Preparation
Pilea peperomioides is the gift that keeps on giving. Also known as the Chinese Money Plant, this sought-after charmer is an unfussy variety that continuously produces offspring. Because it’s so easy to grow, Martha loves to give pots of the plant as gifts to friends, and especially children.
According to Marc Hachadourian, the director of glasshouse horticulture and senior curator of orchids at The New York Botanical Garden, these houseplants grow from thickened stems that produce long petioles with coin-like leaves—which are said to symbolize good fortune. “Even though the species name suggests it resembles a peperomia, the plant is a member of the stinging nettle family—but, thankfully, without the irritating hairs that some of its cousins have,” he says. “It will produce clusters of small green flowers on a branching inflorescence that are easily overlooked by the curious and attractive leaves.”
As a houseplant, Hachadourian notes that the money plant is easy to tend to—so long as you maintain its conditions as it sits on a windowsill or another spot indoors.
“It prefers medium to bright light and can be stressed or burn in very intense sunlight,” says Hachadourian. “If you hold your hand about 1 foot away, your hand should make a slightly diffuse shadow—if the shadow is sharply defined it might be too much light.” If the leaves are a yellow-green color—instead of a bright, light green hue—then it could be a sign that the plant is receiving too much sunlight.
The money plant needs a well-drained mix of soil with perlite for added drainage to stay healthy. Plus, it needs ample aeration to allow it to dry out a bit—not completely—between waterings. You’ll notice that the thickened stems will rot if the plant is too water-logged.
“Like many houseplants, the money plant can tolerate periods of low humidity and drying—making it a good plant for interiors,” says Hachadourian. “It would benefit from regular applications of dilute fertilizers that will help the plant produce abundant leaves and even side branches, which can be removed and easily propagated as cuttings.”
As the plant grows, it will produce a tall stem and branch. At this point, you can either use a small stake to secure it or allow it to grow in horizontal degree into serpentine-like shapes, says Hachadourian. “If the plants are too tall, you can easily cut the tip of the growth, leaving several inches of stem and root the tip as a new cutting,” he says. “As plants get older, they will make side branches, which can be left to allow the plants to develop into many leaved specimens or removed and propagated to increase your collection or share with others.”
Since these plants can be repotted to propagate and gift to others, follow Martha’s process to spread the wealth.
