves from the wine, as these make the plant look worse. These tips are based on the author’s personal experience with growing money plants in a pot. Growing a cactus or succulent outside will hinder its growth, so it’s best to keep them indoors. When planted in tilled soil and given adequate water and nutrients, the plant flourishes.
Theories Apart from the Ones That Coin Them
It is commonly held that a money plant loses its magical properties if it is grown from a cutting taken by the owner. Giving someone a money plant, or a cutting from one is a symbol of sharing your good fortune.
When homeowners steal cuttings from this plant and grow it elsewhere, they increase their wealth. There’s also the theory that whoever had his cuttings stolen will have financial difficulties as a result. I don’t mean to mislead anyone or give them the wrong idea, but I have seen this to be the case on a few occasions. A homeowner had her bike taken just days after someone took cuttings from her money plant. No one, however, can state with certainty that the theft of the bicycle was caused by the theft of the money plants. When money plants have downward-growing branches, it’s a sign that the family’s financial situation is worsening, according to a newspaper article.
Best Conditions for Plant Growth
Warmer temperatures are needed for money plants (15o to 30o C). Below 10 degrees Celsius, the leaves become spotted and yellow. It grows slowly in low-light conditions and rapidly in medium-to-bright indirect sunshine (bright but filtered light). The leaves will turn different colors if exposed to either little or too much light. It needs consistent moisture from spring to fall, but less water in the winter. It thrives in conditions where the top layer of soil is periodically allowed to dry out.
Water-Based Cultivation of Pothos
The plant is easily reproducible via cuttings of its stems. For optimal results, take cuttings in the summer or spring. It can be trained to climb moss sticks or allowed to trail along the ground. The money plant is unique in that it can flourish in a container of water instead of soil. If you keep replacing the water in the bottle, it can stay alive for a good while. Many plants, including money plants, require additional nutrients when cultivated hydroponically. However, money plants can survive on the minerals already present in ordinary water. Potted cash plants that receive adequate organic and inorganic fertilization do well. Pots need regular applications of urea, as well as occasional applications of phosphorus (in the form of single superphosphate or any other phosphate fertilizer) and potash (muriate of potash or any other suitable fertilizer). Plastic or synthetic plants can be used as an alternative to real money plants because they never wither or die and can be kept as a permanent part of your home’s decor.
Similar Plants to the Money Plant
The name “money tree” has been applied to the Pachira aquatic plant. As a result, the terminology is muddled. Jade plant, friendship tree, lucky plant, money plant, and money tree are all names for the same plant, Crassula ovata. Scindapsus aureus shares leaf characteristics with the sweetheart plant, Philodendron scandens. The leaves of the money plant, on the other hand, are more vibrantly hued than those of the sweetheart plant.
Get More: Best Plant Gift Shop in Bangalore