Best Soil for Money Plant in India – Ideal Potting Mix, Soil Recipe, Hacks & Mistakes to Avoid

You bring home a money plant from the weekend nursery in Pune or get one wrapped in red thread at a house-warming in Kolkata. It looks perfect—glossy leaves, vines curling like they’ve got all the time in the world. But a few weeks later, the leaves turn yellow. New growth stops. Maybe the stems even get soft at the base. You are watering in the same manner as your aunt, yet her plants flourish while yours scarcely survive. What’s really going wrong? More often than not, it’s your soil for the money plant—not your care.

The best soil for money plants in India isn’t dark, heavy, or packed with compost, like many believe. In fact, the rich-looking garden soil that your neighbour swears by may actually harm your plants. It’s probably drowning your plant from the roots up. Money plants come from tropical forest floors where roots grow in loose, crumbly leaf litter—not compacted earth. They need well-draining soil that holds just enough moisture to feed them but lets excess water drain fast. Most Indian gardeners tend to make mistakes in this area. Whether you’re mixing your own soil for money plants or following advice from a WhatsApp group, if your blend stays wet for days, your plant is slowly suffocating.

This phenomenon is especially true across India’s wildly different climates. The best potting mix for a money plant indoors in a dim Mumbai flat won’t work the same on a sun-baked Delhi balcony. And that’s okay. What matters is getting the balance right: enough air for roots to breathe, enough nutrients to feed gently, and enough drainage to survive Indian tap water and our habit of “just one more watering”. Let’s face it, most of us tend to overwater. The appropriate potting mix for money plants compensates for overwatering. The wrong one doesn’t.

What’s the Best Soil for Money Plants in India? (Beginner-Friendly Guide)

Forget “fertile” soil. Money plants don’t need it. What they need is light, airy soil full of tiny pockets where oxygen can reach the roots. If you squeeze a handful and it clumps like dough or stays wet for two days, it’s too dense. Poor drainage has already caused it to smell sour or vinegary.

I remember Ramesh in Nagpur losing three plants in a row. He used red soil from his terrace, thinking “natural = better.” Nothing grew. Leaves dropped. He even sprayed neem oil, blaming pests. Then he switched to a simple mix: soaked coco peat, a little aged compost, and rice husk from his uncle’s paddy field. Within two weeks, fresh vines appeared. “I was giving it mud,” he told me over chai. “No wonder it couldn’t breathe.” That’s the truth—money plants don’t need food-rich soil. They need soil that breathes.

See the bar chart below for a quick visual breakdown of the recommended soil mix ratio for money plants.

Ideal Soil Type for Money Plant Growth in Pots and Indoors

Best Soil Texture for Money Plant in Small and Medium Pots

In small pots—those 6- to 10-inch ceramic or plastic ones most of us start with—the mix must be especially light. Why? This is due to the fact that small volumes tend to dry more slowly, particularly indoors where airflow is limited.

A heavy mix becomes a water trap, and roots rot before you even notice. Go for something that crumbles when you squeeze it—like a loose cake. In larger pots (12 inches and up), you can add a bit more compost, but never more than 30%. Beyond that, it compacts over time and turns into a wet brick.

Recommended Soil pH for Money Plant Indoors and Balcony Gardens

Money plants do best in slightly acidic to neutral soil—pH between 6.0 and 7.0. But here’s the problem: tap water in many Indian cities (Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad) is alkaline. Over months, regular watering slowly pushes pH up, locking out iron and other nutrients. The first sign? New leaves turn pale yellow while the veins stay green. A ₹40 pH test strip from your local nursery can catch the issue early. If pH creeps above 7.5, flush the soil once a month with rainwater or let tap water sit overnight to reduce chlorine.

Indoor vs Outdoor Soil Requirements for Money Plant in Indian Climate

Indoors—think Mumbai chawls, Kolkata apartments, or Bangalore flats with weak light—your mix must dry faster. Use 70% coco peat, 20% puffed rice husk or perlite, and just 10% compost. Outdoors on balconies or terraces, especially in hot zones like Chennai or Ahmedabad, you can lean slightly richer: 50% coco peat, 30% compost, and 20% river sand. But never use construction sand—it’s too fine, holds dust, and often contains salt that harms roots. Always choose coarse, washed river sand.

