Pilea Peperomioides: Pancakes on a Stick (and Free Money)

The Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) has round, coin-shaped leaves perched on little stems like a plate of green pancakes balanced on toothpicks. Folklore says it brings wealth. What it actually brings is babies: it constantly sends up pups from the soil and the stem, which you can pot up and hand out, earning it the nickname “pass-it-on plant.” It’s about as easy as a plant gets, and modern enough to look good in any room.

Where to put it (light)

Bright, indirect light. It leans hard toward the light, so rotate it every few days or it’ll grow sideways like it’s trying to escape. Direct sun burns spots on the leaves; low light makes the leaves small and the stem leggy.

Temperature

60–80°F (16–27°C). Tolerates brief dips to 50°F (10°C). Keep it away from radiators and cold drafts.

Watering

Water when the top inch of soil is dry, about weekly in summer. Leaves droop and curl when thirsty; yellow lower leaves usually mean overwatering. Let excess drain fully.

Feeding

Monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip in winter.

Soil

A well-draining potting mix with added perlite. It doesn’t like heavy, wet soil, and a pot with drainage is essential.

Humidity

Average household humidity is fine. It’s not fussy.

Common pests

Fungus gnats (if overwatered), mealybugs, spider mites, and scale. Generally pest-resistant. Wipe the leaves now and then to keep them shiny and dust-free.

Propagation

Difficulty: Very easy. Pups. Baby plants sprout from the soil and along the stem; cut them off with a bit of root (or root stem pups in water), pot in moist soil, and they take off within weeks.

Also worth knowing

Toxicity: non-toxic to cats and dogs. Mature size: 8–12 in (20–30 cm). Repot every 1–2 years. Remove pups if you want a larger, single-stemmed parent plant.

Pot up the pups once they’re a couple of inches tall with a few leaves. Congratulations, you now run a small plant nursery.