How to Propagate Pilea Peperomioides Successfully

Cuttings from Pileas root simply and can thrive within a month when maintained at temperatures between 65 and 85°F in sufficiently bright, but indirect light.

New gardeners may get confused between the Pilea peperomioides and the Peperomia polybotrya. The former is our Chinese money plant, also known as the friendship plant. The Peperomia polybotrya is more succulent, drought-tolerant, and does not have perfectly round leaves like the pilea.

Propagating Pilea Peperomiodes Overview

The Instagram-famous Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) is straightforward to grow, with sparkling spherical leaves that alight above the pot as if floating in mid-air.

As we say in botany, the leaf joins are peltate. On my workstation, three feet from a south window, I have it growing right next to me in soft light.

You can balance the growth by regularly rotating the pot, preventing a slant towards the sun (or light). While it is actively growing, the plant benefits from an organic medium that drains well, routine watering, and monthly fertilizing.

Another benefit is that Pilea peperomioides regularly bear offspring (pups) from the mother plant, which is simple to remove with a flat-blade knife and plant in separate pots.

Keep reading to discover the little tricks that will help propagate the pilea peperomioides plant!

Pilea Peperomioides Pups

Growing Pilea peperomioides from stem cuttings is possible, but there is an easier way. Stem cuttings are fabulous if you want to propagate several P. peperomioides from a single stock, but the exercise takes time and has some risks.

Alternatively, if you take proper care of your Pilea, it will naturally offer the optimal propagation method: Chinese money plants in good health sprout new plants from their stems and roots. Check out my Chinese Money Plant Ultimate Care Guide for care advice.

Fortunately, it is not a complex plant to maintain, so gardeners generally have no problems growing and propagating this beauty. Simply place your Pilea peperomioides in a 3-inch plastic pot with compost and perlite-containing soil.

Cycles of drench, drain, and dry work well with most house plants, including the Chinese Money Plant. Wet thoroughly, allow it to drain, and then don’t water it again until the soil in the top third of the container is dry.

Baby Pilea peperomioides pups should start to appear when your plant has had some time to grow and adapt to its environment in your home – a sign it’s happy.

Other Pilea Peperomioides Propagation Methods

Propagating Chinese Money Plant from Stem Cuttings

Pilea peperomioides can be multiplied through stem cuttings, but unless you want to multiply a large quantity, there is little reason to do so. The stem cuttings would need to root, which takes some time and is not always practical, so you would need to wait.

However, there are two circumstances in which it is pretty beneficial to have the ability to take stem cuttings. You can behead your Pilea peperomioides if it becomes too tall for your tastes. This is also a choice if the stem rot is severe, wherein all the rotting components must be thrown away.

Interestingly, your Chinese money plant will sprout again if the original portion is still healthy, and the portion you removed will likewise keep growing. Consequently, you may now choose between two decent-looking Pileas rather than gaze at one awkwardly tall and large.

It works the same way to root a stem plantlet that hasn’t yet developed roots as it propagates Chinese money plants from stem cuttings. Submerge the stem in water or soil and care for it until new growth appears!

Propagating Pilea Peperomioides from Root Plantlets

Utilizing plantlets that emerge from the mother plant’s roots is the simplest method of propagating Pilea peperomioides.

These little offspring should be regularly produced from a healthy, large Pilea with lots of pot space. Once they have a few leaves, they emerge from the ground and are prepared for use.

All you need to do is use a clean, sharp knife to cut the root plantlets’ link to the mother plant’s roots because they already have their root systems. After that, transplant them into smaller pots and maintain moisture in the soil. And there you have it – baby Pilea peperomioides or gifting, selling, or keeping.

The transition to their pot may cause shock, but they grow immediately because they already have a root system.

Because of their prolific reproductive capacities, Pileas are known as friendship plants, as they make a great gift to friends.

Propagating Pilea Peperomioides from Stem Plantlets

Pilea peperomioides plants also produce babies on their stems. They require a little more care than root plantlets because they don’t yet have a root system, but they’re still relatively easy to grow.

Use a sterilized, razor-sharp knife to cut the plantlets from the stem of the mother plant to propagate your Pilea peperomioides.

You now have a choice between putting the tiny plants in a pot with moist soil or a vase with water.

I prefer soil because the small plants in their tiny vases are rather beautiful. Most houseplant enthusiasts favor the soil route. You may check to see if your Pilea babies are rooting appropriately by giving them a gentle tug. If there are roots, the tug won’t move the new plantlet.

