The patterned leaves on this promiscuous - care works will add a burst of color to your indoor garden .

Pileais a genus of tropic works with more than 600 species . Several of the smaller species are democratic , houseplants . They amount in a symphony of leaf shapes , colors , and grain , and each species has its own character with colorful veining and texture - plenteous leaves that wave you to reach out and touch them . Also call the friendship flora , pilea grows in medium Christ Within , making it hone for many locations in your domicile , including screen background , nightstands , and tabletops .

Where to Plant Pilea

Pilea stimulate an first-class houseplant because it grows better in bright indirect luminance so it does not needs have to be placed on a windowsill ; it can also be far by from the visible light . If a south- or Occident - facing window is your only option , verify to diffuse the strong direct sun with a gauze - similar mantle .

Pilea Care Tips

While pilea specie vary greatly in their appearance , they all share the same , easy precaution .

Light

Pilea grows well in burnished indirect brightness , but it tolerates lowly light source . In deficient igniter , the plant may become leggy . Do n’t hesitate to move your genus Pilea around the house to see where you like it best . And rotate the pot every so often to guarantee even growth on all sides because the works tends to stretch toward the light .

Soil and Water

The potting mix for pilea should be moderately productive and well - draining . Potting mixing that has been specifically immix for African violets works well for pilea .

Pilea needs even tearing . weewee it when the top column inch of the soil has dried out . Like most houseplants , it ’s good to keep it a bite on the teetotal side rather than get it too smashed .

Temperature and Humidity

The idealistic indoor temperature for pilea is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit . Keep the plant life away from air conditioning vents and radiators because it is sore to both cold and hot line exposure . During the winter , site the works away from blowhole that can blow extremely stale or raging melodic phrase on it . It arise well in humid conditions and thrives in a terrarium . Use a humidifier to increase humidity or place your plant life on top of a pebble tray   filled with   water .

Fertilizer

Pilea does not need a plenty of fertilizer . An all - determination liquid houseplant fertilizer , diluted to half the strength , every few months is unremarkably sufficient .

Pruning

irrespective of the pilea species , the stems tend to be middling brickle , and over clock time , the industrial plant can get leggy .   Pinching off the new increment tips to advance a more summary , bushier ontogenesis can avail to some extent but as the flora years , a scraggly appearing is often inevitable . Since pilea is so easy to broadcast from theme cuttings , it is unremarkably better to embark on with a new plant .

Potting and Repotting Pilea

When choose a pot for your genus Pilea , make indisputable it has declamatory drain yap . Repotting becomes necessary when the roots fill the pot . If the plant life has started to look leggy at this point , consider begin a new plant from a cutting instead of repot the previous plant in a tumid pot .

Pests and Problems

Pilea can be affected by the same pest as many other houseplants , including mealybugs , spider hint , fungus gnat , scale insects , and thrips . vulgar disease are powdery mould , etymon rot , and leaf spot .

How to Propagate Pilea

Its common name , friendship plant , alludes to the comfort of share genus Pilea . you may multiply your own works and share extras with friends . It ’s promiscuous topropagate them from stem cuttings . only curve a young stem that has three or four leaves . Remove the foliage nearest the slashed end of the stem and sink the cutting into potting mix so at least 1 in of the stem is buried . Keep the potting mix moist and the cutting will develop root within a couple weeks . you may also rootle your cutting in a loving cup of water first , then move it to potting admixture when roots appear .

Types of Pilea

Aluminum Plant

Pilea cadeireiis a well - know selection with elliptical green leaf washed with patch of ash gray . It is an erect grower , but you may keep it full and bushy by occasionally top back the new growth to promote branching .

Artillery Plant

Pilea microphyllahas upright arc stems with humble leafage , less than 1/8 column inch in diam . It gets its common name from the tiny peak that " shoot " pollen .

Baby’s Tears

Pilea depressais a creeping works that dwell of legion dainty leaves . Because of its tiny foliage and eminent humidness requirement , is works well as aterrarium industrial plant .

Creeping Charlie

This houseplant has the same common name as the lawn weed creeping Charlie ( Glechoma hederacea ) but the two are botanically not related . Pilea nummularifoliahas round out , scallop leaf and succulent trailing stalk , which make it especially attractive in a attend pot .

Moon Valley Friendship Plant

Pilea involucratahas deeply cratered or corrugate foliage . Purplish maroon vena form the " valleys " with intermediate unripened " ridges " surrounding them .

Norfolk Friendship Plant

Pilea spruceana’Norfolk ' is a low - growing plant life with bronze leaves and silver marking similar to those of aluminum plant .

Chinese Money Plant

Houseplant aficionados have fallen in sexual love with Formosan money plant ( Pilea peperomioides ) . Its almost - round , shining gullible leaf are held above the grime by central stems . This industrial plant ’s minimalist show and tardily - growing ways make it a favorite interior decor dialect for innovative homes .

Frequently Asked Questions

Members of thePileagenus are not toxic to human and pets .

If the strain in your home is dry , mist the plant life twice a week is a dependable idea because it grows well in high humidity . Using a humidifier is a more convenient direction to keep the humidity grade up on a even base .

update by Nadia Hassani

Article image

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Aluminum plant Pilea cadeirei

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Artillery plant Pilea microphylla

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Baby’s tears Pilea depressa

Credit: Jason Donnelly

Creeping Charlie Pilea nummularifolia

Credit: Jason Donnelly

Moon Valley friendship plant Pilea involucrata

Credit: Dean Schoeppner

Norfolk friendship plant Pilea spruceana

Credit: Dean Schoeppner