How To Fix A Dying Money Plant – A Step-By-Step Revival Guide For

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

It’s a feeling every plant parent dreads. You walk by your once-lush, vibrant Money Plant, and your heart sinks. The leaves are yellowing, the stems are droopy, and it just looks… sad. It’s easy to feel like you’ve failed your green companion.

But please, don’t reach for the compost bin just yet! I’m here to tell you that the Money Plant (Epipremnum aureum), also known as Pothos, is one of the most resilient and forgiving houseplants you can own. Bringing it back from the brink is often simpler than you think.

I promise this guide will give you the confidence and the exact steps for how to fix a dying money plant. We’re going to become plant detectives together, diagnose the root cause of the problem, and create a clear action plan for recovery.

In this comprehensive how to fix a dying money plant care guide, we’ll walk through everything from mastering watering to the secrets of strategic pruning, ensuring you have all the tools to nurse your plant back to its glorious, vining self.

First Things First: Playing Plant Detective to Diagnose the Problem

Before we can start treatment, we need a proper diagnosis. Rushing in without understanding the core issue can sometimes make things worse. Let’s look at the clues your plant is giving you.

Most common problems with how to fix a dying money plant stem from just a few key areas: water, light, or soil. Think of yourself as a doctor checking for symptoms. A little observation now will save you a lot of guesswork later.

Here’s a quick checklist of symptoms and their likely culprits:

  • Yellow Leaves: This is the most common cry for help. If the leaves are yellow and the soil is damp, you’re almost certainly overwatering. If they’re yellow but also dry and crispy, it could be underwatering or a nutrient issue.
  • Droopy, Limp Stems: This one is tricky because it can mean both overwatering AND underwatering. Check the soil! If it’s bone-dry, your plant is thirsty. If it’s soggy, the roots are likely suffocating and developing root rot.
  • Brown, Crispy Leaf Edges or Spots: This usually points to underwatering, low humidity, or too much direct sunlight (sunburn).
  • Mushy Stems at the Base: This is a classic, red-alert sign of severe overwatering and root rot. Action is needed immediately.
  • Leggy Growth (Long Stems, Few Leaves): Your plant is stretching to find more light! It’s not getting enough energy to produce full, bushy foliage.
  • No New Growth: If your plant has been stagnant for a while, it might be root-bound (out of space in its pot) or in need of nutrients.

The Ultimate Guide on How to Fix a Dying Money Plant: Watering Woes

If I had to bet, I’d say nine out of ten ailing Money Plants are suffering from a watering issue. Getting this right is the single most important step in reviving your plant. Let’s get to the bottom of it.

The Telltale Signs of Overwatering (And How to Correct It)

We gardeners often kill our plants with kindness, and overwatering is the number one example. We love them so much we give them too much to drink! The roots need oxygen as much as they need water, and soggy soil suffocates them, leading to root rot.

Your Action Plan:

  1. Stop Watering Immediately. Let the soil dry out completely. This might take a week or more.
  2. Gently Inspect the Roots. Carefully slide the plant out of its pot. Healthy roots are firm and white or light tan. Rotted roots will be dark brown or black, mushy, and may even smell bad.
  3. Perform Root Surgery. Using a clean, sharp pair of scissors or pruners, trim away every single mushy, black root. Be ruthless! Leaving any rot behind will allow it to spread.
  4. Repot in Fresh Soil. Discard the old, waterlogged soil. Repot your plant in a pot with excellent drainage using a fresh, well-draining potting mix. Do not water it for a few days after repotting to allow the cut roots to heal.
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Reviving a Thirsty, Underwatered Plant

While less common, underwatering can also cause significant drooping and distress. You’ll know this is the case if the soil is visibly pulling away from the sides of the pot and feels light and dusty.

Your Action Plan:

  1. Avoid a Flood. Your first instinct might be to drench the plant from the top, but very dry soil can become hydrophobic (water-repellent), causing the water to run right through without being absorbed.
  2. Try Bottom Watering. This is the best method for rehydrating a parched plant. Place the pot in a sink or basin filled with a few inches of room-temperature water. Let it sit for 30-45 minutes, allowing the soil to soak up water from the bottom up.
  3. Let it Drain. Once the top of the soil feels moist, remove the plant from the basin and let any excess water drain away completely.
  4. Establish a New Routine. Moving forward, water only when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry to the touch. The “finger test” is your most reliable tool!

Let There Be Light (But Not Too Much!)

Money Plants are famous for being low-light tolerant, but “tolerant” doesn’t mean “ideal.” Light is food for your plant, and the right amount will make all the difference in its recovery and long-term health.

Is Your Plant Getting Sunburned?

Just like us, plants can get sunburned. If your Money Plant is sitting in a window where it gets blasted by direct, hot afternoon sun, you might see scorched, pale, or crispy brown patches on its leaves.

The fix is simple: move it! Find a spot where it gets plenty of bright, indirect light. An east-facing window is perfect, or a few feet back from a south or west-facing window works wonders.

