# Pilea: Growing and Care ## Introduction The **Pilea**, also known as the **Chinese Money Plant** or **Pancake Plant**, is a trendy and easy-to-grow houseplant appreciated for its decorative round leaves. Native to southern China, this plant adds a modern touch to any interior. ## Planting and Repotting - **When to repot?** Preferably in spring, every 2-3 years or when roots emerge from the pot. - **Soil:** Use a well-draining potting mix (houseplant compost with perlite or sand). - **Pot:** Choose a container with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. ## Light and Temperature - **Light:** Bright, indirect light (avoid direct sun, which can scorch leaves). - **Temperature:** 18–24°C (avoid drafts and temperatures below 10°C). ## Watering and Humidity - **Watering:** Keep soil lightly moist—water when the top 2 cm feels dry. Reduce in winter. - **Humidity:** Prefers moderate humidity. Mist leaves occasionally or place on a pebble tray. ## Fertilising - **When?** From spring to autumn, every 4 weeks. - **What?** Diluted liquid fertiliser for green plants. ## Pruning and Maintenance - **Pruning:** Trim leggy stems to encourage bushiness. Remove yellowing leaves. - **Cleaning:** Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust. ## Propagation Easily propagated by separating **offsets** (baby plants) from the mother plant. Plant in moist soil and keep warm until rooted. ## Common Issues - **Drooping leaves:** Over- or underwatering. Adjust watering routine. - **Yellow leaves:** Often due to excess water or poor drainage. - **Pests:** Watch for spider mites or aphids—treat with insecticidal soap. ## Toxicity Non-toxic to pets and humans, making it a safe choice for homes. ## Conclusion With minimal care, the **Pilea** thrives and even produces charming offsets to share. A perfect plant for beginners and plant lovers alike! --- *Note: Botanical names (e.g., *Pilea peperomioides*) remain unchanged in translation.*

Description and Botany

Pilea is primarily native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, Asia, with some species also found in Africa. The most well-known species, Pilea peperomioides, originates from the mountainous regions of southern China, particularly Yunnan. In these temperate and humid zones, it grows naturally, often in the shade of larger trees.

Pilea belongs to the Urticaceae family, which includes stinging nettles, though Pilea itself is completely non-stinging! Some Pilea species even have dentate leaves resembling those of nettles (for example, Pilea matsudai).

Pilea peperomioides was discovered in China in the 1940s by a missionary named Agnar Espegren, which is why it’s sometimes called the “Missionary plant”. Espegren brought it back to Norway and shared it with friends. The plant then spread across Europe through exchanges and cuttings among plant enthusiasts.

The Pilea genus includes over 600 species of tropical plants, mostly herbaceous, often grown for their decorative foliage. These species exhibit great diversity, with varied leaf shapes, sizes, and appearances. Some are prized for their simplicity and ease of care, others for their unique or graphic appeal.

Pilea has a bushy, rounded habit. Pilea peperomioides typically reaches 20-30 cm in height, making it perfect for small spaces like windowsills, shelves, or desks.

Its main ornamental feature is undoubtedly its unique foliage! The leaves of Pilea peperomioides are round, almost perfectly circular, smooth, and glossy. They are bright green and held by long, slender petioles attached to the centre of the lamina rather than the edge (known as peltate foliage). Leaves can grow up to 10 cm in diameter.

This structure gives the plant a highly graphic and original appearance, with leaves that seem to float like little flying saucers around the central stem.

Pilea leaves are round like coins, and in China, it’s said this plant brings prosperity—hence its nickname “Chinese money plant”. In English, it’s also called the “Pancake plant”!

Pilea peperomioides is the most well-known and widely cultivated, but there are many other Pilea species distinguished by their foliage size, shape, and colour. Pilea peperomioides, Pilea cadierei, Pilea involucrata, Pilea microphylla, Pilea glauca ‘Greyzy’

Other Pilea species offer very different foliage: veined, variegated, dentate, or textured. Beyond Pilea peperomioides, here are some other ornamental species:

• Pilea cadierei: this variety is named for its dark green leaves marbled with silver spots, giving a metallic, decorative effect. The oval, veined leaves form a compact habit. Ideal in pots or hanging planters, it thrives in humid conditions.
• Pilea involucrata: this species has thick, crinkled, highly textured foliage, often dark green with bronze or coppery hues. Valued for its colour contrasts and compact size, it’s perfect for terrariums or decorative pots.
• Pilea microphylla: with its tiny, bright green leaves densely packed, this species forms a thick, moss-like mat. Its curious name comes from miniature flowers that “explode” to release pollen—earning it the nickname “artillery plant”!
• Pilea glauca: prized for its trailing habit and powdery blue-grey foliage, this plant excels in hanging displays. It cascades with small, soft, round leaves, ideal for boho or urban jungle styles.

