Pilea

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The Pilea Plant (Pilea peperomioides) is the perfect plant to have in your home. It’s durable, beautiful, purifying, and might even give you better luck with money. Okay, that last one is questionable, but you never know! With its striking green leaves and thin stem, this plant will improve the atmosphere of any room.

The Pilea Plant is becoming a popular houseplant across the world, and it is often a staple of many home gardens. Find out how to keep this luxurious, lucky plant healthy and happy.

What is a Pilea Plant?

Pilea peperomioides is a perennial herb native to the Yunnan Province of Southern China, spotted at the foot of the Himalayas. It’s common name is Pilea Plant, but it goes by many titles. You may see the Pilea also referred to as the Chinese Money Plant, Mother Plant, Pancake Plant, or UFO Plant. Pilea houseplants are recognizable by their round-shaped leaves at the end of their springy stems, similar to those seen on the Purple Orchid.

The history of Pilea peperomioides is quite interesting. It was kept as an ornamental plant in the Yunnan Province for many years. Though, it wasn’t paid much attention outside of this region. In 1912, samples were collected from China’s Tsangshan mountain range (which rises almost 14,000 feet), but it was soon forgotten.

Later, in 1946, it was brought to Norway by a missionary and distributed to friends. It became popular all over the world and has been commercially grown since the late 2010s. It’s now a common and widely desired houseplant thanks to its unique appearance and hardy nature.

pilea plant

Pilea Plant Size & Requirements

Plant Size: This plant grows about 12 inches tall when mature. It’s equally wide, so it will need plenty of room to grow. It may even produce small white flowers with the right care. If you notice these flowers, pat yourself on the back because that means your Mother Plant is really thriving!

Light: Pilea peperomioides grows best in medium to low light. Similar to the Prayer Plant, it can tolerate various light conditions as long as the sunlight is not direct. This should come in the form of bright, indirect light. It can tolerate a few hours of bright light, but overexposure will cause the leaves to burn. Your Pilea Plant will become droopy without enough light, so make sure it’s not too shady.

Watering: You should water Pilea peperomioides every one or two weeks. Always let the soil dry out between waterings. This means you’ll have to water this plant more when it’s in direct sunlight. Water less when it’s in low light.

If you notice that your plant is losing leaves, that could be due to a lack of water. Touch the soil. If it’s dry to the touch within the first few inches, your Pilea Plant most likely needs a drink. Water your Pilea until the top soil is moist throughout.

Soil: This Chinese Money Plant loves a moderately rich, well-draining potting mix. When we say “well-draining” we mean that water should easily pass through the potting mix. If it pools around the plant’s roots, it could suffocate your Chinese Money Plant.

Temperature and Humidity: Pilea Plants aren’t too picky about temperature. Anywhere from 55 to 85 degrees is suitable. If its environment drops below 50 degrees, your Pilea Plant’s growth may be stunted. Normal humidity levels are excellent for this plant.

Why Choose a Pilea Plant for Your Home?

The Pilea Plant is low maintenance, making it an easy plant to care for. You won’t have to spend time fussing over this beauty, meaning you get a lot of benefits for very little effort. It features out-of-this-world white flowers and round leaves that make it worthy of the nickname “UFO Plant.” The Pilea Plant is perfect for any decor, and it will thrive almost anywhere in your home.

But Pilea peperomioides isn’t just a pretty face. It provides a lot of air purification benefits, reducing the pollutants in your home. You’ll feel refreshed and healthier with Pilea Plants around. Like most plants, the Pilea is also great to have around while you work. It can make you feel rejuvenated, focused, refreshed, and productive.

Another benefit of the Pilea Plant is how easy it is to propagate. You’ll be able to give your friends and family a lucky, beautiful gift with little effort. Here’s how to propagate your plant:

  1. Locate baby Pileas at the base of the plant below the main stalk.
  2. Use a sanitized blade to cut off a baby Pilea at the base, as close to the soil as possible.
  3. Place the baby plant’s stem in a small glass of water. Only the stem should be submerged or its leaves will rot.
  4. Put the glass in a bright area with indirect light.
  5. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh.
  6. Roots should begin to sprout after a few weeks.
  7. Once the roots are an inch long, place them in a small pot with fresh soil. Keep the soil moist for the first few weeks while you wait for the plant to take root.

The Pilea Plant is also known as the Chinese Money Plant. It’s believed that your household will have better luck with money if you place a coin in the plant’s soil. We can’t prove this but it’s worth a shot!

potted pilea

Pilea Plant Family Relatives

Pilea peperomioides is part of the Uritacea nettle plant family. It has 54 genera and 2,625 species of plants, including herbs, shrubs, small trees, and even some vines (mostly found in tropical regions).

Many of the species have plant hairs that sting, causing a painful rash. This includes the Australian stinging tree. Fortunately, the Pilea Plant does not! Here are some noteworthy Pilea family relatives:

Artillery Plant

A wall plant often used as an ornamental in the home.

Baby Tears

People often use this plant as ground cover thanks to its moss-like appearance and round leaves that share a striking resemblance to the Jade Plant.

Stinging Nettle

Found in Europe, North America, North Africa, and Asia, this plant has stinging leaves, but that doesn’t keep it from being used as an herbal medicine. The textiles and cosmetics industries also put the Pilea Plant to good use.

Pellitory Plant

This plant is native to tropical regions around the world. They are an annual or perennial plant that has green or pink stems. They will also flower!

Final Thoughts – Pilea Plant

Unlike its relatives, the Pilea Plant isn’t going to sting you or give you a rash. The Pilea Plant is actually a beneficial plant to have in your home as it cleans the air and keeps you rejuvenated and inspired. So even if you don’t get the luck of free money from placing a coin in your plant, you’ll still have plenty of good fortune with the Pilea Plant!