Money tree pests, webbing or sticky leaves: causes and what to do
6 results in the diagnosis tree begin with pests, 5 of them marked likely when the answers fit. They are ordered here for Money tree (Pachira aquatica), using what its sources say about pests and diseases, humidity and watering and 3 problems recorded for it.
Sources last read 14 September 2026.
Pachira aquatica is a species of tropical wetland tree in the mallow family Malvaceae, native to Central and South America where it grows in swamps. It is known by its common names Malabar chestnut, French peanut, Guiana chestnut, provision tree, Saba nut, Monguba (Brazil), Pumpo (Guatemala) and Jelinjoche and is commercially sold under the names money tree and money plant. Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Native range: Mexico to S. Trop. America (wet tropical). Also sold as French peanut, Guiana chestnut, Malabar chestnut, Mexican fortune tree, Money Plant and provision tree.
What Money tree’s sources say that bears on this
- Pests and diseases
- Aphids, greenhouse red spider mite and scale insects can attack it. Disease risk: a leaf spot.RHS · read 13 September 2026
- Humidity
- ASHRAE recommends indoor relative humidity between 30% and 60%Penn State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Watering
- It does not tolerate standing water, which can cause root rot. Possible diseases are anthracnose, powdery mildew, and root rot caused by standing water.NC State Extension · read 13 September 2026
How this shows up on a Money tree
Clusters of small soft insects on the shoot tips and buds: aphids
The youngest growth of the money tree is sticky and distorted, and a closer look finds colonies of small, pear-shaped insects.
RHS lists aphids among the pests it may attract. They favor tender tips and buds, so the damage concentrates where the plant is growing.
Telling it apart: Where they sit. Aphids crowd soft tips and buds; scale sits still on older stems.
RHS · read 13 September 2026Fine pale speckling on the leaves, then webbing at the tips: spider mites
Seen side-on, the money tree looks dusty and bleached. Under a lens the undersides move with minute mites, and silk gathers where leaves meet the stem.
RHS lists spider mites among the pests it may attract. They feed from the underside, so the damage shows on top long before the mites are noticed.
Telling it apart: Where the damage starts. Mites stipple the whole leaf in fine dots; sun scorch bleaches the side facing the window.
RHS · read 13 September 2026Sticky leaves and immobile shell-like insects on the stems
The money tree is sticky to the touch and yellows slowly. Along the veins on the undersides sit small shell-like scales that lift off with a fingernail.
RHS lists scale insects among the pests it may attract. The shell protects the insect, so it survives a wipe that would clear aphids and keeps feeding.
Telling it apart: Flick a bump with a fingernail. Scale comes away and leaves a mark; a natural bump on the stem does not move.
RHS · read 13 September 2026Possible causes, likeliest first for a Money tree
Most likely spider mites
Ranked higher because Money tree's recorded problems point this way.
- Fine pale speckling on the leaves, then webbing at the tips: spider mites RHS
Why: Spider mites feed on individual leaf cells, and each emptied cell shows as a pale speck.
What to try:
- Move the money tree away from other plants.
- Wash the leaves, top and underside, with a strong spray of water in a shower or sink.
What would settle it: Hold a sheet of white paper under a leaf and tap the leaf. Tiny specks that move across the paper are mites.
Most likely scale insects
Ranked higher because Money tree's recorded problems point this way.
- Sticky leaves and immobile shell-like insects on the stems RHS
Why: Scale insects settle in one place under a hard or waxy shell and feed on sap.
What to try:
- Move the money tree away from other plants.
- Scrape the scales off with a fingernail or a soft brush, then wipe the stems and leaves.
What would settle it: Push a bump gently with a fingernail. Scale comes away and leaves a mark; a bump that is part of the money tree does not move.
Most likely aphids
Ranked higher because Money tree's recorded problems point this way.
- Clusters of small soft insects on the shoot tips and buds: aphids RHS
Why: Aphids cluster on soft new growth and flower buds, where the sap is easiest to reach.
What to try:
- Rub them off with fingers, or rinse them off in a sink or shower.
- Repeat every few days while new ones appear.
What would settle it: Look for the pale shed skins among the insects. Aphids molt as they grow, and the skins are left behind in the colony.
Less likely for a Money tree, still possible
Questions
- What usually causes pests on a Money tree?
- For Money tree: spider mites, scale insects and aphids.
- How can I tell which one it is on my Money tree?
- What can you see? Fine webbing, and tiny pale speckles on the leaves; White, cottony tufts in the leaf joints; Small brown or pale bumps on stems and leaves that do not move; Clusters of small, soft insects on the new growth; Tiny dark flies around the soil; Sticky, shiny residue, but no insect I can see.
- What do Money tree's sources say about its pests and diseases?
- RHS: Aphids, greenhouse red spider mite and scale insects can attack it. Disease risk: a leaf spot.
- What does this look like on a Money tree?
- The youngest growth of the money tree is sticky and distorted, and a closer look finds colonies of small, pear-shaped insects. Telling it apart: Where they sit. Aphids crowd soft tips and buds; scale sits still on older stems.
Other plants that show pests
AvocadoPale stippled leaves and tiny moving dots underneath: a mite pest
Bay laurelRagged, eaten leaves and rolled leaves: an insect pest
CalamondinCurled, sticky new leaves with green or black insects: aphids
Chinese banyanPale stippled leaves and tiny moving dots underneath: a mite pest
Coffee plantFine pale speckling on the leaves, then webbing at the tips: spider mites
Common figDull, finely mottled leaves and faint webs: spider mites
Something else wrong with the Money tree?
What this does not cover
This page orders a decision tree's results using a plant's sourced care. It has not seen your plant, its pot or its window, and two problems at once are common: that is the usual reason a confident answer turns out wrong. The questions in the diagnosis tool narrow it further than a list can.