No matter which strategy you adopt, exercise patience. It could take some time for your Pilea baby to establish its root system, particularly in the winter when most indoor plants aren’t actively growing.

Foliar growth is an indicator that your propagated pilea peperomioides are doing great.

Reflections on Pilea Peperomioides Care

As I mentioned earlier, checking out my article dedicated to caring for the Pilea peperomioides will give you all the information you may need for growing Chinese Money Plants successfully.

As a refresher, here are some general Pilea peperomioides caring tips!

Light

Different indoor houseplants have varying lighting needs. Pilea peperomioides thrive in bright but indirect sunlight. Avoid direct sunlight if you must place your plants near a window. Use sheer curtains or blinds to limit natural light while ensuring your plant has adequate light.

Just be careful to rotate the Pilea peperomioides plants gradually every other day if you want a pleasant, visually attractive circular appearance.

Pilea peperomioides grow well under a light intensity range of 1000 to 2000 ft.c. The same applies when you propagate Pilea peperomioides cuttings or pups.

Temperature

Pileas prefer to be maintained warm, at room temperature or above, when it comes to temperature. The temperature in our homes ought to be ideal for them. For propagating Pinea peperomioides, maintain a temperature of between 65 to 85°F. 

Although they can be stored outside, it’s not the best idea if your region regularly encounters abrupt weather fluctuations or dips below 50 °F (10 °C).

Planting

Plants of the Pilea peperomioides species prefer damp but not soggy soil. Use a well-draining soil mixture to prevent root rot caused by roots sitting in stagnant water for an extended time. Perlite and ordinary potting soil are usually sufficient.

Again, when planting, you must ensure that the container you use to hold the plant has good drainage—fans typically like ceramic or plastic pots. Terracotta pots are also an alternative; however, some people avoid them due to their porous nature.

Others, however, believe that their porousness makes them the better option. Finding what works best for you and your plants is all that matters. There are variations in every house.

Fertilizer

Pilea peperomioides species plants don’t need a lot of fertilizer to flourish. You might get away with administering a regular houseplant fertilizer diluted once every few months throughout the growing season.

It is preferable to avoid using fertilizers during the winter or when the plant isn’t producing new leaves because they will be useless, and the plant won’t be able to use the extra nutrients.

Microelements can be added as a liquid supplement when the potting medium is formulated or during plant production.

Watering

As was previously said, Chinese money plants prefer moist but not saturated soil when it comes to irrigation. Twice weekly is an excellent starting point if you’re new to owning the plant and still figuring out your watering regimen.

You should examine the soil daily and adjust the watering as necessary depending on your home’s temperature and how much light the plant receives. It’s time to water, for instance, if you stick your finger a few inches into the soil and it feels completely dry.

You can probably wait another couple of days if it is moist. Wintertime allows you to reduce watering frequency, but let the soil moisture be your guide. Plants generally have lower photosynthesis in winter, meaning they need less water for that process.

Toxicity

According to the ASPCA, Pilea peperomioides are not poisonous to cats, dogs, other pets, or humans. Of course, keeping plants away from animals and children is still a good idea to be safe.

Possible Challenges

Challenges to growing Chinese Money Plants may include leaf curling, chlorosis, white flies, aphids, tip burn.

Solutions:

• Leaf curling is caused by excessive light or high temperatures. Pileas should remain in environments cooler than 80 degrees Fahrenheit with moderate lighting.
• Tip burn, and chlorosis may be avoided by monitoring nitrogen and potassium availability to the propagules.
• Insecticides and exclusion are the best practices to control white flies and aphids.

Plants growing under excessively high light develop light-colored foliage. This problem primarily occurs in the spring as light intensity increases.

Plants growing in poorly aerated potting mixes fail to develop roots beyond the upper layer of the medium, restricting their top growth. Use a high-quality potting medium with good aeration characteristics.

Use only moderate pressure when firming potting mix. Avoid keeping the potting medium excessively moist.

Regardless of the pesticide or mixture of pesticides used, it is strongly recommended that the effects be evaluated on a few plants under your particular conditions before treating all plants.

In Summary

There are several ways to propagate your Pilea peperomioides (Chines Money Plant). The plant has a high reproductive drive, forming pups from the stem and roots. With the guide above, I’m sure all your friends and family will soon have this friendship plant.