Pilea Varieties
Today, this plant is grown not only by professional botanists but also by everyday plant enthusiasts. Almost all types of Pilea are well-suited for private homes and city apartments. However, when choosing a plant to bring home, it’s best to focus on the most popular and readily available varieties in the US.
Popular Pilea varieties grown indoors:
Pilea microphylla (Artillery Plant). This compact plant is highly adapted to indoor conditions. It grows up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall and spreads 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) wide. The leaves of this species are extremely small and colored light green or bright green. Blooming indoors is a very rare occurrence for the Artillery Plant.
Pilea cadierei (Aluminum Plant). This is one of the most common and beloved varieties. It grows up to 16 inches (40 cm) tall, making it perfect even for small apartments. The leaves of this plant are dark green, beautifully accented with striking silver-metallic patches. Indoors, this Pilea rarely blooms.
Pilea nummulariifolia (Creeping Charlie). This Pilea stands out with its small, rounded, coin-like leaves. Their color ranges from bright green to dark green. The foliage grows rapidly and forms a dense, cascading carpet that almost completely hides the stems. Creeping Charlie is easily propagated by stem cuttings, so you can fill multiple hanging baskets with this plant in a short time.
Pilea involucrata (Friendship Plant). This low-growing Pilea reaches about 12 inches (30 cm) in height. It features elongated, oval-shaped leaves that are green with deep brown or bronze veins and a highly textured surface. This species pairs well with other plants in terrariums and is frequently used as a base for breeding hybrid Pileas (like ‘Moon Valley’).
Pilea peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant). This compact Pilea is famous for its large, perfectly round, lily-pad-like leaves. They have a solid green color and a glossy surface that makes the plant incredibly attractive and distinct from its relatives. At home, this Pilea rarely blooms, even with proper maintenance and careful care.
Growing Conditions
By doing so, the plant will consistently look healthy and beautiful.
Potting and Soil
Pilea has a relatively shallow and small root system, so it doesn’t need an enormous amount of soil. Because of this, you should choose shallow pots (like azalea pots or bulb pans) where you only need about 4 inches (10 cm) of soil depth. However, the container should be fairly wide so the plant’s roots have room to spread outwards.
Pilea roots are branching and grow horizontally rather than deep down. The ideal environment for a Pilea is a loose, well-draining soil mix. This allows the roots to breathe properly while receiving an adequate amount of moisture. It’s also important that the soil acidity is slightly acidic to neutral (around 5.0 to 6.0 pH).
Lighting
Pilea loves light but is highly sensitive to direct sunlight. Because of this, it is recommended to place the plant near an East- or West-facing window. Here, it will avoid the harsh afternoon sun rays that can scorch its leaves. If your apartment only has South- and North-facing windows, choose the Southern one, but be sure to filter the light with a sheer curtain or place the plant a few feet back into the room.
A lack or excess of light will cause a change in leaf color (they may become paler or lose their distinctive patterns).
During the summer, you can move your Pilea to a balcony or patio. This ensures it gets plenty of bright light. However, don’t forget its dislike for direct sun rays. Therefore, it’s best to place it in a shaded corner of the balcony, away from direct exposure. When winter arrives, the Pilea’s light requirements do not change. Since the daylight hours are shorter, it’s recommended to move the flower to the brightest windowsill available.
Temperature
Pilea loves warmth and requires its owners to maintain a consistent, optimal temperature range. In both summer and winter, the most comfortable temperature for the plant is around 77°F (25°C). However, it can easily tolerate short-term temperature fluctuations of about 10-15°F (5-7°C).
A Pilea will experience discomfort and may become ill if the temperature drops below 59°F (15°C). If indoor thermometers approach this mark, you need to keep the plant warm (for example, by moving it away from drafty windows or turning on a space heater placed 3-5 feet / 1-1.5 meters away from the flower). A severe temperature spike up to 95°F (35°C) can also be highly detrimental to the Pilea. However, by slightly increasing watering frequency and regularly misting the leaves, the plant can successfully survive such an unfavorable heatwave.
Care Details
Watering
Pilea is not considered a moisture-loving plant. In fact, it handles a lack of water much better than an excess of it. Because of this natural characteristic, you should only water the plant after the top layer of soil has dried out. It is recommended to use soft, filtered, or distilled water, or tap water that has been left out for a few days to let the chlorine evaporate. During the colder months, Pilea needs to be watered even less frequently. You should wait 1-2 days after the topsoil feels dry before watering it again.
Excess water is harmful to a Pilea. Therefore, it is crucial not to overwater the soil and to avoid letting water sit in the drainage saucer. Otherwise, the plant’s leaves will slowly wilt and change color. In some situations, severe overwatering can lead to the appearance of various fungi and root rot, which can seriously harm or kill the plant.
