The Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) is not only elegant and decorative, it also carries a lot of symbolism, and the name by which it is commonly known reflects that. In feng shui it is associated with good luck and prosperity, perhaps due to its coin-shaped leaves, and it is one of the plants most recommended to have indoors, ideally in the southeast zone, which is associated with wealth.
Native to the forests and mountains of China, in its natural habitat it grows in shady, damp, rocky places. At home it is quite easy to care for if given good conditions and it can reach up to 40 centimetres tall. We explain everything you need to know to help it grow strong and healthy.
Caring for the Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides)
The Chinese money plant, with its minimalist aesthetic and association with prosperity, is one of the favourites for interior decoration (although it can also be grown outdoors). “It’s a plant that, when it settles into your home, starts to grow quickly,” says plant expert Cé Rodríguez in a video on her YouTube channel (@en20metros). But for this to happen it requires some care.
What temperature does it need?
“It will adapt to almost any temperature conditions you have in your home,” explains the expert.
However, you should not allow temperatures to drop below 10 °C during the day, as it will not grow. The ideal range for it to thrive is between 20 and 25 °C.
It is not a good idea to move it around, so choose a spot you like and leave it there. To keep its shape and prevent it from leaning, rotate the pot every few days.
What light requirements does it have?
“It needs a lot of light,” notes Rodríguez. Otherwise it will suffer and may show discolouration, drooping leaves, or growth that leans toward the light…
Place it near a window in a room that receives many hours of light during the day. That said, it should not receive direct sun as it dries out very quickly and the sun could desiccate or scorch its leaves.
Indoors it rarely flowers, but when it does, its flowers are pale pink or white and appear on the slender stems.
It has the advantage of not being toxic to pets, so you don’t need to place it somewhere inaccessible for them (though if you have a kitten who loves nibbling plants you may still want to keep it out of reach).
How often should you water the Chinese money plant?
The Chinese money plant needs fairly frequent watering. You should ensure the substrate is always slightly moist, but avoid waterlogging. In other words, make sure there is no standing water in the tray or pot, as the roots could die.
“You’re more likely to kill it with overwatering than with under-watering,” warns the expert. Indeed, if it lacks water the plant will flag with drooping leaves, but when the roots rot you may not realise until it is too late.
What pots and soil does it need?
The Chinese money plant grows well in small pots, which should be gradually increased as the plant grows.
It needs soil with excellent drainage. The soil mix Cé Rodríguez recommends for this plant is a blend of universal potting compost, a little vermicompost (or compost), grit, pumice, and a touch of pine bark (optional).
How do you repot the Chinese money plant?
How can you tell your Chinese money plant has outgrown its pot? According to Cé Rodríguez there are four key signs:
- If the roots are coming out of the drainage holes.
- If you see spots on the leaves.
- If you see yellow or brown patches at the tips or edges of the leaves.
- If new leaves emerge curled or damaged.
If you see one or more of these signs it’s likely time to repot your Chinese money plant.
To do so, choose a pot one size larger, about 2 cm wider in diameter. You should not jump to a much larger pot because ideally the plant’s roots should fill the pot.
Simply lift it from the old pot (being careful not to damage the roots), place it in the new one, add soil to fill it, and water it generously.
You can fertilise it with a liquid fertiliser for green plants or for eco-friendly indoor plants, during spring and summer.
What pests can affect the Chinese money plant?
There are two main pests that can affect the Chinese money plant:
- The fungus gnat: to deal with them yellow sticky traps (which lure and trap them by their colour), potassium soap and neem oil.
- The red spider mite: a fast-reproducing mite that can become a serious problem. To deal with it you’ll need acaricides. A solution of camomile infusion and potassium soap with neem oil can help.
How do you propagate the Chinese money plant?
Propagating it is very straightforward and will give you many new plantlets. You simply cut the stems of the offsets (which grow at the base of the plant) near the parent plant and place them in a container of water until roots appear.
Once the roots are about 2 centimetres long, you can plant them in soil. Bear in mind that at first the growth of the Chinese money plant isn’t very rapid, so don’t despair.