What Happens in Low Light?

On the flip side, a plant in a dark corner will struggle to photosynthesize. It won’t die quickly, but it will become weak and “leggy,” with long, bare vines and small leaves. If your plant looks stretched out and pale, it’s begging for more light.

Move it to a brighter location, and it will reward you with more compact, vibrant growth. Following these how to fix a dying money plant best practices for lighting is crucial for a full recovery.

Soil, Nutrients, and Repotting: The Foundation of Recovery

A plant’s pot and soil are its home. If the foundation isn’t right, the whole structure will suffer. This is a key part of any good how to fix a dying money plant guide.

When and How to Repot a Struggling Money Plant

Besides dealing with root rot, you may need to repot if the plant is “root-bound.” This means the roots have filled the entire pot, leaving no room to grow or absorb nutrients.

Signs it’s time for a new home include roots growing out of the drainage holes, stunted growth, or water running straight through the pot without being absorbed. Choose a new pot that is only 1-2 inches wider in diameter than the current one. A pot that’s too big can hold excess moisture and lead back to overwatering problems.

To Feed or Not to Feed a Sick Plant

Here’s a golden rule from one gardener to another: never fertilize a stressed or sick plant. It’s like forcing an injured person to run a marathon. The plant doesn’t have the energy to process the nutrients, and the fertilizer salts can burn its already damaged roots.

Wait until you see consistent signs of new, healthy growth. Then, you can resume feeding with a balanced, all-purpose liquid fertilizer, diluted to half-strength, once a month during the growing season (spring and summer).

Eco-Friendly Soil Solutions

Creating a great potting mix doesn’t have to be complicated. For a more sustainable how to fix a dying money plant approach, create your own mix using one part coco coir (a renewable alternative to peat moss), one part compost or worm castings for nutrients, and one part perlite or pumice for excellent aeration and drainage. This eco-friendly how to fix a dying money plant mix will keep your plant’s roots happy and healthy.

Pruning for a Comeback and Propagating for More Plants

Pruning can feel scary, but it’s one of the most powerful tools for rejuvenating a sad-looking Money Plant. It removes the damaged parts and, more importantly, stimulates fresh, bushy growth.

The Art of Strategic Pruning

Get a clean, sharp pair of scissors. Your mission is to remove anything that isn’t helping the plant recover.

  • Cut off all yellow or brown leaves. They will not turn green again and are just draining energy from the plant.
  • Trim back any bare, leggy stems. Cut the stem back to just above a node (the little bump where a leaf grows). This will encourage the plant to branch out from that point.
  • Remove any mushy or rotting stems at the soil line.
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Don’t be afraid to give it a good haircut! A hard prune can be the very thing that triggers a massive comeback.

Turning a Problem into a Plus: Easy Propagation

One of the great benefits of how to fix a dying money plant is the opportunity for propagation! Don’t throw away those healthy stem pieces you just trimmed. Money Plants are incredibly easy to propagate in water.

  1. Take a cutting that has at least 2-3 leaves and a couple of nodes.
  2. Place the cutting in a jar of water, ensuring at least one node is submerged.
  3. Place the jar in bright, indirect light.
  4. Change the water every few days, and in a few weeks, you’ll see new roots emerge! Once the roots are an inch or two long, you can plant your new baby Money Plant in soil.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reviving a Money Plant

Why are my money plant leaves turning yellow?

The number one cause is overwatering. Soggy soil suffocates the roots, preventing them from absorbing nutrients, which causes leaves to yellow and drop. Other causes can include nutrient deficiency, pests, or simply the natural aging process of the oldest leaves at the base of the vine.

Can a money plant with no leaves grow back?

Absolutely! As long as the main stem and, most importantly, the roots are still healthy (firm and not mushy), there is a very good chance it will grow back. Prune the bare stems back, ensure it has proper light and water, and be patient. You should see new growth emerge from the nodes along the stem.

How often should I actually water my money plant?

Ditch the rigid schedule (e.g., “every Sunday”). The best way to know when to water is to physically check the soil. Stick your finger about two inches deep. If the soil feels dry at your fingertip, it’s time to water. If it feels moist, wait a few more days and check again.

Can I save a money plant with root rot?

Yes, if you catch it early. The key is to act fast. You must unpot the plant, trim away every single piece of black, mushy root with sterilized scissors, and repot it into a new pot with fresh, dry, well-draining soil. Then, be very careful not to overwater it as it recovers.

You’ve Got This: Go Revive Your Plant!

Bringing a plant back from the brink is one of the most rewarding experiences in gardening. It deepens your connection with your green friend and sharpens your caregiving skills.

Remember the key steps we covered in these how to fix a dying money plant tips: diagnose the symptoms first, then address the core issue—whether it’s water, light, or soil. Don’t be afraid to prune away the damage to make way for new life.

Money Plants are true survivors. With a little patience and the right care, you’ll soon see tender new leaves unfurling, a sure sign that your revival efforts have paid off. Go give your plant the TLC it deserves, and happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
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