Chinese money plant care
Round, coin-shaped leaves on long stalks; easy to share by its baby plants. (Pilea peperomioides)
- Light
- Bright, indirect light
- Water
- Water when the top inch or two of soil is dry…
- Cats
- Not on the ASPCA list
- Dogs
- Not on the ASPCA list
Care card
Light
Bright, indirect light: near a window but out of strong midday sun.
Water
Water when the top inch or two of soil is dry, then let the extra drain away. Never leave the pot standing in water.
Humidity
Likes some humidity. Keep it away from heater vents.
Soil and pot
A light, well-drained potting mix in a pot with a drainage hole.
Feeding
Feed every month or so in spring and summer with a houseplant fertilizer at half strength. None in winter.
Through the year
Spring
New growth starts. Begin feeding again, and repot if roots come out of the bottom.
Summer
Water more often as it grows. Keep it out of hot afternoon sun through glass.
Autumn
Growth slows. Stop feeding and let the soil dry a little more between drinks.
Winter
Water less. Keep it away from cold windows, drafts and radiators.
Common problems
Curling or drooping leaves
Leaves that cup or droop while the pot is light usually need water. The same curl in a hot south window is sun stress. Move it back from the glass before you decide to water more often.
Watering a pilea
Let the top dry, water through, and do not leave the nursery pot sitting in a cachepot full of runoff. That hidden puddle is the usual cause of sudden collapse.
Leaf trouble?
Why houseplant leaves turn yellow
Several yellow leaves at once usually mean the roots are staying wet. Feel the…How often to water a houseplant
There is no single weekly schedule. Water when that plant's soil says so, then…Brown tips and crispy edges
Brown tips usually mean dry air, a pot that dried out too far, or minerals in…Drooping houseplant leaves
Droop can mean thirst or roots that are too rotten to drink. Feel the soil…Fungus gnats and other small pests
Fungus gnats breed in mix that never dries. Letting the top layer dry, and…Background
Pilea peperomioides (), the Chinese money plant, UFO plant, pancake plant, lefse plant or missionary plant, is a species of flowering plant in the nettle family Urticaceae, native to Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in southern China.
From Wikipedia’s article Pilea peperomioides, by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More leafy tropical plants
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: toxic and non-toxic plants Pet safety
- Wikipedia: Pilea peperomioides Background