Best Soil Mix for Money Plant in Tropical, Arid, and Temperate Regions of India

Tropical Zones (Kerala, West Bengal, Coastal Maharashtra, Goa)

High humidity, heavy monsoons, and warm temps year-round mean root rot is your biggest threat. The soil must drain fast and resist fungus. Use 2 parts coco peat, 1 part aged compost, and 1 part perlite or crushed coconut husk. Add a teaspoon of neem cake powder per 5-litre pot—it’s a natural antifungal, especially useful from July to September. Water only when the top 1 inch feels dry, even in summer. My cousin in Kochi uses a thin top layer of washed seashells. She claims that this method “keeps slugs away and stops soil from splashing in rain.”

Arid & Semi-Arid Zones (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi)

Dry air and scorching summers mean soil dries too fast. You need to retain slightly more moisture while ensuring that drainage is not compromised. Try 2 parts coco peat, 1.5 parts compost, and 0.5 part river sand. A thin mulch of dry neem leaves or grass clippings slows evaporation. Sunita in Jaipur adds a little vermiculite. “It holds just enough water so I don’t water twice a day in May,” she explains. Water early morning—never at noon.

Temperate Zones (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu)

Cool nights and mild summers mean slower soil breakdown. Use 2 parts coco peat, 1 part compost, and 1 part coco chips for structure. Terracotta pots work best—they “breathe” better in cooler air. In winter (November to February), water only every 10–12 days. Raj in Shimla keeps his plant near a south-facing window and uses slightly more compost. “Growth slows, so roots need more food per watering,” he says.

Best Potting Mix for Money Plant in India

Homemade Money Plant Soil Mix for Fast and Healthy Growth

The most reliable mix you can make at home is simple:

2 parts coco peat (soaked 30 minutes, then squeezed gently—not dripping)
1 part well-aged compost (vermicompost or cow dung compost at least 45 days old—never fresh!)
1 part drainage material: river sand, puffed rice husk, or perlite
Optional: 1 teaspoon neem cake powder per 5-liter pot for natural fungus control

Mix everything in a clean bucket or on an old tarp. It should feel soft, crumbly, and slightly springy—not sticky or dusty. This potting mix for money plants gives you perfect balance: moisture from coco peat, slow nutrients from compost, and airflow from drainage.

Indoor Money Plant Potting Mix for Low-Light Indian Homes

In dim homes with little sun (common in cities), reduce compost to just 10% and boost aeration. Too much organic matter in low light leads to slow decay and sour soil. Go for 3 parts coco peat, 1 part rice husk, and a light sprinkle of compost. This keeps the mixture active without promoting mould during monsoons.

Outdoor and Balcony Money Plant Soil Mix for Heavy Growth

On sunny terraces, you can go richer: 2 parts coco peat, 1 part compost, 1 part river sand. Top with dry grass clippings or coconut coir waste. The mixture supports rapid vine growth while still draining well after unexpected rain.

Budget-Friendly Money Plant Soil Mix Using Indian Materials

You don’t need expensive perlite. In semi-urban areas, puffed rice husk (often free from grain mills) works just as well. Porosity is added to cities for free using crushed baked clay from broken diyas. My neighbour in Indore even uses dried, crushed idli steamer residue—“It’s what my grandmother used,” he says. “Plants never complained.”

How to Prepare Money Plant Soil at Home – Step-by-Step Soil Recipe

Start by soaking coco peat in clean water for 30 minutes. It expands 5–6 times, so don’t overdo it. Once soft, squeeze out excess—it should feel damp, not wet. Mix in compost. Touch it: if it smells earthy and cool, it’s ready. If it is sour or hot, it is still decomposing—please wait another week.

Add your drainage material and mix with your hands. Finally, moisten lightly with tap water left in an open bucket overnight (letting chlorine evaporate). Let the mix sit 24 hours before potting. This resting period helps materials bind gently.

Check this infographic below for a quick 4-step visual guide to preparing the perfect soil mix for money plants in India.

Best Drainage Additives for Money Plant Soil (Perlite, Sand, Coco Chips)

Perlite
Humid cities (Mumbai, Chennai)
Gardening stores, online (₹100–150 per kilogram)

River sand
Dry zones (Jaipur, Delhi)
Local nurseries (₹20 per kilogram)

Coco chips
All zones, especially balconies
Coir suppliers (₹80–120 per kilogram)

Rice husk
Rural & semi-urban areas
Grain mills, farms (often free)

Organic Compost Options for Money Plant Soil in India

Vermicompost is ideal—fine, nutrient-rich, and full of beneficial microbes. Cow dung compost works too but must be fully broken down. Sunita from Patna lost two plants using “compost” after just 3 weeks. Roots turned brown and slimy. “I thought faster was better,” she says. “Now I wait two months. No more losses.”

