Pilea Peperomioides

March 10th, 2021

Hey plant friends!

This week we are talking about Pilea peperomioides (Pie-Lee-uh Pepper–o–mee–oy-dees). Commonly known as the Chinese money plant or the friendship plant. This plant belongs to the Urticaceae family and is native to Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in southern China. Believe it or not, at one point this plant was considered extremely rare and was seen at nurseries going for triple digits! Because this cutie is so easy to propagate, production has ramped up, prices have gone done, making this plant more obtainable. A customer favorite at the greenhouse, and a must have for any plant collector.

Pilea are easy to care for, they will grow rapidly during the growing season and slow down a bit in the winter. Pilea like bright, indirect light. Exposing them to direct sunlight will lead to leaf burn. Make sure to rotate your plant weekly for even growth, this plant tends to reach towards light.

Pilea like a well-draining potting mix, like Espoma Cactus Mix. When watering this plant, allow the soil to dry out in between watering, then give it a good soak. Waterlogged soil can lead to root rot. As always, never allow your plant to sit in water. Pilea will generate pups or propagules around the base of the plant. Separate pups from original plant for a super easy propagation project and never ending plant gifting opportunities!

Pilea Peperomioides are currently available in the greenhouse in 4” pots. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to us by phone, Instagram, or email us at hello@tonkadale.com.

Happy planting!