Its common name, "Chinese Money Plant," comes from the plant's leaves, which resemble round, flat coins. Its delicate stems will sway gracefully as the wind blows through a window with filtered light. A yellowish dot forms on the upper side of the leaf at the point where the stem attaches to the lower side, making this plant more interesting. Display it solo or in a cluster. You can count on compliments and praise as a result.
At first, it was discovered in China. The Norwegian missionary who found it brought it back with him. He started by gifting his loved ones with basal shoots. It didn't take long to become a popular houseplant on windowsills all over Scandinavia and the rest of the world. Cuttings may easily spread it, earning it the "pass-along plant." Therefore, it is a great plant for the home garden since your care and attention to it will benefit your plant buddies.
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Common Name |
Chinese money plant, Pancake plant, UFO plant, coin plant, friendship plant |
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Botanical Name |
Pilea peperomioides |
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Family |
Urticaceae |
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Plant Type |
Evergreen perennial |
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Mature Size |
12 in long, 8 to 12 in. wide |
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Sun Exposure |
Bright indirect light |
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Bloom Time |
Spring |
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Flower Color |
White |
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Native Area |
China |
Types of Money Plant
Chinese money plant is not cultivated in any specific way so that you won't find any specific varieties of it for sale. However, there are actually quite a few species that go by the moniker "money plant" as well. Also known as money plants are the following species:
1. Epipremnum aureum
Golden money plants, often called devil's ivy or golden pothos, are tough climbers. This popular plant's distinctive green and yellow leaf patterns are often likened to the design of a U.S. dollar note, which may explain the plant's widespread appeal.
The golden pothos requires little attention. It is used to mark off spaces on walls or as a lucky addition to hanging baskets.
2. Monstera Deliciosa
The big, green leaves of the split-leaf money plant, often called the Swiss cheese plant, are split down the middle. This plant is widely grown since it requires little attention. It can withstand prolonged periods of dryness, grows rapidly, and requires very little sunlight to thrive.
Those who take good care of this plant at home will be rewarded with good fortune. It's beautiful whether displayed in a garden or a huge vase.
3. Epipremnum Aureum 'Marble Queen'
The creamy white flowers and lush green leaves make this plant a hot commodity. As long as you water it properly, it requires very little attention and is simple to maintain. This vine is equally as beautiful as golden pothos. Provide a climbing structure, such as a trellis, to help it reach the desired height.
4. Epipremnum aureum 'Marble Prince'
Similar to the marble queen money plant is the marble prince money plant. The leaves of a marble prince money plant are slightly more green than those of a common money plant.
This is a common houseplant that serves to liven up any space. Aside from being a good luck plant, it also helps clean the air.
5. Scindapsus Pictus
Silver money plant, or silver satin, is a climbing vine that looks beautiful when kept indoors. The silver pattern on the dark green leaves of this plant is really appealing. It does best in indirect sunlight but can survive in low light. This plant looks beautiful when trained to climb a trellis or allowed to spill out of a hanging basket.
Money Plant Care
This popular houseplant can be hard to come by, but once you do, it requires little in the way of attention. Light feeding and occasional watering during the spring and summer will help your Pilea peperomioides flourish. Moreover, pancake plants are simple to multiply; a robust specimen will sprout numerous offsets that can be simply severed to start new plants. You can give them away to friends or keep them all to yourself, but once you have a pancake plant, you'll never want to buy another.
Light
Medium to strong indirect light is ideal for the Money plant. To maintain symmetry, turn your plant regularly. Leaves will be scorched in no time if placed in direct sunlight.
Low-light circumstances will cause this plant to become lanky, produce fewer offshoots, and maybe cause the coin-shaped leaves to shrink. In general, this plant thrives and looks its best when exposed to lots of light.
Soil
Your Money Plant will thrive in moist, well-drained soil. Organic potting soil made on either peat or coir is ideal. Add some perlite to the ground to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging. The ideal range of soil pH for this plant is between 6.0 and 7.0.
Water
These evergreen perennials have moderate water requirements. Leave the soil nearly dry before watering again. When watering money plant dries out, the leaves will droop, indicating that the plant needs water.
Humidity and Temperature
The Pilea peperomioides can tolerate typical indoor conditions, including the average temperature and humidity. Keep the plant away from any dry heat sources, such as heating vents or baseboards.
Although the pancake can withstand temperatures as low as freezing, it should be protected against temperatures indoors that fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). A brief time of exposure to cold throughout the winter months, however, may help in stimulating flowering.
Fertilizer
A monthly fertilization schedule in the spring and summer is ideal for the Pilea peperomioides. For optimal results, apply a complete, general-purpose fertilizer. In the fall and winter, when the plant is dormant, fertilization is not necessary.
Money Plant: Potting and Repotting
The roots and shoots of a healthy Pilea peperomioides plant can soon outgrow its container if given enough time. If you want to keep your plant healthy, it should be repotted every year in the early spring or summer to renew the soil, prune any unwanted growth, and transfer up to a larger container if possible.
The most crucial aspect of selecting a container for your pancake plant is ensuring adequate drainage. At other words, make sure there's a hole in the bottom of the pot!
The Pilea will thrive in plastic, ceramic, or terracotta pots, though you may need to water it more frequently if you use terracotta because it absorbs water from the soil.
How to Propagate Money Plant
Pilea peperomioides, sometimes known as the "sharing plant," is easily propagated by simply cutting it and letting it sprout new plants. These shoots originate at the base of the parent plant and extend upwards; they can also originate at nodes along the stem, typically where older leaves have fallen off.
If you want to prune the shoots away from the mother plant, you can do so once they reach a height of a few inches. Leave these shoots on the mother plant if you want a bushier, fuller plant.
