Houseplants

Chinese money plant

PileaUrticaceae
Also: Pilea, Pancake plant
AT A GLANCE
Bright indirect light Water: average H1cabove 5 °C 20–30 cm tall · 20–30 cm wide In a pot: yes

Rotate weekly from the very start to build an even, symmetrical shape rather than correcting a lopsided plant later.

Care

Light

Rotate regularly, as it grows strongly towards the light source and can become lopsided.

Water

Allow the top of the compost to dry between waterings.

Soil

Peat-free, well-drained houseplant compost.

Pruning

Pinch out the growing tip to encourage bushier growth; remove offsets ('pups') from the base to propagate.

Feeding

A weak balanced feed monthly while growing. Overfed, the stem stretches and the plant loses the low, even dome of leaves it is grown for.

Propagation

It makes the work for you: small pups appear in the compost round the base, and once one has a few leaves it can be cut off below soil level with its own roots and potted separately. This is why the plant has a reputation for being passed around.

Month by month

Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.

  1. AprilMonthly liquid feed through the growing season. how ›
  2. AprilRepot every 1-2 years. how ›
  3. JuneRotate the pot regularly for even, symmetrical growth.

Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.

  1. AprilMonthly liquid feed through the growing season. how ›
  2. AprilRepot every 1-2 years. how ›
  3. JuneRotate the pot regularly for even, symmetrical growth.

Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.

  1. AprilMonthly liquid feed through the growing season. how ›
  2. AprilRepot every 1-2 years. how ›
  3. JuneRotate the pot regularly for even, symmetrical growth.

Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.

  1. AprilMonthly liquid feed through the growing season. how ›
  2. AprilRepot every 1-2 years. how ›
  3. JuneRotate the pot regularly for even, symmetrical growth.

Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.

Common problems

Lopsided growth

How to spot it. From not rotating.

What to do. Turn the pot a quarter turn each week.

Drooping leaves

How to spot it. From underwatering.

What to do. Recovers quickly once watered.

Root rot

How to spot it. From overwatering.

What to do. Water less.

Questions

Chinese money plant: is it hardy?

H1c: Tender, needs above 5°C. It survives above 5 °C.

Can it grow in a pot?

Standard container culture.

Chinese money plant: when do you prune it?

Pinch out the growing tip to encourage bushier growth; remove offsets ('pups') from the base to propagate.

When do you feed it?

A weak balanced feed monthly while growing. Overfed, the stem stretches and the plant loses the low, even dome of leaves it is grown for. Feeding months, UK: April–September.