Garden
The It-Guide: Give Your Money Plant AKA Pilea Peperomioides Care It Deserves
Mar
The name “Pilea Peperomioides Care” may sound complicated, but our steps to follow are not.
You’ll be surprised how easy it is to care for Pilea peperomioides. Just like Sansevieria, Peperomia or Maidenhair Ferns, it is an ideal easy-care houseplant.
We’ve divided our guide into 5 sections to guide you through the entire maintenance process you need to follow:
- Do’s & Don’ts
- Planting
- Growing
- Pruning
- Problems (Don’t worry, we have provided the solutions too.)
Enough talking here.
Let’s dive right in to preserve the beauty and longevity of your favorite pilea peperomioides plant. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
Do you know?
Chinese money plant, coin plant, ufo plant, pancake plant, missionary plant, and lephtha plant are names of a single plant, pilea peperomioides.
Table of Contents
Do’s & Don’ts
| Features | Do’s | Don’ts |
| Placement | Right spot: bright area but no direct sunlight | Never place it too distant from the window |
| Temperature | Can thrive between 52°F – 85°F (11°C – 30°C) | Don’t do well in fluctuating temperatures (never below 10°C & above 35°C) |
| Watering | Once in 1-2 Weeks (Or less; feel the dryness of the soil) | Don’t just follow your watering schedule (feel the soil wetness) |
| Rotation | Rotate once a week during sunny weathers | No Rotation causes one side to be heavy |
| Weather | Demands more humidity in warm weathers | Require no extra humidity in dry weathers |
| Potting Soil | Use an organic potting mix (coir fiber or peat moss with perlite:1 part to 9 parts soil, leaf mold) | Don’t use a regular garden soil mix |
| Fertilizer | Fertilize damp soil (water one day, fertilize next day) | Not the best option to fertilize the dry soil |
| Humidity | 50% – 75% | Low humidity can cause brown patches |
Plants make people happy. We’ve all heard this many times, but the point is, do we make them equally happy?
You finally got your hands on your evergreen pilea peperomioides bae. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
Like this,
How can you take care of your pilea plant in the best way?
No wet soil (Best: peat moss), direct sunlight (Best: indirect bright light), excessive watering (Best: once every 1-2 weeks), temperature fluctuations (Best: 11°C-30°C) , over-fertilize (Best: diluted 20-202-20 once a month), and your pilea plant is off to a good start. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
Are you an Interior Design Lover?
Pilea peperomioides is the best houseplant to accentuate the beauty of your Scandinavian home design. (Don’t worry, it can work in any interior. It’s a friendship plant indeed).
1. Planting
I. Soil
Best Potted Soil: Based on coconut fiber or peat moss with perlite (about 10%) and leaf mold.
If you want the best for your pilea plant, opt for organic potting mix, not just any garden soil. More precisely, fast-draining soil should be used as these plants do not like to sit in wet soil.
You got the potting soil. You got the plant, but what about the pot itself? What should be the best pot choice for your Pilea peperomioides plants?
If you don’t want your plant to dry out completely, plastic or ceramic pots should be your ultimate choice. Avoid terracotta pots because they are porous and can dry out the plants. (not suitable for pilea plants)
Tip: Not in love with the usual boring plastic pot? Don’t worry, we got you! Use a hydro dip dyeing water kit to transform your dull pot into a new decorative pot. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
II. Light
Pilea peperomioides, although succulent, has different light requirements. Find a bright spot where indirect light comes from; it’s the perfect place your plant will love.
Remember, direct sunlight can burn leaves.
Best Placement: Indirect bright light (or simply, next to an East or West side window)
Want to know the perfect temperature range for your pilea plants?
Best Temperature: 52°F to 85°F (11°C to 30°C) Temperature Limit: Never Below 50°F (10°C) – Above 95°F (35°C)
Pilea plants don’t appreciate temperature fluctuations too much and are not fans of high or low light exposure. Therefore, you should take care of your light before it is too late for your plant.
Spread the light, not uneven plant growth. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
You Shouldn’t Miss This
Most plants are phototropic in nature, meaning they tend to grow towards the light, and so do your pilea peperomioids. Remember to rotate the plant once a week to prevent high growth on one end.
III. Watering
You have the plant, you know the right place to place it by observing all its light and temperature requirements, but if your watering habits are not suitable for the plant, all the maintenance you do is really of no use.
So how often do you water the pilea plant?
Don’t follow your usual watering schedule, instead listen to your plant. Curling lower leaves indicates overwatering, and slightly drooping leaves indicate underwatering.
Let the top 2-3 inches dry. If it sticks, stick your finger in the ground. Avoid watering. Best: water every 1-2 weeks. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
Note: Curling the upper leaves means your hairs are getting too much sun exposure, which means you will eventually need to change the placement of your plant.
Pilea also likes to be at 50-75% humidity. Brown spots on the tips or crunchy leaves mean your plant needs more moisture. When watering, make sure that 20% of the water is removed from the drain hole (to remove excess salt).
To make sure your potting soil is sufficiently moist and not soggy, mist the leaves regularly with a water spray gun. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
Note: White spots in your plant are salt buildup, mainly due to excess water or tap water.
IV. Fertilizer
It’s best to use a diluted semi-strength 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer or your plant may end up with burnt leaves.
Best time to fertilize: Once a month in Autumn or early Spring or during the active growth period.
