Water pilea when the top inch or so of soil dries out. Like most houseplants, it’s better to keep it a bit on the dry side rather than get it too wet. It grows well in humid conditions and thrives in a terrarium.
Sharing Pilea
Its common name, friendship plant, alludes to the ease of sharing pilea. You can multiply your own plants and share extras with friends. It’s easy to propagate them from stem cuttings. Simply cut a young stem that has three or four leaves. Remove the leaf nearest the cut end of the stem and sink the cutting into potting mix so at least 1 inch of the stem is buried. Keep the potting mix moist and the cutting will produce roots within a couple weeks. You can also root your cutting in a cup of water first, then move it to potting mix when roots appear.
Another Favorite
In-the-know houseplant aficionados have fallen in love with Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides). Its almost-round, bright green leaves are held above the soil by central stems. This plant’s minimalist appearance and easy-growing ways make it a favorite interior decor accent for modern homes. Chinese money plant is tough to find at nurseries. If your local nursery doesn’t stock it, check online.
More Varieties of Pilea
Pilea
Aluminum Plant
Pilea cadeirei is a well-known selection with elliptical green leaves washed with patches of silver. It is an upright grower, but you can keep it full and bushy by occasionally pinching back the new growth to promote branching.
Artillery Plant
Pilea microphylla has upright arching stems with small leaves, less than 1/8 inch in diameter. It gets its common name from the tiny flowers that “shoot” pollen.
Baby’s Tears
Pilea depressa is one of several plants with this same common name. It is a creeping groundcover that forms new roots where stems touch the soil. It is also called shiny creeping Charlie.
Creeping Charlie
Pilea nummularifolia is different from the lawn weed that goes by the same common name. They are similar in that they both have rounded, scalloped leaves and succulent trailing stems. However, this houseplant is not hardy in cold climates, and does not become an invasive yard pest.
Moon Valley Friendship Plant
Pilea involucrata has deeply cratered or corrugated foliage. Purplish maroon veins form the “valleys” with medium green “ridges” surrounding them.
Norfolk Friendship Plant
Pilea spruceana ‘Norfolk’ is a low-growing plant with bronze leaves and silver markings similar to those of aluminum plant.