Hybrid varieties are also available, bred for aesthetics: variegated leaves, pink veins, miniature habits, etc. Examples include Pilea peperomioides ‘White Splash’, ‘Variegata’, or ‘Mojito’, with white-variegated foliage.

Pilea rarely flowers indoors. However, under optimal conditions, it may bloom in spring or summer. When flowering occurs, it produces panicles of tiny white, green, or pink star-shaped flowers with five petals. The blooms are delicate and airy.

Pilea is not hardy: it cannot tolerate cold, let alone frost. Its ideal temperature range is 15°C to 25°C. Below 10°C, the plant may suffer severely. This is why it’s grown almost exclusively indoors or in greenhouses in temperate climates.

Pilea in flower

The different species and varieties

Our Favourite Varieties

Chinese money plant - Pilea peperomioides

This is the most well-known and widely cultivated variety. It is characterised by its round, glossy leaves with a very graphic appearance.

• Height at maturity 50 cm

See the product sheet

Pilea glaucophylla Greyzy - Piléa rampant Greyze

This variety forms slender red stems with a trailing habit, bearing numerous small rounded leaves in a silvery-grey shade with a slight blue tint.

• Height at maturity 10 cm

See the product sheet

Planting Pilea

Where to place your Pilea?

Pilea loves bright, indirect light. Too much direct sunlight may scorch its delicate leaves, while insufficient light will make the plant sparse, with stems abnormally elongating to seek light (etiolation). The ideal spot is near an east or west-facing window, or behind a sheer curtain if the light is too intense. It will thrive in a room with all-day brightness, such as a living room or bright kitchen. Avoid cold draughts and direct heat sources which dry out the air.

Position your Pilea in a bright spot, for example near a window, but out of direct sunlight

When to plant Pilea?

Pilea can be potted year-round, as long as indoor temperatures remain stable. That said, the ideal time to repot or place it in a new container is in spring, between March and May. This is when it enters its active growth phase, helping it establish well.

How to plant it?

Choose a pot with drainage holes, essential to prevent waterlogging. A diameter of 10 to 15 cm is sufficient for a young plant. You can gradually move it to slightly larger pots as it grows.

Use a light, well-draining growing medium. For example, you could mix 2/3 houseplant compost with 1/3 perlite, sand or vermiculite (to lighten the mix). You could also add some activated charcoal or coconut fibre to improve aeration.

Here are the steps to plant or repot your Pilea correctly:

• Place some of the growing medium in the pot.
• Gently remove the plant from its original pot, taking care not to damage the roots.
• Position the Pilea in the centre of the pot, then fill around it with the growing medium.
• Firm down lightly and water.
• Place the Pilea in a bright spot, out of direct sunlight.
• Only water again when the top layer of compost feels dry.

1. 

   Plant the Pilea in a pot slightly larger than the root ball

How to care for your Pilea?

The Pilea is a fairly easy-care plant, but like all plants, it has its little preferences. Here are the right steps to keep it happy and healthy.

Watering

The Pilea dislikes both prolonged drought and excessive moisture. The key is finding the right balance:

• Spring-summer: water about once a week, when the top layer of compost feels dry to the touch.
• Autumn-winter: reduce watering to every 10 to 15 days, as the plant enters dormancy.

Tip: it’s better to underwater than overwater. Excess moisture risks causing root rot.

Ideally use room-temperature water that’s low in lime (rainwater or filtered if possible).

Remember to water the Pilea regularly

Light

As mentioned earlier, the Pilea loves soft light. Rotate the pot regularly to prevent it growing lopsided while reaching for light. Too dark a spot will result in sparse foliage and an unbalanced habit.

Ambient humidity

The Pilea enjoys moderately humid air, especially in winter when heating dries the atmosphere. To compensate, feel free to lightly mist the leaves (not daily). You can also place the pot on a tray filled with damp clay pebbles (without the pot base touching the water).

You can mist the foliage occasionally, especially if the air is dry

Pruning and cleaning

• When you spot them, remove yellowed or damaged leaves by cutting them at the base of the stem.
• You can also pinch stems to encourage branching.
• Clean leaves with a soft damp cloth to remove dust (this helps them absorb light better).

