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Monday, May 5, 2025

Chinese Money Plant, Pilea peperomioides

The Chinese Money is a popular houseplant known for its:

  • Round, coin-shaped leaves (hence the "money" name)
  • Fast growth under the right conditions
  • Ease of propagation through offshoots or “pups”

    Basic Care Guide

    🌞 Light

  • Prefers bright, indirect light
  • Avoid direct sun, which can scorch the leaves
  • Can tolerate lower light but will grow slower

    💧 Water

  • Water when the top inch of soil feels dry
  • Don’t let it sit in soggy soil—good drainage is essential
  • Reduce watering in winter

    🌡️ Temperature & Humidity

  • Likes normal room temperatures (65–75°F / 18–24°C)
  • Doesn’t like cold drafts
  • Average humidity is fine, but it appreciates occasional misting

    🌱 Soil

  • Use a well-draining potting mix—a general houseplant soil with perlite works well

    🌿 Fertilizer

  • Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season (spring and summer)

    🌼 Propagation

  • Easily propagated from baby plants (pups) that grow from the base
  • Gently remove and pot them once they have a few leaves and some roots

    🚨 Common Issues

  • Drooping leaves: usually from overwatering or underwatering
  • Brown spots: possibly from sunburn or inconsistent watering
  • Leggy growth: not enough light

    Here are step-by-step tips for propagating a Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides), which is known for producing lots of offshoots (aka "pups"):

    🧪 Types of Pilea Pups You Can Propagate

  • Basal pups – grow from the roots at the base of the mother plant (most common).
  • Stem pups – grow on the stem or higher up (less common, but also propagatable).

    🌱 How to Propagate from Basal Pups

      ✅ What You’ll Need:
    • A clean, sharp knife or scissors
    • Small pot(s) with drainage holes
    • Well-draining potting mix (e.g., potting soil + perlite)
    • Optional: rooting hormone (not required, but can help)

      🪴 Step-by-Step:

    • Wait Until the Pup Is Ready
    • Let pups grow to at least 2–3 inches tall with several leaves.
    • Make sure they have their own root system (gently dig to check).
    • Separate the Pup
    • Use a clean knife or scissors to carefully cut the pup away, including some roots.
    • If it has no roots yet, you can still propagate, but it may take longer to establish.
    • Plant the Pup
    • Place it in a small pot with moist (not soggy) well-draining soil.
    • Press gently to stabilize the baby plant.
    • Care After Planting
    • Keep in a warm, bright spot with indirect light.
    • Water lightly and keep the soil consistently moist (not wet) for the first few weeks.

      💧 Optional: Water Propagation (for rootless pups)

        If the pup has no roots:
      • Place it in a small glass of water (just the base, not the leaves).
      • Keep in bright, indirect light.
      • Change water every few days.
      • After 2–4 weeks, once roots appear, transfer it to soil.

        🌟 Extra Tips

      • Don’t remove too many pups at once—let the mother plant recover.
      • Propagate in spring or early summer for best results.
      • Be patient! Newly potted pups may take a few weeks to start growing.
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