aka – Chinese Money Plant, Missionary Plant, UFO Plant, Pancake Plant, Pilea Peperomioides

Native to the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China

A true sun seeker – this plant of many names is often spotted baking on window sills or booking regular holidays to the Greek Islands. When not on annual leave, this fast growing green is perfect for gifting in a cute pot, or adding some fun texture and shape to your home. With it’s coin like leaves on thin stems (hence their nickname) and fast growing nature, it is one of the kookiest and most popular plant friends we have at asdaisydoes.

Let’s get to know the Pilea and how we can keep him happy and sunny (but not too sunny!) in his new house.

Choosing their perfect posse at home: As already mentioned – Pileas loves sun. So much so, that if placed in direct sunlight, they will tend to grow towards the sun and you’ll find yourself rotating it 2 – 3 times per week or with a lop-sided plant. Who would have thought it could be such a high maintenance housemate? To avoid this, make sure your Pilea is in a well lit spot away from direct sunlight. It may take time to find it’s new home, but I promise it’s worth it!

Hydration: A social drinker – your Pilea only likes a drink on the weekend and even less frequently during winter. Before watering, check the top layer of soil is dry as overwatering results in the leaves turning yellow and dropping off. Also, never let your Pilea sit in water in its drip tray. If you forget to give your Pilea a drink, they will kindly let you know they are thirsty by appearing a little droopy and tired.

Propagating: The Pilea is one of the easiest plants to propagate and create cute mini alien looking babies to share with friends or add to your indoor jungle.

• Once some new growth sprouts up from the soil, snip them with a sharp blade  as close to the soil as possible
• Place the cutting in a small jar of water in a brightly lit space with indirect sunlight – from here you will see some new roots start to sprout within a week  or two
• Once the new roots have grown about 2-3cm’s, move the stem to a small pot and plant with some fresh soil – press the soil gently down to secure in place and keep the soil moist for a couple of weeks

HELP! The most common issue with Pileas is some uninvited pest guests. If you start to notice any small flies buzzing around the plant, or some thin webs around the stems – this is easily treatable with some white oil, which you can pick up at Bunnings. Another common sight is curling leaves on your Pilea – which is a sign of either too much sun, or over/under watering.

Hot Tip: It is best to remove the yellowing leaves when they appear and every now and then give your leaf tips a little squeeze to cheer on some beautiful bushy growth. It is also best to rotate your pilea every few weeks or so to make sure it grows evenly upwards!

Pop in store to check out our Pileas, as well as our fun range of pots to match. If you have any questions on any of our indoor plant range,  just give the store a call on 0431 458 486 and the store team will be there to help.