Repotting

The Pilea grows fast! We recommend repotting every one to two years in spring. Take the opportunity to partially refresh the compost and check the roots’ condition. Each time, place it in a slightly larger pot to accommodate its growth.

Repot the Pilea every one to two years, moving it each time to a slightly larger pot than before

Fertiliser

During the growth period (March to September), you can give it some liquid houseplant fertiliser, diluted in the watering water, every 3 to 4 weeks. Stop fertilising in winter.

Diseases and Pests of Pilea

The Pilea is generally robust, but like any houseplant, it can sometimes encounter a few issues, especially if growing conditions are not ideal.

Common diseases

• Root rot: often caused by excess water or poor drainage. The roots turn black and soft, the leaves yellow then fall.
  Solution: repot the plant in well-draining soil, remove rotten roots and reduce watering.
• Leaf spots: brown or black spots may appear due to excess moisture on the foliage or a fungal infection.
  Solution: avoid wetting the leaves, space plants to improve air circulation, and treat with a mild fungicidal if needed.
• Soft or drooping leaves: this may indicate water stress, either from lack of water or overwatering.
  Solution: check the soil moisture and adjust watering accordingly.

Common parasites

• Mealybugs: they often appear as small white cottony masses at the base of leaves.
  Solution: remove them by hand with a cotton pad soaked in 70% alcohol, or use a natural insecticidal.
• Aphids: these small green or black insects gather on young shoots.
  Solution: spray with soapy water or a black soap treatment.
• Spider mites: mainly present in dry conditions, they leave fine webs and cause dull foliage.
  Solution: increase ambient humidity, mist regularly and treat with a miticide if needed.

Prevention is better than cure: keep an eye on the condition of the leaves, adjust watering and ventilate the room regularly.

How to propagate Pilea?

The Pilea is particularly prized for its ability to naturally produce young shoots, commonly referred to as “offsets”. It’s one of the easiest plants to propagate, even for beginners. This allows you to share cuttings with loved ones or expand your own collection at minimal cost.

Propagating Pilea by removing offsets

Small shoots sometimes appear at the base of the mother plant, often slightly buried in the compost. These can be removed to propagate the plant. This is actually the simplest and most common method for obtaining new young plants.

When to remove offsets?

Wait until they’re about 5 to 10 cm tall with several leaves.

How to do it?

• Carefully dig up the plant to access the offsets.
• Separate the offset with some of its roots (if possible).
• Replant the offset in a small pot with a light growing medium.
• Water lightly and place the pot in a bright spot, out of direct sunlight.

The plant usually establishes quickly. You can also keep some offsets in the same pot as the mother plant for a bushier effect.

You can remove the offsets growing at the base of the plant

How to propagate Pilea by cuttings?

Propagation by cuttings is less common for Pilea, but possible if you’re pruning your plant.

• Take a healthy stem about 10 cm long, with 2 or 3 leaves.
• Place it in water, removing the lower leaves to prevent them from sitting in water.
• Change the water every 2-3 days.
• Within 10 to 15 days, roots should appear.
• Once the roots are sufficiently developed, repot in a small container.

Place the cuttings in water to root before repotting them

Which plants to pair with Pilea and how to showcase it?

The Pilea pairs particularly well with other houseplants thanks to its rounded, graphic foliage which creates an interesting contrast with more slender or textured forms. An excellent combination is to place it alongside ferns, whose delicate, airy fronds highlight the Pilea’s clean structure. Calatheas, with their large, veined and often variegated leaves, create a very successful play on textures, while sharing the same preferences for soft light and moderate humidity.

From left to right: Parodia warasii, Pilea peperomioides, Pilea depressa, Aloe vera, Ficus ginseng, Gasteria duval

For a more modern or minimalist look, you can pair the Pilea with succulents like Haworthia or Senecio rowleyanus (commonly called “string of pearls”), which offer a low or trailing habit contrasting with the Pilea’s upright form. Peperomias, especially thick-leaved or veined varieties, also make excellent pot or windowsill companions. Together, they form a compact, low-maintenance mini ecosystem.

The Pilea can also find its place in an urban jungle corner alongside small monstera, philodendrons or pothos, which add volume and height around its more compact silhouette. This arrangement works particularly well on a plant shelf or low furniture lit by natural light.

Finally, in an open terrarium or large container, it can accompany miniature plants like fittonias, small-leaved pileas or decorative mosses. The result is a living plant display, rich in green hues and varied shapes.

With a little creativity, the Pilea becomes a true centrepiece in any plant composition, thanks to its versatility and unique charm.

Parodia depressa, Aloe vera, Gasteria duval and Parodia warasii