Too much direct sun

Coins that dome and cup upward — often paling or developing dry patches — are getting more direct sun than they like.

Diagnosis

Too much direct sun

What's happening

The Chinese Money Plant loves bright light but burns in harsh, direct rays. When strong sun hits the coins through glass, the leaves curl up and cup like little satellite dishes to reduce the surface facing the light, and the most exposed leaves can bleach or develop dry, scorched patches that don't recover.

How to fix it

Pull the plant back from the window or move it to a spot with bright, indirect light, or soften the harsh sun with a sheer curtain. The cupping should ease within a week or two once the light is gentler. Any leaves with permanent bleached or scorched patches won't green back up, so trim those at the stalk if you want a tidier look and let fresh growth replace them.

What fixes it

  • A full-spectrum LED grow light — If that scorching window was your only light, a grow light gives even, gentle brightness without the harsh direct rays.

This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.

Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this