How to Care for Chinese Money Plants

Step into the enchanting world of the Chinese Money Plant - where elegance meets prosperity in the art of indoor gardening! If you're searching for a captivating and easy-to-care-for houseplant that brings beauty and good fortune to your home, you've landed in the right spot.

Come on a delightful journey into Pilea peperomioides, where we'll uncover the secrets to nurturing, propagating, and cultivating a thriving indoor paradise. Not only will this charming plant capture your heart, but it'll also infuse a touch of Feng Shui into your living space.

LIGHT

Your Chinese Money Plant should be placed where it receives bright, indirect, or filtered sun. Filtered sun is when your plant is placed in a location where it receives about 1 hour of direct sun through a sheer or thin curtain. The ideal indoor location for your Chinese Money Plant is about 5 feet away from a southern or western-facing window. This location will provide indirect sunlight while protecting your plant from being scorched! 

How to Use Artificial Light For Your Chinese Money Plant: 

Full Spectrum LED grow lights -  Although it is ideal for your Chinese Money Plant to receive natural light, you can supplement with a full spectrum LED grow light if your home does not have a lot of natural light. Ensure your Chinese Money Plant is positioned about 12-24 inches below the LED grow light to protect the leaves from becoming burnt from too high temperatures. The closer your plant is to the grow light, the more intense the temperature your plant will be exposed to. Depending on the climate of your home, adjust your grow light accordingly.

WATERING

The Chinese Money Plant is drought resistant and has no complicated watering needs. Water your Chinese Money Plant every 10 days with about ½ an inch of filtered water or until the top inch of soil is moist. Only water your Chinese Money Plant once the soil is completely dry. Water your indoor plant once every four to six during the colder winter and autumn months. If your plant is outdoors, it will not need to be watered during the winter or autumn. 

RULE OF (GREEN) THUMB

These popular houseplants symbolize good fortune and prosperity, making them a popular choice for gifting and home decor in various cultures.

TEMPERATURE

An ideal temperature for a Chinese Money Plant ranges between 60℉ and 75℉. Since moderate temperature is preferred, a typical house climate is perfect for your Chinese Money Plant. But how cold of a temperature can a Chinse Money Plant tolerate, you ask? Nothing below 55℉. This plant is not resistant to freezing temperatures, so anything below 55℉ can cause damage or death to your plant.

HUMIDITY

The Chinese Money Plant thrives in moderate temperatures and requires average humidity of 40 to 80 percent. If your home has lower humidity levels, you can mist your plant occasionally or place it near other plants to increase humidity. These methods will help maintain average humidity and ensure your Chinese Money Plant thrives indoors. 

How to Increase Humidity For Your Chinese Money Plant

• Mist Your Plant -  A great way to increase humidity for your plant is by spraying with a mist of water. The best water to use is room-temperature rainwater because it contains minimal chemicals. 

• Add Gravel or Stones - Find a shallow ceramic bowl, fill it with gravel or stones, and stand the plant in the gravel. The gravel will encourage a damp environment that will increase humidity for your plant. Always ensure the gravel is kept moist to keep the humidity high. Be sure not to overwater your gravel because this can cause damage to your plant.

SOIL

Chinese Money Plants prefer soil mixtures on the sandy side. When picking out your soil mix, look for something light and dry, high in acidity, and low in nutrients. An all-purpose potting mix is a good option, as this is a 2:1:1 ratio of soil, compost, and perlite. This provides excellent drainage for your plant!

FERTILIZER

Being so resilient, the Chinese Money Plant only requires fertilizer once a month! The best fertilizer is an all-purpose 20-20-20 fertilizer diluted to half strength. The formula includes 20% phosphorus, 20% nitrogen, and 20% potassium. The nitrogen in the fertilizer will stimulate growth for your plant. The phosphorus and potassium help solidify a robust root system. Typical 20-20-20 fertilizer can be too strong for a Chinese Money Plant, so dilute it. To dilute the fertilizer, take half a teaspoon and add one gallon of water. Make sure to stir the fertilizer until it completely dissolves. 

RULE OF (GREEN) THUMB

Chinese Money Plants are renowned for their unique round and pancake-shaped leaves, earning them endearing nicknames like "Pancake Plant" and "UFO Plant."

REPOTTING

You should repot your Chinese Money Plant every two years to make room for a growing plant. Be on the lookout for roots growing out of the drainage holes, as this could mean you must report sooner than the two-year mark. Always remember to repot in a slightly larger vessel with fresh soil! 

PROPAGATION

Have you fallen in love with your Chinese Money Plant and want more? You're in luck! The Chinese Money Plant is one of the easiest plants to propagate. Here are two ways to propagate your Chinese Money Plant:

• Cut off the miniature plants that grow from their roots, known as "suckers," and plant them in fresh soil. Water them regularly and maintain high humidity levels.

• Cut off a stem and place it in water for 7 days. Once roots form, transfer to a new pot with fresh soil. Keep soil moist for healthy growth.

PESTS AND DISEASES

Although very resilient, the Chinese Money Plant does have its limits! Your Chinese Money Plant can be susceptible to numerous diseases and pests if neglected. 

Yellow Leaves - Are your Chinese Money Plant's leaves curling? Yellowing leaves are a common issue that affects this plant. If the yellowing happens towards the bottom, your plant may need some fertilizer or more light. If the yellowing appears throughout the plant, it could be due to overexposure to sun or water. When you notice yellowing or brown leaves, removing them immediately is best to prevent the infection from spreading.

Spider Mites, Mealybugs, Aphids, and Whiteflies - Besides browning/yellowing leaves, spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, and whiteflies can cause growth and health issues for your Chinese Money Plant. These pests typically begin their infestation at the base of the plant's leaves and feed on the fluids inside the leaves. The best way to protect your plant from these pests is by regularly removing all dead leaves from the pot and removing dust from leaves using a damp cloth. 

RULE OF (GREEN) THUMB

Chinese Money Plants, scientifically known as Pilea peperomioides, originate from the Yunnan Province of China and were introduced to the Western world in the 1940s

TOXICITY 

Are you wondering if the Chinese Money Plant is toxic to cats and dogs? We have good news! Your Chinese Money Plant and cat or dog can live in harmony. The Chinese Money Plant is not toxic to cats or dogs, making it safe to have around your pets.