Chinese money plant to decorate the home
If there is a houseplant that is fashionable today it is the peperomioides pilea , or perhaps better known by most as Chinese money plant . It has beautiful rounded leaves with an intense green. It is one of the most photographed plants on Instagram , and has thousands of fans.
Pilea peperomioides is a perennial plant native to Yunnan province, southern China. In 1906 it was collected by George Forres t. In 1946 a Norwegian missionary, Agnar Espegren , rediscovered it and took some cuttings to Norway. From then on it was distributed throughout Scandinavia, where it quickly began to be seen in many homes. It is a plant that lives very well in that climate, in fact it is called “Swedish ivy”. The truth is that in the Nordic countries it began to be part of the decoration of homes.
The pilea peperomioides belongs to the Urticaceae family and the Pilea spp genus , a very extensive family that includes between 500 and 700 species. Most are succulents, perennials or annuals, and grow in all tropical temperate areas of the world except New Zealand and Australia.
It is a small plant, with a single stem from which its leaves come out. They are fleshy leaves, with a smooth and shiny surface, and dark green. In the center they have a lighter green dot, which is where it meets the stem. When it blooms it does so by means of reddish stems, little branched with pinkish flowers.
Habitat
The Chinese money plant likes shady environments , which makes it an ideal plant to grow indoors. Ideally, place it near a window, but avoid direct sunlight as much as possible.
It is important to recreate the ideal conditions for any plant, so that in this way they are healthy. In the case of the pilea , its greatest aesthetic appeal is its round and green leaves, and in order for it to always look like this, it is better to avoid direct exposure to the sun’s rays.
Irrigation
The pilea peperomioides requires continuous watering, since it likes permanent humidity, a necessary condition for it to develop properly. Keep the soil moist but without puddling the substrate, to prevent it from contracting fungal diseases. In the summer months it is important to ensure that the soil does not dry out, and it is also advisable to spray the leaves with water.
What type of fertilizer to use?
To keep the plant well nourished we will need a balanced 1-1-1 type fertilizer plus microelements. It is not necessary to prune it, just remove the leaves that deteriorate. The pilea lives best in low temperatures and can be paid in the winter months.
Reproduction
The reproduction of the Chinese money plant is done through seeds, like all flowering plants, but this can only occur in its natural habitat. In indoor spaces and nurseries, reproduction is done with cuttings from the same plant. They will be carefully cut with a razor or box cutter, and planted in a pot that has a seedbed substrate.
It is important to avoid drafts and excess light. Breeding can be done throughout the year, except in places where winter is very cold. In this case it is better to do it in spring or summer.
Diseases and Pests
It does not usually suffer many diseases and pests, since it is a very rustic plant. At most it can be a victim of mealybugs. In summer, if the environment is very hot and dry, the spider mite could be a problem.
