Best Chinese Money Plant
The brilliant green pancake-shaped leaves of the Chinese money plant (also known as Pilea) are a popular design element in Scandinavian interiors. While they may be simple to cultivate, you may have returned home from the garden center empty-handed after searching for one. So, before you set your sights on bringing home your very own Chinese money plant, consider the following suggestions and advice.
The Plant Itself
The Pilea perbromides, or Chinese money plant, is a species of flowering plant that is native to the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan. It is also known as the missionary plant, lefse plant, pancake plant, UFO plant, and simply pilea. The story goes that in the 1940s, a Norwegian missionary named Agran Epergne brought cuttings home and planted them with his friends and family. Those plants were dispersed over Scandinavia and the rest of the world by cuttings distributed among acquaintances.
Online Stores That Sell Pileas
Getting a start from a buddy is the best way to get a Chinese money plant in most parts of the world. They may not be commercially viable for nurseries to stock in large quantities due to their relatively slow growth rate. If you can’t snag one from a friend who shares your green thumb, you can always purchase one from a vendor on sites like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, or Craigslist. After witnessing the outrageous pricing some sellers set, you may opt to hold out for a buddy to give you a cutting instead.
Situating Future Expansion
A Chinese money plant thrives in bright light but not direct sunshine. Leaves shrivel up in direct sunlight but may grow larger if they are occasionally shaded. They are supposedly frost-hardy and may bloom more profusely during cold snaps, displaying tiny white flowers on pink stems.
Upkeep and Repairs
The Chinese money plant requires a pot with drainage holes and soil that drains quickly. Soil should be allowed to dry out significantly between waterings, with increased watering needed during warmer, brighter weather. When the plant’s leaves begin to droop even slightly, it requires water. If you don’t want your Chinese money plant to seem unbalanced, rotate it once a week. Due to the great size of their leaves, these plants require frequent watering or at least wiping down to prevent the buildup of dust. Once a month throughout the spring and summer growing seasons, apply a general-purpose plant fertilizer. As the weather gets warmer, you may also wish to move your Chinese money plant outside; however, you should still take care to protect it from direct sunlight.
The Chinese Money Plant is one of the most instantly recognizable houseplants of the modern indoor gardening renaissance.
This fast-growing, easy-to-replicate plant is a hit with everyone you share it with because of its nearly perfectly round leaves.
Years ago, I was given a Pilea piperamides that was little more than an inch tall; today, it’s over 60 centimeters tall and has had dozens of offspring that I’ve also donated.
Natural Environment
The Chinese Money Plant gets its name because it grows naturally in the moderate temperature of southern China near the foot of the Himalayas.
This plant requires a lot of bright indirect light. During the warmer months, I keep mine a couple of meters from a south-facing window and shade it with a blind. The Chinese money plant does well near windows facing east or west. Intense UV rays from the sun will cause the leaves to brown and fall off, while insufficient light will cause the plant to seem droopy and eventually turn yellow.
A healthy Chinese money plant will have dark green leaves and stems that don’t droop too much.
Plants benefit from regular rotation to ensure uniform development and a beautiful spherical shape.
Older leaves near the plant’s base may droop and often become slightly yellow as the plant ages and matures, as this is a natural consequence of the plant expending energy on developing new growth as it ages. To compare the summer and winter looks of my Pilea piperamides, I simply removed the older, lower leaves during the winter.
The Chinese money plant does best when allowed to dry out a little between waterings, and does not like to be constantly soggy. This plant’s leaves will droop lower than usual and it will look a little sad and wilted to let you know it needs water. A typical watering schedule for mine is once every two to three weeks during the summer and once every week or two during the winter. Like a lot of houseplants, you can tell if the soil is dry by sticking your finger into it; if the top inch or two of the soil is dry, the plant needs watering.
Watering a Chinese plant is a task I perform at the sink, not while it sits in its pretty pot. Before returning it to its ornamental container, I always make sure all of the water has drained out. If you water your plants while they are still in their pretty pots, the soil may become soggy and the roots may rot.
Small white spots on the underside of Pilea piperamides’ leaves are not particularly alarming; they are mineral deposits and the plant is merely signaling that it may have received too much water or too much calcium-rich water. In hard-water regions, this is more prevalent; however, you may discover that watering with filtered tap water or rainwater prevents this problem. As an alternative, it could be a result of ingesting too much water. It is important to allow the plant to dry out a little in between waterings.
