Chinese Money plant care

Did you know that… the Chinese Money Plant doesn’t only owe its name to its origin and shape, but also to its symbolism? The plant is believed to foster prosperity if you place a coin in its potting soil. On this page you’ll find all information on Chinese Money Plant care, from the ideal spot until repotting instructions. Follow these Chinese Money Plant care guidelines and help yours live a long and healthy life.

The Chinese Money Plant (Pilea Peperomioides) is back with a vengeance! This houseplant was extremely popular during the 1970s, and recently made a real comeback. It’s retro-look is a perfect match with current interior trends. The Chinese Money Plant is originally from China. In 1946 a Swedish missionary took the plant to Europe. This occurrence lead to the Pilea getting another nickname: Chinese Missionary Plant.

The Chinese Money Plant is not merely a looker. The plant is quite useful as well, as it has air-purifying properties. Although not very effective – the purification area is just under 10 m2 – you can quickly expand your Pilea collection. It’s a notoriously easy plant to propagate. The Chinese Money Plant is very easy to care for. Once you’ve placed the plant in a proper spot, the main thing to make sure is that you never overwater it. Read on for all Chinese Money Plant care tips.

Chinese Money Plant light requirements

Place the Chinese Money Plant in a light spot, but not in direct sunlight. This could cause the leaves to burn. Also make sure to protect the plant from drafts. Are the leaves turning yellow and / or drooping? Then the plant is probably in too light or too dark a spot. If the leaf edges are turning brown, it most likely means that you’ll need to place the Pilea closer to the window.

Chinese Money Plant water care

Water the Chinese Money Plant once a week. Just enough to moisten the potting soil, and never more than that. A wet potting soil can be fatal to the Pilea. Do you notice that the leaves are drooping or losing their colour? That probably means that the plant was overwatered. Allow excess water to drain and make sure to give the Chinese Money Plant less water from now on.

Repotting tips

We recommend repotting the Chinese Money Plant once a year. Do this during spring, when the plant recovers fastest from repotting. Be careful not to damage the roots too much when repotting. Use a pot that is at least 20% larger than the current pot, allowing the roots plenty of room to grow. We recommend placing a layer of hydro granules at the bottom of the pot when repotting. That way, it won’t matter if you overwater the plant, as the hydro granules provide drainage.

Fertilizer requirements

Once you receive the plant, it will not need any fertilizer during the first 2 months. There’s enough fertilizer in the fresh potting soil to last the plant 2 months. After this you’ll only need apply fertilizer during spring and summer. For the specific amount of plant food, have a look at the instructions on the packaging and never use more than recommended. This can cause damage to the roots. The plant doesn’t need any fertilizer during fall and winter.

Is my Chinese Money Plant poisonous?

All outdoor and indoor plants on Plantler have a decorative purpose; they’re not fit for consumption – unless it is explicitly stated that they are (i.e. a fruit tree). The Chinese Money Plant is generally not known to be a poisonous plant.