Plant Profile: Pilea

Scientific Name: Pilea peperomioides
Common Names: Chinese Money Plant, Pancake Plant
Native to: Southern China

The Pilea is one of the most popular houseplants, adored for its quirky round, coin-shaped leaves and easy-going nature. With its playful look and reputation for good fortune, it’s often called the “friendship plant,” as it readily produces little offshoots (“pups”) you can share with others.

🌱 Care Instructions

• Watering: Light to Moderate – Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Overwatering can cause root rot, so it’s better to lean on the dry side.

• Sunlight: Moderate – Loves bright, indirect light. Rotate your plant regularly to keep its shape even, as the leaves tend to reach toward the light.

• Growth: Moderate – Grows steadily with the right care, producing pups that can be separated and repotted. Mature plants can reach around 20–30 cm tall.

Extra Tips

• Prefers well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes.

• Wipe the round leaves occasionally to keep them dust-free and glossy.

• Fertilise monthly during spring and summer with a balanced houseplant fertiliser.

• If stems become leggy, prune back lightly to encourage fuller growth.