Photo by Yu Xuan Lee on Unsplash
If you’re into your house plants, you’ll know that the Chinese money plant (pilea peperomioides) is definitely having a moment. But how to care for a Chinese money plant? The good news is it is up there with the spider plant and air plant in the easy-to-take-care-of category. Its unusual leaf shape makes it a perfect addition to any living space. If you’re looking to invest in this humble yet stunning plant, read our guide to taking care of your Chinese money plant that runs you through everything from its history, to watering, to propagation.
Why is it called a Chinese money plant?
Perhaps most obviously, the ‘Chinese’ in the name is because the plant originates from Southwest China. More specifically, Chinese money plants came from the mountain foothills of northern Yunnan, where the weather and seasons are not unlike what we expect in Britain.
Its monetary connections are more to do with the coin-shaped leaves. However, it was also believed that a Chinese money plant could bring money and good fortune to its owner; another reason to get one in your life!
What is the history of the Chinese money plant?
The Chinese money plant is thought to have been brought to the west by a Norwegian missionary who picked up a cutting of the plant whilst travelling. When he took the cutting back to Norway in the 1940s, he found he could easily propagate the plant and began giving cuttings to his friends and family.
In the 1970s and 80s, there was a huge rise in all things green - did you know the first Earth Day was in 1970? As house plants grew in popularity, so did the easy Chinese money plant.
How to take care of your Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides)?
Chinese money plants don’t need lots of care. Given that they originate from weather cycles much like our own, it makes sense that if you recreate these conditions for your plant in the home, you’ll be onto a winner.
Winter conditions for a Chinese money plant
Move your Chinese money plant into a window; they don’t usually like lots of sun, but winter is dark a lot of the time. Decrease watering in the winter - make sure you allow it to dry out before giving it a drink.
Summer conditions for a Chinese money plant
In the summer, you might find upping your watering benefits the plant. But move it away from the direct sunlight of a windowsill, to a darker spot. If you find the main stalk of the plant is leaning towards a light source, it might be an indication that the spot is too dark so move it closer to the window.
If you’re going on holiday, worry not. It’s the perfect plant for jet setters and the forgetful: a couple of weeks without a drink won’t kill it. The real key with these plants is not to overwater - they don’t like soggy roots.
Should I feed a Chinese money plant?
You don’t need to feed your Chinese money plant, but if you do like to give your plants an extra umph, only give the Chinese money plant a feed during its active growth months - around April to September. Only feed them once a month during this time period. If your plant has brown/burnt edges to its leaves or looks a little wilted, you may have taken the feeding too far. Leave off fertiliser for a while and see if it bounces back.
Should I mist my Chinese money plant?
A Chinese money plant doesn’t need specific humidity conditions. But if your house is quite dry (heating and air con can create particularly dry environments), a daily mist wouldn’t go amiss. If you have a few plants, you can physically put them close together which also helps with humidity.
Propagating a Chinese money plant
You don’t need to be a green fingered expert to propagate a Chinese money plant; they do most of the hard work for you. Make sure your plant is potted in a large enough pot and the mother plant will grow ‘babies’ that will pop up in the soil, seemingly separate from the main plant. Use a sharp, clean knife to cut the baby from the mother plant, then pop it into a smaller pot and keep moist. Hey presto! Multiple Chinese money plants. Give them to friends or have them all over your home.
How and when to repot a Chinese money plant
Chinese money plants are perfect for small spots. They don’t require a lot of space and repotting can be quite a stress for plants. When you have bought a Chinese money plant, avoid repotting for at least 1-2 years. After that, it will only need repotting every two years.
If you’ve got a baby Chinese money plant cutting, leave it for 2-6 weeks in the small pot before repotting to something bigger so that they have a chance to grow stronger roots.
You can repot in a container the same size, or if you want to go bigger, use a pot that is 1.5 times the original pot size for optimal growth.
Home styling with a Chinese money plant
Put your Chinese money plant in a planter with drainage to keep those roots nice and dry. There are health benefits to having house plants in your home, but they are also perfect for styling a space.
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