A Beginner’s Guide to Chinese Money Plant Care (Pilea Peperomioides)

Houseplants have become all the rage in the last few years. More and more people are coming to enjoy not only the look of having houseplants, like, pilea peperomioides, also known as the Chinese Money Plant, in their homes but also the pleasure of watching them grow and thrive.

The Chinese money plant, also known as Pilea Peperomiodes, is a small houseplant that grows to about 12 inches in height. This plant’s leaves are dark green and leathery with lighter green undersides. The Chinese money plant produces white flowers that change to pink or purple with age and can be found on long stems. If you have recently purchased one for your home, this guide will provide everything you need to know about caring for it so that it thrives!

Unfortunately, not all of us were born with a green thumb, that innate ability to care for living plants that some people seem to have. Thankfully, you don’t need to be an expert in houseplant care to succeed with most houseplants successfully. However, you need a bit of information about what to do if things go wrong. Here are a few tips on caring for Pilea Peperomioides, including some of the more common problems that may arise and how to fix them.

Basic Care of the Chinese Money Plant

This is a guide to caring for the Chinese money plant, also known as Pilea peperomiodes. This small houseplant grows to about 12 inches in height and produces white flowers which change to pink or purple with age on long stems at the ends of its branches. The leaves are dark green and leathery with lighter undersides.

Growing Conditions: This plant thrives in low light to medium shade and prefers a temperature between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity at around 50%. The pilea is really a quite forgiving little plant. It does best in bright, indirect light but will grow in almost any light except deep shade or harsh direct sunlight. They even do remarkably well under fluorescent lighting. This and their compact size make them ideal for the office environment.

Watering Needs: Keep the soil wet, but never soggy to avoid root rot and fungal diseases within the roots. Watering once or twice a week should be more than enough in the warmer months. Cut back watering in the winter. They do not grow as much as the temperature drops and the days shorten, so they do not need as much water, and the cooler temperatures make them even more susceptible to root rot.

Fertilizer: For the best results, apply a weak liquid fertilizer every two weeks. This should be done in conjunction with watering to avoid burning your plants’ roots and leaves.

Soil: A mixture of 80% potting soil and 20% perlite is recommended. This combination will provide the perfect environment for your plants to thrive in!

Additional tips: Never let your Chinese Money Plant, or any other houseplant, sit on or near an active radiator or heating vent. The hot/dry air will damage it.

Recognizing and Solving Problems for the Money Plant Pilea Peperomioides

Now that you know the basics of pilea peperomioides care let’s tackle some of the problems that may come up for Chinese Money Plants.

• Droopy leaves – this is usually a sign that your plant needs water. Give it a good watering, and it should perk right back up. If you find that your plant needs more frequent watering,  it may be time to repot it into something larger.
• Curled leaves – If your plant’s leaves have begun to curl under, likely, it is not getting enough light. Try moving it to an area where it will receive longer periods of bright lighting. Keep it out of direct afternoon sun as this will burn the leaves.
• Brown spots on leaves – these usually show up near the center of the leaf and maybe rimmed in yellow. These are a sign of a fungal infection. Remove the affected leaf with sharp scissors and spray or gently wash the plant with a houseplant fungicide.
• Brown or yellow edges are usually signs that your plant is not getting enough water or maybe in a spot that gets too much sunlight. Move the plant somewhere less bright and increase watering. If the damage is limited to a small portion of the leaf, you can trim it off. If most or all of the leaf is affected, it is best to remove the entire thing.
• Yellow, limp leaves – this is a symptom of the dreaded root rot. Cease watering until the soil has dried out completely. Take the time to be sure the pot’s drainage holes have not become blocked before watering again. In extreme cases, you may not be able to save your little pilea, but if caught in time, it should pull through.

Overall, the Chinese Money Plant is adaptable to most living conditions and easy to care for. They are the perfect accent to a side table, desk, or countertop and could be just the thing to bring a little life to your bathroom.

Where Can I Buy Pilea Peperomioides?

• Etsy
• Amazon