The Chinese money plant is a beautiful, unique, and easy to grow houseplant. Slow to propagate and only recently gaining worldwide popularity, the biggest obstacle to growing this plant is managing to find one. Keep reading to learn more about growing a Chinese money plant and Pilea plant care.
Chinese Money Plant Info
What is a Chinese money plant? Also known as lefse plant, missionary plant, and UFO plant, Pilea peperomioides is frequently just called “pilea” for short. It is native to the Yunnan Province of China. As legend has it, in 1946 the Norwegian missionary Agnar Espergren brought the plant back home from China and shared cuttings among his friends. To this day, the Chinese money plant is easiest to find in Scandinavia, where it is very popular. If you live elsewhere in the world, you might have some trouble finding a plant. Pilea is slow to propagate, and most nurseries don’t find them profitable enough to carry. Your best bet is to find someone willing to share their cuttings in person. If that fails, you should be able to order cuttings directly from sellers online. Chinese money plants are relatively small and very well suited to container life. They grow to a height of 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm.). They have a very distinctive appearance – green vegetative shoots grow up and out from the crown, each ending in a single saucer shaped leaf that can reach 4 inches (10 cm.) in diameter. If the plant grows healthily and densely, its leaves form an attractive mounding appearance.
How to Grow a Pilea Plant at Home
Pilea plant care is relatively minimal. The plants are hardy down to USDA zone 10, which means most gardeners will be growing a Chinese money plant in pots indoors. They like lots of indirect light but do poorly in direct sun. They should be placed near a sunny window, but just out of reach of the sun’s rays. They also like sandy, well-draining soil and should be allowed to dry out between waterings. They need very little feeding, but will do well with occasional additions of standard houseplant fertilizer.
-
How To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes In The Garden: 9 Natural Ways To Make Them Buzz Off!How to get rid of mosquitoes is on the minds of people in the summer in almost every region of the world. Learn how to repel the pests without toxic chemicals.
-
Monkey Orchid Care: How To Grow This Fascinating SpeciesThe monkey orchid (Dracula simia) bears a remarkable resemblance to its namesake and, with a little know-how, can be successfully grown as a houseplant.
-
Friendship Plant Care: Tips For Growing Friendship PlantsPilea involucrata is a tropical plant that needs warm temperatures and consistent humidity to thrive but other than that, this plant's needs are basic. Learn how to care for a friendship plant for an appealing textured foliage specimen in this article.
-
Aluminum Plant Care - Tips For Growing Aluminum Plants IndoorsGrowing aluminum plants is easy and will add additional appeal to the home. Learn more about taking care of a Pilea aluminum plant indoors in the following article. Click here to learn more.
-
Artillery Plant Info: Tips For Growing Artillery PlantsGrowing artillery plants provide an interesting ground cover option for shady gardens in the warmest of southern states. Artillery plants can also be grown in containers. Learn more in this article.