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Humidity
The Chinese money plant is not picky and will thrive even if humidity levels are left at their current levels. The modesty around my Chinese money plant is naturally low, and I have never tried to boost it in any way.
Many houseplants, however, require higher humidity levels, particularly during the dry winter months when our homes are heated by central air conditioning and we use our heaters less frequently. This can be achieved through the use of a humidifier, by placing the plants in a well-lit bathroom, or by placing the plants on pebbles in a tray of water, which will increase the humidity as the water evaporates.
Soil
This plant thrives in a compost mix with good drainage. For my houseplants, I mix two-thirds compost with one-third perlite. The perlite aids in drainage, which is important for the compost.
Repotting
Once a year, in the spring or summer, you should report your Chinese Money Plant to give it more area to expand and a nutritional boost from the new compost. You should only go up in pot size by a few centimeters at most. When you report, you can also take advantage of the opportunity to separate the many young plants that have sprouted in the old soil along the pot’s edge and base. Read on for further details in the “Propagation” section.
Fertilizer
During the spring and summer, when growth is at its peak, plants should be fed every 2 to 3 weeks; in the winter, when development is slow or nonexistent, this frequency can be reduced. We suggest that you use Liquid Gold Leaf.
Propagation
Because they produce offspring at the plant’s base, Chinese money plants are among the easiest plants to reproduce. These young plants can be carefully lifted out of their containers and replanted directly into their pots.
Instructions for Spreading
This plant’s widespread distribution is due in part to the ease with which it can be propagated—even though it is not frequently sold commercially. A healthy plant will eventually send offshoots through the soil’s surface, known as plantlets. Using a clean, sharp knife, dig down about an inch with the stem to liberate the young plant. To encourage the plant to take root and generate new leaves, repot it in a larger container and maintain the soil moist until then. You can also remove new plantlets from the stem by cutting them off, then replanting them in water for a week or two to encourage root growth, as described above. The best way to help others is to help yourself.
The lifespan of Chinese money plants is discussed. How Long Do They Usually Live?
Do you want to add a Chinese Money Plant to your indoor garden, but are concerned about its longevity? If given the right conditions, these little plants can live for a very long time. The average lifespan of a Pilea is discussed, as well as methods for making them live longer. In the right conditions, a well-cared-for Chinese money plant will flourish and flourish for ten years or more. You may have found the ideal houseplant in this heat-tolerant and low-maintenance specimen. However, how long do they live? With regular watering, plant food, and bright indirect light, a well-cared-for Chinese money plant can live for around a decade. If you’re healthy, you could live much longer. Supposedly more than twenty years have passed since the death of the longest-living Chinese Money Plant.
This plant, Pilea Piperamides, or simply Pilea, has the potential to provide life and color to your house for many years. Keep reading to learn how to make your plant live longer
Plant in a Pot, Green
Please have been in China for a while, but they were first brought from Norway.
According to legend, Chinese money plants first appeared in Norway in 1946. A Norwegian missionary named Agran Epergne brought the plant to China at that time. The propagation and distribution of the new and unusual plant around his neighborhood spread its fame.
Piles are found predominantly in China and Scandinavia despite being native to China’s Yunnan Province. You can go there and quickly locate and buy them. These rare Pileas are believed to bring prosperity to their owners and their guests in China. They are also a symbol of wealth and prosperity. The stacking effect of their circular leaves makes them look like a pile of coins.
It wasn’t until roughly 2017 that the Pilea gained popularity in North America. The indoor plant became a sensation after it was shown on a well-followed Instagram account. Previously unpopular in the West, it has recently experienced a surge in popularity.
Traits of Plants
Several characteristics set these indoor plants apart.
Small in stature, Chinese Money Plants (Pilea chrysanthemum) are so-called for their mythical power to usher in prosperity and good fortune. They flourish in terra cotta or ceramic pots. Houseplants grown in this manner require little room to develop into mature specimens.
The Pilea can attain a maximum vertical height of 8 to 12 inches (or 20 to 30 centimeters). Their tiny, round leaves are an intense shade of green. Their maximum diameter is 10 centimeters or 4 inches.