Soil Maintenance Tips for Money Plant in India

When to Refresh or Replace Soil for Money Plant in Pots

Every 6 months, you should scrape off the top 2 inches of soil and replace it with a fresh mix—this process is called top-dressing. Every 2 years, do a full repot: gently remove the plant, trim circling or brown roots, and move to a slightly larger pot with new soil. Signs you’re late: slow growth, white crust, roots poking out, or leaves dropping for no reason.

Watering Tips Based on Soil Type and Pot Material

Terracotta dries fast—great if you overwater. Plastic and glazed ceramic hold water longer—better for dry homes or winter. Always check with your finger: if the top 1 inch of soil feels dry, it’s time. In winter, wait until 1.5 inches are dry. In winter, avoid watering with cold tap water straight from the pipe, as it shocks the roots.

Seasonal Soil Care for Money Plant in Summer, Monsoon, and Winter

Summer (March to June): Water early morning. Add a thin mulch of dry leaves to keep roots cool. Avoid repotting in peak heat.
Monsoon (July to September): Keep pots under partial cover. Stop fertilising. Let soil dry deeper between waterings.
Winter (October to February): Reduce watering by half. Never water in the evening—cool, wet soil overnight invites rot. In North India, bring plants indoors at night if temps drop below 10 degrees Celsius.

Common Money Plant Soil Problems and Their Solutions

Fixing Waterlogged or Overwatered Money Plant Soil

If the pot feels heavy and the leaves are yellow or mushy, stop watering. Tip the pot to drain. If rot has set in, remove the plant, rinse the roots, cut away the brown parts, air-dry for 2–3 hours, and repot in a fresh dry mix with extra drainage. Don’t water for 4–5 days—let roots heal.

Improving Hard or Compacted Soil for Money Plant

Compacted soil feels rigid, cracks when dry, and drains slowly. Use a pencil to poke 4–5 deep holes—this creates instant air channels. Then top-dress with 1 inch of fresh mix. Next report, increase drainage material by 25%.

Identifying Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms Caused by Poor Soil

Yellow leaves with green veins? The yellow leaves with green veins likely indicate an iron deficiency due to a high pH level. Entire plant pale? The plant is likely experiencing a nitrogen shortage. Tiny new leaves? The plant is likely suffering from general nutrient depletion. Fix with monthly earthworm castings—gentle, slow-release, no burn.

Managing Salt Buildup and pH Imbalance in Money Plant Soil

White crust = salt from tap water or overfertilising. Once a month, pour 2–3 litres of rainwater through the pot until it runs clear. Anil from Ahmedabad does this every full moon—“Old habit from my father,” he says. “Plants look greener within days.”

Biggest Soil Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Money Plant in India

Using heavy clay or black cotton soil suffocates roots. Adding too much compost—even organic—drowns them. Planting in decorative pots without holes can be fatal. Refreshing soil every year nourishes the plant. Watering daily “just in case” kills more plants than drought. Using chlorinated tap water without treatment harms soil life. Should we assume that brown leaves indicate a need for more water? Often, brown leaves indicate the opposite condition: the roots are already rotting.

Top 10 Soil Hacks and Tricks for Money Plant Growth in India

• Add a handful of perlite to instantly boost aeration in the soil.
• Mix in puffed rice husk from a local grain mill to improve drainage at zero cost.
• Use neem powder (1 teaspoon per 5-litre pot) to naturally prevent fungal issues.
• Feed with earthworm castings once a month for gentle nutrition without the risk of chemical burn.
• Choose river sand only, as construction sand can block airflow and compact the soil.
• Add activated charcoal (aquarium-grade) to detoxify old soil and prevent foul smells.
• Place LECA pebbles or broken terracotta at the bottom to create a drainage reservoir.
• Topdress the pot every 45 days instead of repotting it frequently to maintain soil fertility.
• Mix in a little vermiculite during winter to retain the right amount of moisture in dry indoor conditions.
• Use terracotta pots instead of plastic, as they “sweat” and naturally reduce overwatering risk.

8 Common Questions about Best Soil for Money Plant in India

Final Summary – Choosing the Best Soil for Money Plant

The best soil for money plants in India isn’t expensive or complicated. It’s light, airy, and matched to your local climate—whether you’re in humid Kochi, dry Jaipur, or cool Shimla. Stick to coco peat, aged compost, and a local drainage booster like river sand or rice husk. Avoid heavy soils. Never use pots without holes. Water only when needed. Refresh the top layer twice a year.

Do this, and your money plant won’t just survive. It’ll climb your walls, leaf after leaf, year after year. And that’s the kind of wealth that grows quietly—no stock market required.