You just brought home a brand-new addition to your plant collection: a Chinese money plant. It’s UFO-like leaves and symbolism for good luck caught your attention right from the beginning- not to mention its charming design-quality aesthetic.
Now you can’t wait to plant it in your indoor garden, add it to a decorative planter pot, or use it for propagation to make more Chinese money plants (aka generate more good fortune).
One might also recognize this plant as a Pilea peperomioides- its official scientific name. Regardless of what you want to call it, this little houseplant is notorious for its flat circular leaves that pop up seemingly overnight.
You'll really love tending to the Chinese money plant because not only is it easy but it is also fun to watch it grow. There's a reason why it is now one of the most popular plants in the USA.
Here’s how to properly take care of your Chinese money plant so you can pass it on from one generation to the next.
Practice Good Watering Habits
The first step to cultivating a happy and healthy Chinese money plant is practicing good watering habits. Always water the soil evenly; that means don’t just dump water into one spot in the soil. The gardening rule-of-thumb is to water houseplants when the top one to two inches of soil feel dry- or if the leaves look a bit droopy, it’s time to water.
With Pilea peperomioides, you can get away with watering the soil about once per week, especially if you live in a hot environment. As with all houseplants, watch the soil carefully. Overwatering is detrimental to root health, while parched soil withers up leaves and stems.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Sunlight is the fuel that enables plants to produce food and chlorophyll, but an overly sunny windowsill does not necessarily equal a more full-bodied and “green” houseplant. On the contrary, too much sunlight can be harmful to some species, such as the Chinese money plant.
To take care of your Pilea peperomioides, make sure it gets a moderate amount of sunlight and avoid placing it in direct sunlight. That means these houseplants are not your "windowsill" variety. Their leaves are very responsive to light and tend to reach for it, so rotate your planter pot a couple times per week to avoid stem slant.
Use the Right Soil
It is best not to skimp out on high-quality soil when planting your Chinese money plant. Many garden-beginners might not think to research soil types when learning about how to take care of their Pilea, and (honestly) it’s understandable. Dirt is dirt; what more is there? However, the truth is that not all dirt is created equal in the gardening world.
Choose a soil that will allow proper water drainage while also supporting nutrient absorption. A lot of Pilea-growers use peat moss or coir fiber-infused soils, many use cacti and succulent soil potting mix, and others use MiracleGro. The choice is yours but always opt for a top-quality organic soil.
Enjoy Taking Care of Your New Chinese Money Plant
Now you know how to properly take care of your new plant baby- congrats! The Chinese money plant is easy to grow and nurture as long as you check in on it often to make sure it is adequately watered, receiving the right amount of sunlight, and not showing signs of pests or molds.
Happy planting, and may good fortune find you!