The Pilea is easily recognizable due to its thick and tall stature, which is the result of its stolon shoots, which grow vertically from the plant’s crown nodes. Depending on the angle of its light source and other factors, it can either grow bushy or long.
How Long Does the Pilea Usually Last?
As was previously noted, Pilea has a lifespan comparable to many perennial plants, lasting up to 10 years with careful care. However, with the right maintenance, you may increase this longevity. Under ideal conditions (including plentiful sunlight, moist soil, moderate temperatures, and adequate humidity), many houseplants can survive for decades. In comparison to other common houseplants, this is an exceptionally long lifespan. To promote growth and so encourage a longer lifespan, optimal conditions are required.
Light-Green Plant
A plant’s lifespan can be increased in several ways.
Have you just recently adopted a Pilea? Take good care of it if you want it to last for its full ten years of life expectancy. This plant needs light, regular hydration, consistent warmth throughout the year, and a nutrient-rich diet to thrive and flourish. Here we’ll examine some ways to make this plant last a little longer.
Shine a Light on It
Piles are not succulents because they come from a different plant family. Although they have numerous similarities. Bright and direct sunshine is favored by these plants, as evidenced by their robust leaves, waxy sheen, and stocky stems. Succulents are ideally suited to a setting like this.
A Pilea will begin to shrivel and die if it is left in the dark for too long. Having small, dark, and rolled-up leaves is a sure sign that your plant needs more light. They may even start to lose volume and develop wrinkles. Move your plant somewhere brighter, or get a grow lamp, if you see any of these symptoms.
On the other side, if your Pilea develops bright purple leaves, it is getting way too much sunlight. Moving the plant temporarily into the shade is necessary. Only in very sunny locations all year or in extremely desert climes in the summer does this occur.
Take Care When Watering Your Plants
Plants can live longer if watered on a regular schedule.
If you want your Pilea to live for at least 10 years, consistent watering is a must. Overwatering is typically the major issue with Phileas. The Pilea may be the best option for you if you frequently forget to water your plants. They prefer to be parched before they drink again.
The entire plant will start to look sagging if it is getting less water than it requires and is beginning to dry up from the lack of moisture and humidity. Make sure to check in on your plant every day and provide a reasonable amount of water.
You must not water it too soon or it will go into shock. But if it’s not back upright, give it another watering. Before watering your Pilea, always make sure to examine the soil. If the soil is exceptionally dry, you should be fine. If the ground is still soggy, wait a few days before proceeding.
Healthful Dietary Habits
By providing it with food, you can increase the odds that your Pilea will live for its full lifespan of ten years. Fertilizers specifically formulated for succulents or general-purpose fertilizers for houseplants will provide the ideal balance of nutrients for your Pilea.
There are horticulturists out there who will tell you that your indoor plants don’t need any food at all. If they have access to sufficient amounts of clean water with a neutral pH and oxygen, they should be all right. Still, it’s vital to do anything you can for the plants’ well-being. This is especially the case if one has to make do with a smaller apartment with less air circulation, no cross-breeze, and less natural light.
Developing Seedling
You can better control the temperature in your growing space if you set it aside as a separate room in your house.
Always keep your Chinese money plant in a warm environment to ensure it lives to be 10 years old. Pilates isn’t a true tropical plant, but it does love warm conditions, so try to keep it at around 55 F (13 C) if you can.
They can stay healthy up to that temperature, and anything above that will spur their development. A Pilea that is too weak or tiny should be cooked at a higher temperature. A few healthy new sprouts could appear in a matter of weeks.
If you live in a colder climate or want to have the air conditioner on all year round, it may be a good idea to designate one main room as a warmer retreat. In this space, you can grow your plants in ideal conditions. Houseplants that thrive in a warm, humid environment should be kept in this room.
If there’s a chance of frost or other severe weather, move your Pilea away from the window right away. Locate a quieter, better-insulated part of your house. This will prevent its edges from freezing and it’s interior from dying from the abrupt drop in temperature.
Final Reflections
Piles are great, low-care houseplants that may enhance the look of any room. Its round leaves, broad body, and deep green hue all contribute to its aesthetic value while also functioning as a natural air filter.
Cared for properly, a Chinese money plant has a life expectancy of about 10 years. However, with a little additional TLC, it may be possible to extend that lifespan by a few years.
