Pilea Peperomioides Care
Placement
PRO TIP: Be sure to rotate the plant frequently as Pilea peperomioides grow quickly and orient towards the light.
The Pilea Peperomioides is known by many names, including the Chinese money plant, the UFO plant, the friendship plant, or the missionary plant. Noted for its unique pad-like foliage in an eye-catching bright shade of green, this plant has been popular in Scandanavia for years. Cuttings of the plant were taken from its native China by a Norwegian missionary who helped propagate it in Europe and grow its popularity there. It's only become widely available in the USA in the past few years, but has quickly become a favorite of plant enthusiasts on this side of the world too.
Pilea peperomioides is a low maintenance species that thrives in a bright spot near a window, but it is best to keep the plant out of direct sunlight as too much direct sun can cause the leaves to burn. However, too little light can cause the leaves to fade and the plant's overall health to suffer, so take time to find a spot that's just right.
If you are unsure of the lighting conditions in your home or office, check out our guide for how to measure light in your space.
Pilea peperomioides is one of the easiest and most interesting plants to propagate in water. Cuttings and pups spread it around the world, earning it one of its many nicknames, the Friendship Plant. This plant is the gift that keeps on giving!
Routine Maintenance
PRO TIP: This plant is quite communicative! Watch for the leaves beginning to droop, as this can be a sign that it needs water.
Always be sure to assess your plant’s watering needs upon receiving it. Before giving your plant a drink, it is best to check the moisture level in the soil first to ensure it isn’t moist right beneath the surface. A soil probe is an excellent tool to have to check the moisture of your plants at the root level. You may also want to consider aerating the soil of your plant before the initial watering. Many growers compact the soil to avoid shifting during transit, so aerating can help the soil breathe, improve drainage, and allow moisture to be released if the soil is overly damp.
Allow the top 2”-3” of the Pilea peperomioides' soil to dry between waterings. Typically, deeply watering this plant once a week will suffice, but it will depend on the amount and quality of light it is receiving. Drooping leaves can be an indication that the plant is in need of water, but always check the soil moisture a few inches below the surface to confirm your diagnosis before watering.
Rotate your plant periodically to ensure even growth on all sides and clean the leaves often so the plant can photosynthesize efficiently. When cleaning and dusting the leaves, also take the opportunity to inspect the undersides and keep an eye out for pests. For tips on dusting, cleaning, and misting your leaves, be sure to read our article all about misting houseplants.
Remember each plant is a unique living thing and may have varying needs, especially in their individual locations. Pay attention to the condition of your Pilea Peperomioides and its watering needs and you will have a long and happy relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
The lower leaves on my Pilea are turning yellow and falling off. What is going on?
- Most often this is due to an issue with watering. It is more common for this plant to be overwatered rather than underwatered, but it could be either. Consider recent care given and feel the soil of your plant and consider investing in a soil probe so you can check the soil moisture at the root level of the plant. If the soil is moist, then use the probe to aerate it and wait until it is dry before you next water. If the soil feels very dry, then your plant likely needs a drink and should be watered throughly.
How do I propagate my Pilea?
- There are two ways to do this: In soil or in water. We have found the soil method is quite easy and eliminates one step, but it’s entirely up to you! Once you have had your plant for awhile, you will most likely see it produce little offshoots or pups in the soil. Remove one of these shoots and be sure to take some of its roots along with it. Pot it in a small 2” terra cotta pot and care for it as usual. Please note: You will need to monitor this plant more frequently than the mother plant because the pot is smaller and the plant will need more water until its roots have established.
- To root in water, simply take a leaf cutting and let the stem sit in water until a good amount of roots appear. You can also take a pup and let its roots sit in water and grow. Transfer to a small pot and provide care as usual.
Why are my Pilea’s leaves drooping?
- This could be happening for a few different reasons. The Pilea’s leaves often droop when the plant is thirsty. Feel the soil, and if it’s dry to the touch in the top few inches then your plant is ready for a drink. If the soil is moist throughout then the droopiness is being caused by something else.
- Another reason your Pilea could be droopy is the plant may not be receiving enough light. This plant prefers a bright, but indirect light source. It will not fare well in low light conditions.
What are the white spots under my Pilea's leaves?
- The white spots are pores! Also known as stomata. They are a mineral residue from water vapor being released through the pores. Not to worry, they are not pests or fungus.
Why are there brown spots on my Pilea’s leaves?
- This is often a result of overwatering. When overwatered, the Pilea's leaves will develop brown spotting and edging, and the leaves will begin to fall off the plant. If your plant is showing these symptoms, feel the soil. If it’s moist then hold off on watering until the soil dries all the way through the pot. Reference the care instructions for re-establishing a watering routine with your plant.
- Other causes for brown spotting are too much fertilizer, too much sun, or pests.
How often should I fertilize my plant?
- In general, house plants will thrive when they are fertilized spring through fall. Fertilize once a month with an organic houseplant fertilizer, following the package instructions for dilution and administration. Greenery NYC uses an organic potting mix with a slow release fertilizer in the soil, so your plant will not need fertilizer within the first 6 months of receiving it.