Carefully expose the offshoot's roots by digging around in the earth, and then cut the main root an inch or two below the soil using a clean knife or pruning shears to remove it from the mother plant. Put the clipping in a separate pot with damp soil right away. It's important to wait until the plant's roots have taken hold in the new pot before resuming the normal watering and fertilizing routine.
Money Plant Advantages
We go to great lengths to resurrect the most positive energy in every nook and cranny of our dwellings and make them as lovely as possible. Because of our shared appreciation for nature, most of us make an effort to fill the empty spaces in our homes' outdoor areas with lush vegetation. Plants are revered not only for the numerous advantages they bestow upon us but also for the restorative energy they exude.
Indoor or outdoor money plants are said to attract riches and prosperity wherever they are placed, according to Vastu and Feng Shui principles. One of the most widespread houseplants is the money plant. Houseplant, you'll see it frequently decorating people's homes, workplaces, cafes, stores, balconies, and hanging baskets. The names "Golden Pothos," "Devil's Ivy," "Devil's Vine," and "Money Plant" all refer to the same plant. This is the sole plant that does not produce flowers in its genus. Are you aware, however, of the countless ways in which money plants can improve your health?
They alleviate stress, anxiety, and insomnia in addition to purifying the air and increasing oxygen availability. The numerous advantages of money plants would require an entire day to list. Here are some of the most important reasons why you should have your own money plants:
1. Purifies Air
The benefits of these indoor plants are greatest when the plant is grown inside rather than outside. Small pots, glass jars, or even hanging vases are all suitable homes for a money plant. Benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene are some of the many harmful gases that can be removed from the air in a home or office by using money plants. Therefore, it serves as a natural air purifier plant, granting you the gift of clean air and better health. There is no limit to the benefits you will reap from having money plants in your home, cafe, or business.
2. Used As A Radiation Blocker
Happily, the money tree is a succulent that can absorb the radiation from electronic devices such as computers, laptops, and mobile phones, helping to keep your house or workplace cooler. Workplace stress can be reduced, and eyes can be protected from the continual glare of computer monitors by keeping some money plants around. As a result, the workplace becomes much happier and more productive, and the number of sick days taken by workers decreases dramatically. It also protects your loved ones from the dangers of radiation emitted by electronics at home.
3. Health Advantages
Many of the money plant's potential therapeutic applications are yet unknown. A theory in Feng Shui says having a plant near the WiFi network can protect the household from illness and prevent elders from experiencing heartache. In addition to its many other uses, a money tree is valued for its ability to relieve tension and promote mental relaxation. As a bonus, it also helps people with sleeping problems and anxiety lead healthier lives. Keeping a water money plant at home where you spend a lot of time is a good way to keep your mind healthy.
Money Plant Diseases That Often Occur
The Pilea faces a wide variety of difficulties, but many of them can be easily remedied with prompt attention. Let's look at some of the most typical issues that might arise with Chinese money plants and the solutions that will get your favorite houseplant back in shape.
Curling Leaves
The flat, rounded leaves of the Chinese Money Plant have earned it another common name: the Pancake Plant. Your plant's leaves might not always be round and flat, though. Curling leaves can be caused by a number of different things, but the cause can often be determined by observing the direction and shape of the curling.
Looking for leaves that have curled inward to form a cup shape may indicate a lack of moisture. Underwatering or low humidity levels could be to blame for this. Curled leaves are a result of high light levels, which cause the leaves to squint to avoid overexposure to the sun.
Money Plant requires constant moisture and a humidity level of at least 40%. Also, make sure the brightness is enough and shift them out of the sun's direction. The leaves should recover their previous size and shape once the problems have been fixed.
Leaves Drooping
You may be perplexed as to why your Chinese Money Plant doesn't look as healthy as those you've seen online. However, sagging Pileas are not always an indication of trouble; some sag naturally because they support heavier leaves, especially those that are located lower on the plant.
Loss of vitality is another cause of older leaves falling over. It's normal for plants to develop in a somewhat less-than-perfect ball, so don't worry too much about it.
But if your Pilea begins to sag suddenly, that's a red flag. To err on the side of caution and not over- or under-water is typically to blame.
The petioles will rot if they are constantly saturated with water, rendering them useless for supporting the leaves. If there isn't enough water, the cells will dry out and fall apart. Use your finger to feel the earth and determine which scenario is more plausible.
Falling Leaf
A major problem in Pileas is leaf fall. Several discolored leaves can be trimmed off and replaced, but a lost leaf cannot be reattached.
The issue is overwatering, as are many of the other things on this list. However, Phileas are susceptible to root rot if their soil becomes damp or overly soggy. Even if you don't water the plant too frequently, if the container or soil does not have adequate drainage, oxygen will not be able to reach the plant's roots, which will result in the same problem.
These houseplants have strict drainage needs that can't be ignored. Even if you do something like put rocks in the bottom of the pot, the drainage holes won't be the same. In addition to preventing waterlogging, your soil mixture should be light and airy.
Brown Patches
There are a variety of color changes you could see, not only yellowing. Browning of leaves is also prevalent and can occur for many reasons and in various patterns. Brown spots are one common issue that can arise from poor illumination.
Chinese money plants prefer to grow in shady conditions, thus trees and bushes are a must for them in their natural environments. For the most part of the day, they are bathed in soft, diffused light, the equivalent of very bright indirect sunlight inside. They are not well suited to being in the sun's rays, and prolonged exposure can be harmful.
Leaves on your Pilea are more likely to turn brown if you place them in the midday or afternoon sun. These areas, which form on the sides of the plant that are exposed to sunlight, dry up and crisp up as the plant matures.