Fertilizing
A Pilea growing indoors needs regular fertilization. It should be fed throughout the year, regardless of environmental conditions. In the summer, you can add fertilizer to the soil more often than in the winter. This is due to the plant’s higher activity during the warm season. From March to September, you should feed your Pilea 2-3 times a month. In late fall and winter, you can do this just once every 30 days.
For feeding, it is recommended to use various comprehensive, all-purpose liquid fertilizers designed for foliage houseplants. They will saturate the soil with the nutrients the flower needs and reduce the likelihood of disease development. However, it’s important to choose the right dosage. An excessive amount of fertilizer (fertilizer burn) will harm the Pilea, while a lack of it will make the feeding procedure practically useless. Always dilute liquid fertilizer to half-strength to be safe.
Repotting
Everyone who grows a Pilea indoors should know how to repot the plant. This procedure is typically needed every year for young, actively growing plants. The optimal time for repotting is mid-spring. When transferring the plant, you must exercise extreme caution. This is necessary to avoid damaging the Pilea’s fragile roots, which spread widely in different directions, making them very difficult to extract from the old soil intact.
Pileas generally handle repotting well and recover without issues. You should repot a Pilea following all the standard rules typical for leafy houseplants. For the new soil, use a potting mix with a composition as similar to the old one as possible to avoid transplant shock.
By doing this, the likelihood of any negative consequences will be minimal.
Pest and Disease Control
Common insect pests:
Spider Mites. They appear on the Pilea when the indoor air is excessively dry (common in homes with central heating or AC). You can spot their presence by the appearance of tiny stippled spots on the leaves and fine webbing on the undersides. To combat this pest, increase humidity and use insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Mealybugs. These insects look like tiny pieces of white cotton and often attack stressed plants. They leave behind a sticky white residue (honeydew) that covers the foliage and blocks light. The result of this infestation is the gradual drying out of the plant. The best way to fight them is by dabbing them with rubbing alcohol or using systemic insecticides.
Scale Insects. If a Pilea is improperly cared for, this pest may settle on it. It looks like a small brown or tan bump attached to the stems and leaves, gradually sucking the sap and destroying them. To get rid of this uninvited guest, you should use horticultural oils or insectoacaricides.
Thrips. This enemy of the Pilea is a tiny, slender bug that is black or grayish. They feed on the plant’s leaves, leaving behind silvery or bleached patches and black dots of frass. This damage prevents the plant from photosynthesizing properly. You can get rid of thrips using sticky traps and insectoacaricides.
The Pilea is an excellent choice for a city apartment or house. This flower is low-maintenance and easily adapts to new conditions. At the same time, it is incredibly beautiful, making it hard to miss in any room. To successfully grow this green beauty, you just need to learn its basic care rules and requirements. By doing so, you will avoid mistakes and enjoy the look of a healthy plant for a long time.
Questions and Answers
The most adapted and popular varieties for indoor living are the Pilea peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant), Pilea cadierei (Aluminum Plant), and Pilea nummulariifolia (Creeping Charlie). They are compact, low-maintenance, and thrive in typical home environments.
A Pilea will feel perfectly comfortable even in shallow pots, so an optimal choice is a container up to 6 inches (15 cm) in height. Make sure the pot is slightly wider than it is deep and has plenty of drainage holes.
An all-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer formulated for leafy houseplants is ideal for a Pilea. Just remember to dilute it to half-strength to avoid burning the roots.
All types of Pilea are best repotted in mid-to-late spring. This is when the plant is actively growing and will recover from the transplant shock quickly.
The plant is equally vulnerable to mealybugs, spider mites, scale insects, and thrips. Keeping the humidity at an optimal level and inspecting the leaves regularly is the best defense.
No! One of the best things about the Pilea family (especially the popular Pilea peperomioides) is that they are completely non-toxic and safe to keep around cats, dogs, and children.
Leaf curling (cupping inwards or outwards) is usually a sign of stress. The most common culprits are sudden temperature changes, receiving too much direct sunlight, or inconsistent watering (either letting it dry out completely or overwatering it).
Pilea peperomioides is famous for growing little "pups" or "babies" out of the soil. Once a pup is about 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) tall, gently cut its connection to the mother plant using a clean, sharp knife. If it already has roots, you can plant it directly into a small pot with fresh soil. If it doesn't have roots yet, place the cutting in a small glass of water until roots develop (usually 2-3 weeks), and then plant it in soil.
You should buy this plant from reputable local nurseries, specialized plant shops, or experienced growers who have been propagating Pileas for a long time. Today, common varieties like the Chinese Money Plant are also frequently found in large home improvement stores or supermarkets across the US.