Most houseplants are killed due to the kindness of the owner. Remember, every plant has different light, temperature, water and growth requirements. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
Don’t be overly polite. He may die!
Literally, follow the foundation water every 1-2 weeks and fertilize once a month during the growing season routine and your plant will thrive.
V. Repotting
Get a plastic or ceramic pot (2-3 inches larger) with a drainage hole. Put the stones at the bottom: 1 inch deeper to prevent root rot. Place the potting soil and plant the plant in it. Best repotting time: every two years. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
If you have an empty pot in your backyard, drill a hole in it using these drill bits. And avoid buying a new one just for the sake of it.
Always tap or pinch the pot with light force to make the plant lose its grip. When finished, remove the mother plant completely and place it on a clutter-free mat to avoid damaging the roots.
If your plant is giving offspring like fire in the woods, you may want to consider repotting a little earlier, following the same process. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
You May Want To Know This
Always plant the plant in a container or pot 2-3 inches larger than the previous one, as Pilea does not like to be root-bound.
2. Growing
I. Speed of Growth
“Happiness is watching your plant start to grow.” – said every plant lover
The growth rate or growth rate of the plant depends entirely on the conditions in which you provide it. It will either thrive or rot away.
Your Pilea can grow up to double each year and even produce white flowers (rare) with the right conditions. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
II. Propagation of Pilea Peperomioides
There are several possibilities to propagate a pilea plant, either use seed, cut a healthy leaf with a stem or use offset. Best time to propagate: Growing season or Spring.
Dividing by seeds has not yet been successful and you never know the freshness of seeds you buy online. So, it will most likely be a hit or miss. (Not songs, peeps.) (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
Similarly,
Growing with a pilea leaf can be quite difficult. You need a healthy leaf cut along with the stem (even a small piece can work) and water it. And now you’re watching. Put it into the soil after 1-2 months.
Do not forget to make several cuttings, as you do not know which one will take root. (again, hit or miss)
Finally, you can grow your pilea plant in both water and soil with offsets. Sounds easy, right? Here’s how to do it properly.
Step-I Find offsets or daughter plants near the main stem or base of the parent plant
Step-II Cut the offsets as close to the ground as possible (be gentle).
Step-III Place stem (not leaves) in glass jar and place in bright sunlight area.
Step IV Lightly tamp the overgrown roots (1 inch, seen after 1-2 weeks) in a small pot with new soil. (Pilea Peperomioides Care)
Hello You Need To Read This
Change the water in the jar or glass every other day to keep it fresh. Keep the soil moist for a few weeks after you place the roots in the pot.
III. Pruning of Pilea Peperomioides
The Pilea plant is a gentle and delicate miracle and of course not easily found. Therefore, you need to be very careful when pruning.
Look for dead stems, brown leaves, overgrown spurs, or damaged tips. Gently pinch the stem over the knot to remove the leaf or ridge. Use a professional grafting kit to prune off branches that appear messy (at 45°).
Ideal Time: Growing season or Spring.
Mistakes You Can Make (or Have Made All This Time)
Take it easy as pruning itself is a grueling process and you don’t want to lose a healthy leaf. Prune 20% at a time and let the plant breathe. Wait a few weeks and continue.
3. Problems
1. Pilea with droopy leaves
2. Pilea with curled leaves
3. Pilea with burnt leaves
I. Overwatering or Poor Water-Drainage
Overwatering is the cause of a common problem with houseplants, such as yellowing, drooping, or defoliation.
But that’s not always the case. You may be watching the right program, but you may still be faced with falling or drooping leaves.
It can also be caused by improper water drainage.
Solution?
Allow the topsoil (at least 25%) to dry before watering again. Take breaks during watering sessions because you don’t want to overdo it and make the situation worse.
II. Curling of Leaves
There’s a good chance it’s because of the insufficient light your Pilea peperomioides gets. Domed leaves or incurved Leaves are ways to expose the maximum area of your plant to sunlight.
Solution?
Choose the correct placement point (East or West side window; bright indirect light). Rotate once a week to spread sunlight evenly across the plant.
III. Tiny Spots or Black Mold
Pileas are less prone to pests, but sometimes unhealthy plants can be attacked by aphids (black mold), mealybugs (small spots) or spider mites (spider web).
Solution?
Spray neem oil, wipe the plant leaves or the affected area with insecticidal soaps, or spray the plant with some water. Do not forget to do it for 4-7 days.
IV. Brown Patches
It can be caused by exposure of the plant to high temperatures or direct light. Brown spots can be a reaction to sunlight, i.e. sunburn or low humidity.
Solution?
Change the plant placement to an area with indirect light and maintain a level of humidity, humidity and temperature.
Bottom Line
Your plant relaxes you with its presence and beauty. It’s time for you to do the same. Bringing it home, watering and feeding is not enough. (Yes, literally.)
But hey. We are here for you. This guide is specially made for you to give your pilea peperomioides plant all the love and care.
Yes, it’s a low-maintenance facility, but that doesn’t mean it’s low-maintenance. We’ve put together all the maintenance tips, problems, and solutions you need to give it your all.
That’s it for us, plant lovers!
Did we miss something? Is it a problem you want to ask or do you want an instruction that will let the whole world know? Either way, let us know what new things you learned from our guide.
Finally, if you want to read more such guides, be sure to visit the Molooco Blog.
Also, don’t forget to pin/bookmark and visit our blog for more interesting but original information.