Chinese Money Plant Care: What to Know

Find out how to take care of your Chinese money plant so that it stays healthy and happy. Pilea peperomioides is a pretty plant that is easy to grow.

#HealthyHouseplants #ChineseMoneyPlant #PileaPepperomioides #IndoorGardening #PlantCare

Video Sections

0:00-Intro

0:22-Overview

1:43-Lighting

4:46-Watering

5:59-Temperature and humidity

7:08-Fertilizing

9:10-Potting up/Repotting

10:27-Pests and Diseases

11:13-Outro/Talk to your plant

Video Transcript

Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening and the great indoors. If you’d like to support our show, please use our Amazon affiliate link below.

Today, we are doing a plant care video on the Chinese Money Plant, botanically known as Pilea peperomioides. This plant is also known as the Friendship Plant because of its unique history, which you can learn about in our other video on its history.

The Chinese Money Plant is a gorgeous, fun plant with round leaves that make it quite distinctive. These round leaves have earned it several nicknames, including the UFO Plant and the Pancake Plant.

Let’s dive into how to keep this plant healthy and happy indoors.

Lighting: This plant thrives in medium to bright indirect light. Avoid placing it in dark areas, as it won’t do well there. While it can adapt to medium-low light, it will become leggy and have fewer leaves, making it more susceptible to pests and diseases. If you have a darker space, provide full spectrum lighting to ensure it gets the light it needs.

Soil: Use a rich yet well-draining soil mix. A high-quality organic potting mix that is peat-based or coir-based works best. This mix retains water but also includes draining agents like perlite to prevent soggy soil, which can lead to root rot.

Watering: Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Ensure good drainage holes in the pot so that water doesn’t sit at the bottom. Use a moisture meter and water when it’s about on the four. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely or remain overly wet. Always use warm to tepid water for watering.

Temperature and Humidity: The average household temperature of 65-75°F (18-24°C) is ideal. Avoid exposing the plant to temperatures below 50°F (10°C) as it may cause stress. Keep it away from drafty areas and maintain a warm environment.

Fertilizing: Fertilize monthly from spring through early fall using a well-balanced, organic fertilizer. Avoid chemical fertilizers as they can burn roots and lead to various issues. Always water first, then fertilize, and water again. For dry fertilizers, apply at the root zone.

Potting and Repotting: Repot your plant about once a year or when needed. Use the same rich, well-draining soil mix and choose a pot that maintains a 2:1 plant-to-pot ratio. Terracotta pots are fine but will require more frequent watering due to their porous nature.

Pests and Diseases: The Chinese Money Plant is generally pest-free, but you might encounter mealybugs, scale, or spider mites. Treat mealybugs with isopropyl alcohol, and scale and spider mites with neem oil. Links for treatment videos are below.

Remember to talk to your plant and let it know how happy you are with its growth.

Thank you for watching! Please leave any comments about indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video. Click the bell to be notified when new videos are released.

FAQ's - Chinese Money Plant 101

FAQs for Chinese Money Plant Care

What kind of lighting does the Chinese Money Plant need?

The Chinese Money Plant thrives in medium to bright indirect light. Avoid placing it in dark areas as it will not do well there. If you have a darker space, provide full spectrum lighting to ensure it gets the light it needs.

What type of soil is best for the Chinese Money Plant?

Use a rich yet well-draining soil mix. A high-quality organic potting mix that is peat-based or coir-based works best. This mix retains water but also includes draining agents like perlite to prevent soggy soil, which can lead to root rot.

How should I water my Chinese Money Plant?

Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Ensure good drainage holes in the pot so that water doesn’t sit at the bottom. Use a moisture meter and water when it’s about on the four. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely or remain overly wet. Always use warm to tepid water for watering.

What temperature and humidity are ideal for the Chinese Money Plant?

The average household temperature of 65-75°F (18-24°C) is ideal. Avoid exposing the plant to temperatures below 50°F (10°C) as it may cause stress. Keep it away from drafty areas and maintain a warm environment.

How often should I fertilize my Chinese Money Plant?

Fertilize monthly from spring through early fall using a well-balanced, organic fertilizer. Avoid chemical fertilizers as they can burn roots and lead to various issues. Always water first, then fertilize, and water again. For dry fertilizers, apply at the root zone.

When should I repot my Chinese Money Plant?

Repot your plant about once a year or when needed. Use the same rich, well-draining soil mix and choose a pot that maintains a 2:1 plant-to-pot ratio. Terracotta pots are fine but will require more frequent watering due to their porous nature.

What pests and diseases should I watch for?

The Chinese Money Plant is generally pest-free, but you might encounter mealybugs, scale, or spider mites. Treat mealybugs with isopropyl alcohol, and scale and spider mites with neem oil.