{"id":1513,"date":"2016-07-06T06:51:14","date_gmt":"2016-07-06T13:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cleverbloom.com\/staging\/4549\/?p=1513"},"modified":"2020-09-14T18:14:59","modified_gmt":"2020-09-15T01:14:59","slug":"care-pilea-peperomioides","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cleverbloom.com\/staging\/4549\/care-pilea-peperomioides\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Care For Pilea Peperomioides"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Thanks for visiting Clever Bloom!!  I have a guest with me today and I love her so you will too.  Her love for plants and everything botanical is how I “met” her on Instagram<\/a>.  She is going to cover all your Pilea peperomioides basis because let’s face it, this is not the plant you want to accidentally kill.  I’ll let her introduce herself.  Take it away Morgan!<\/p>\n

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Hi, I’m Morgan. You may or may not know me as @plantingpink<\/a> on Instagram (if not, get on that!).  I love connecting with other plant-loving folks.  If you’re crazy about houseplants or botany, there’s a #plantgang<\/a> on IG just waiting to love pics of your ferns, monsteras, and fiddle leaf figs.<\/p>\n

I live in Tampa, FL and I grow all kinds of green things both indoors and out. I’m partial to fancy and unique foliage but I’ll try to grow just about anything and learn as I go. That’s exactly what I did when I acquired a “Pass it on” plant (aka Pilea pepeomioides). And that’s the plant I’m here to talk about today! I met @cleverbloom through our mutual love of the Pilea and so here we are now with a fun little collab. Thanks Erin for sharing your space!<\/p>\n

Pilea peperomioides (or as my husband calls it, Pilea Pepperoni) has become the houseplant on everyone\u2019s wish list. I was lucky enough to get one before they became the rarest and most sought after houseplant in the US and have been able to successfully send off some of its daughter plants across the country to begin their own little pilea families.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a wonder to me how this plant which is so quick and easy to propagate has become virtually impossible to acquire for those who want to own one. I\u2019m glad to see US-based owners start to share their cuttings and I truly hope a nursery here catches up to demand and is able to fulfill the needs of the masses!  In the meantime, those looking for care tips can read on. I\u2019ll cover what has worked best for my plants as far as container, water,   fertilization, sun, soil, pest control and propagation.<\/p>\n

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CONTAINERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

I currently have three separate potted plants. One is in glazed ceramic, one is in a clay pot and one is in a plastic pot. All three pots have drainage holes at the bottom.<\/p>\n

Clever Bloom’s Container Picks: Here<\/a> & Here<\/a><\/p>\n

WATER<\/strong><\/p>\n

I water each plant about once a week based on the conditions in my house and the condition of the soil.  However, Tampa, FL is a very sunny place and the room is pretty warm.  We keep our house around 77 degrees which in turn dries the soil of all my plants rather quickly. I typically dress the top of my plants with aquarium rocks but because Pilea peperomioides loves to poke babies up out of the dirt, I keep it clear so I can see what\u2019s happening.  All that is to say, watch your soil.  Like most plants, don\u2019t let Pilea peperomioides sit in wet soil but also don\u2019t let it dry out completely either.  I\u2019ve found that the leaves will start to look a tad droopy and that\u2019s the day I water.<\/p>\n

SUNLIGHT<\/strong><\/p>\n

All three enjoy a very large south facing window but no direct sunlight.  Because P. peperomioides is so responsive to the sun and such a fast grower, it has a tendency to send all its leaves in one direction.  I\u2019ve found I need to rotate the plant 2-3 times a week to avoid a slanted stem.  Eventually I think I\u2019ll need to stake my largest plant because it grows so quickly. Just in the past month it has put out 5 new leaves. It didn\u2019t grow as quickly in the winter so this may be its yearly growth spurt.<\/p>\n

SOIL<\/strong><\/p>\n

This post may have affiliate links for your convenience.<\/em><\/p>\n

For soil, I use MiracleGro<\/a> with some orchid bark<\/a> mixed in for added texture and aeration. For all my houseplants, P. peperomioides included, I mix the recommended amount of Bonide Systemic House Plant Insect Control<\/a> into the soil. When I first moved to Florida in July, 2015 my houseplants somehow acquired fungus gnats. I used yellow sticky traps<\/a> to catch the adult flies and started using the Bonide product. I can now happily report that we are gnat free!<\/p>\n

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PROPAGATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

Propagating these plants is very simple. When I acquired my \u201cmama\u201d plant, it already had some \u201cbabies\u201d peeking up through the soil. I cut each plantlet from the mother plant with a clean, sharp knife. They can either go into water to start root development or straight into moist soil.  I\u2019ve found the soil method to be quicker and easier so I no longer take the step to root the plantlets in water. After about 4-6 weeks, they are anchored in their soil and will begin to sprout new leaves of their own.<\/p>\n

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View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

New Pilea babies ready to be potted up ????? #houseplantclub #plantsmakepeoplehappy #interiorrewilding #jungalowstyle #urbanjungle #greenthumb #getgrowing #tampa #florida #plantsofinstagram #pileapeperomioides<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Morgan Doane<\/a> (@plantingpink) on