How often does my plant need to be repotted?
- For smaller desktop plants, we suggest repotting once every 12-18 months. Typically you want to choose a potting vessel 1”- 2” larger in diameter to allow for growth. Don’t choose a pot much larger than the previous as this could drown the plant's roots. If you prefer to maintain the current size of your plant, repot into the same vessel, providing new soil and trimming away some roots and foliage. Spring or summer is the ideal time to repot as the plant is at its strongest.
Recommended Pots
Pilea peperomiodes do exceptionally well in our self-watering planters. The roots take a little time to develop, but once they're established and placed in a sunny location you can see for yourself how thirsty these plants can get! Our self watering planters take the guess-work out of watering, so there's never any second guessing.
Standard Planter Instructions
All of our Standard Planters include a removable drainage plug to give our customers the option of drainage. While no drainage is sometimes preferred for its aesthetic simplicity, we don't recommend this option for beginners as watering mistakes can be hard to rectify.
Whether you choose to use drainage or not, we always recommend using a layer of drainage (such as our Aeration Stones) at the base of the planter. A drainage layer allows the plant's roots access to oxygen in the pockets between the drainage medium, and a lack of drainage can cause anaerobic damage to your plant.
If you decide to utilize the drainage hole for your pot, make sure to include a Plant Saucer beneath your pot to collect excess water. For most plants in standard planters, we recommend watering about once a week. Water the soil mass until water begins pooling in your Plant Saucer.
With no drainage hole, you will need to be more precise in your watering. While we would love to give you a specific measurement of water to provide for your plant, the reality is that a plant's water requirements vary wildly depending on factors such as light exposure and the overall health of the plant. You will need to learn to tell when the plant is thirsty based on how its foliage looks. Droopy foliage is usually the first sign: when your plant looks a little slumped over that's usually a visual indicator that it's thirsty.
The best solution for checking your plant's moisture level, drainage hole of not, is to use a Soil Probe to determine the moisture content of the soil at the bottom of the planter.
Self Watering Planter Instructions
The Self-Watering Planters require a deep and thorough watering of the topsoil after they are first planted. This is important because the roots of the plants first need to grow into the reservoir in order to drink from it. Water your plant from the top for two to four weeks before using the reservoir. During the dormant seasons, or for plants that have slower growing habits, consider top watering for longer.
TEST: After the initial top water period, fill the bottom water reservoir. If the water in the reservoir is absorbed into the planter, it means the plant is ready for regular reservoir servicing. If not, be sure to continue top watering for a few more weeks until the plant has started drinking from the reservoir.
RESERVOIR SERVICING: Once the reservoir empties on its own, do not refill the reservoir right away. Similar to how humans need a breath of air between gulps of water, most plants require a drying out period. Allow for the reservoir to empty all the way between watering. All plants are different in their needs so the amount of time the reservoir sits empty will need to be determined, but know that for most plants this period is between 1-3 days.
From here on out, you should rarely topwater the plant while using the reservoir system. Watering from below allows the plant to drink at its own pace, and can help combat certain issues like fungus gnats by allowing the top layer of soil to dry out more. Please note that if your plant's soil dries out too much, it can impair the wicking ability of the Aeration Stones in your planter. If your soil becomes too dry, we recommend giving it a thorough watering.
For more information on our Self Watering Planters include planting instructions, visit our blog post on How to Use Our Self-Watering Pots.
Recommended Accessories
Aeration Stones
Aeration Stones promote healthy root growth by creating air pockets in the soil and absorbing excess water in the basin of your planter. These porous clay stones are a natural, efficient and invaluable material to set your plant up for success. We always suggest using these when working with a planter without drainage holes.
ARS Stainless Steel Pruners
Salts and moisture from potting soil wreaks havoc on cheaper metals. Stainless steel is one of the most durable metals available on a consumer scale, and these heavy duty pruners are built to take a beating. Great for pruning jobs large and small.
Neem Oil
Neem Oil is an all purpose insecticide, miticide, and fungicide used for organic gardening. It's systemic, which means the plant will absorb the neem oil into its circulatory system and poison pests from within. Be careful not to overuse, as this can weaken plants and cause discoloration.
Soil Probe
Plants do poorly without air to the roots. Overwatering causes the air to be pushed out of the soil, compacting the soil around the waterlogged roots of the plant. Using the Soil Probe aerates the soil as it checks for moisture.
Watering Can
Watering cans come in all shapes and sizes, and the perfect one for your home is the one you're happiest living with. Look for long spouts and a container volume that's appropriate for your plant collection.
Soil
Fox Farm Ocean Forest contains all the features we look for when aiming to ensure the long term health of a plant: excellent water retention, breathability, texture, and is made from organic materials.
Fertilizer
10-4-3 fertilizer is a great, gentle choice for indoor foliage. Simply mix this in to your watering can using the supplied directions every other week. Ensure that your plant is receiving a good amount of light, otherwise it won't have the energy to process the nutrients and burnt tips may occur on the foliage.
Cork Mats
Protects furniture and floors from scratches and moisture. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for use with planters made from organic materials such as ceramic.