How to Plant a Money Tree in Animal Crossing: A Guide for Budding Island Tycoons

So, you’re ready to grow your own money tree and become the envy of every villager on your island? Excellent! It’s a remarkably simple process in Animal Crossing, but understanding the nuances can maximize your profits. Here’s the definitive answer to your question:

To plant a money tree in Animal Crossing, you must first find a glowing spot on the ground – indicated by golden light radiating from a small crack. Then, dig up the 1,000 Bells that are buried there. Instead of pocketing the Bells, bury them again. This is crucial: By reburying Bells in the same glowing spot, you are planting your money tree! In a few days, it will sprout into a mature tree laden with bags of Bells.

Now, let’s delve deeper and cover everything you need to know about money trees and how to cultivate a veritable Bell orchard on your island.

Understanding the Basics of Money Trees

The money tree is a special type of tree in the Animal Crossing series that, instead of bearing fruit, produces bags of Bells. It’s a fantastic way to passively increase your wealth and finance those larger-than-life home loans from Tom Nook. However, it’s not just about randomly burying Bells; there’s a bit of strategy involved to maximize your returns.

Finding the Glowing Spot

Every day, a single glowing spot appears randomly somewhere on your island. These spots are easy to identify: look for a patch of ground with visible golden particles shimmering above it. Once you’ve found it, take out your shovel and dig it up. You’ll find a buried bag of 1,000 Bells.

The Reburying Ritual

This is where the magic happens. Resist the urge to squirrel away those 1,000 Bells (at least for a moment). Instead, with your shovel still in hand, select the Bells in your inventory and choose the option to “bury in hole.” This will plant your money tree.

The Waiting Game

Once planted, the spot will transform into a small sapling. Over the next few days, it will gradually grow into a fully mature tree, sporting three bags of Bells, each containing the same amount you initially buried. After you shake the money off the tree, it becomes just like any other regular tree (though it may look different, depending on the game).

Maximizing Your Money Tree Harvest

While the basic process is simple, optimizing your money tree operation takes a little more finesse. This is all about the amount of money you bury.

The 10,000 Bell Sweet Spot

While you can bury any amount of Bells, most experienced players agree that burying 10,000 Bells offers the best balance of risk and reward. Doing this, you will get back 30,000 Bells (3 bags of 10,000 Bells) in just a few days. There’s a chance that burying more than 10,000 Bells will yield three bags of the same amount you buried.

The 30,000-99,000 Bell Gamble

Burying more than 10,000 Bells (up to 99,000 Bells) is a gamble. While you might get three bags mirroring the amount you buried, there’s also a possibility you’ll only get three bags of 10,000 Bells each, regardless of how much you initially invested.

The Math and the Risk

Think of it this way: the game has a programmed probability. Burying 10,000 Bells guarantees a 30,000 Bell return. Burying anything higher is a roll of the dice. If you’re feeling lucky and have Bells to spare, go for it! But if you’re on a tighter budget, sticking to the 10,000 Bell strategy is a much safer, less stressful bet.

Money Tree FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered

Let’s address some of the most frequently asked questions about money trees.

1. What happens if I bury more than 99,000 Bells?

You can’t. The game simply won’t allow you to bury more than 99,000 Bells. This is the absolute maximum that can be invested in a money tree.

2. How long does it take for a money tree to grow?

It typically takes about three days for a money tree to fully mature and produce its bags of Bells.

3. Can I move a money tree after I’ve planted it?

Yes, you can! Once the tree is fully grown (and you’ve shaken off the Bells), you can dig it up with your shovel and replant it elsewhere on your island.

4. Will a money tree die if I don’t shake the Bells off?

No, the money tree won’t die. However, the bags of Bells will remain on the tree until you shake them off. No new bags will grow until you harvest the existing ones.

5. Can I plant a money tree on the beach?

No, you cannot. Money trees can only be planted on grass or dirt surfaces.

6. Does the amount I bury affect the appearance of the money tree?

No, the appearance of the money tree is the same regardless of the amount you bury. They always have the same standard shape.

7. What happens after I shake the Bells off the money tree?

After you shake off all three bags of Bells, the money tree turns into a regular tree. It will no longer produce any more Bells. You can keep it, chop it down for wood, or move it somewhere else.

8. Can I plant multiple money trees each day?

No, you can only plant one money tree per day because there’s only one glowing spot that appears each day.

9. Is there any way to guarantee that burying more than 10,000 Bells will yield a larger return?

Unfortunately, no. The possibility of receiving only 30,000 Bells (3 bags of 10,000) is always present when burying more than 10,000 Bells. It’s based on a random probability.

10. Can my villagers interact with my money trees?

Your villagers may occasionally walk near or around your money trees, but they won’t interact with them in any meaningful way. They won’t shake the trees or attempt to steal your Bells!

11. What happens if I time travel after planting a money tree?

Time traveling can be tricky. Generally, it’s best to avoid time traveling backwards after planting a money tree, as it can sometimes cause the tree to revert to an earlier stage or even disappear. Traveling forward should be fine.

12. Are money trees worth the effort?

Absolutely! Even if you stick to the safe 10,000 Bell investment, a 20,000 Bell profit every three days is a significant boost to your island economy. Over time, these profits add up substantially, making money trees a valuable asset for any player looking to expand their home, buy items, or pay off debts to Tom Nook.

By following this guide and understanding the nuances of money tree cultivation, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a prosperous island resident in Animal Crossing. Happy planting, and may your island be forever green with the sweet, sweet sound of jingling Bells!