How to Grow a Chinese Money Plant
Indoor plants make my house a home, period. The Chinese money plant, scientific name Pilea peperomioides, is a flowering flat disc-shaped plant that belongs to the nettle family Urticaceae. It is native to Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in China - and I simply adore them. They have a sculptural yet striking, presence. Even better? They are super easy to take care of. Almost as easy as the Ficus-Audrey. I recently added a few to my indoor plant collection and wanted to share a few tips to keep them looking great.
But first, I bet you have a few questions about how this gorgeous plant got its name, and why they are so popular. Let’s dive in…
The Chinese money plant's name meaning
The Chinese money plant, over the years, has collected numerous names such as; Lefse Plant, Bender Plant, Missionary Plant, Pancake Plant, and even my favorite the UFO Plant.
As mentioned, the Chinese money plant has rounded, coin-shaped, flat leaves. When these circular leaves are kept on top of each other, it looks like a stack of coins. This earned the plant its common name, money plant. Do you see it now? It totally makes sense to me.
The spiritual significance of Chinese money plants
Feng shui experts believe that the Chinese money plant brings prosperity, money, and good luck to their owners. The legend goes that a poor man gained immeasurable riches by growing the Chinese money plant. Money plants are a favored gift in East Asian countries but also in the US. I love them because they look good with all interior decors and look great on a bookcase or a shelf while bringing some good luck to the space! Why wouldn’t you want one?
This plant is a constant reminder to stay positive with regard to your financial status. People say looking at their leaves will also provide you with positive energy and remind the person to be judicious with their finances. Maybe having this plant in your home will be a positive reminder for you along the way. Grab a Chinese money plant one now and make your dreams a reality.
The Chinese money plant benefits
The Chinese money plant has some other benefits other than granting good luck to its owners:
The money plant is believed to reduce marital problems. So if you want some zen in your married life, look no farther than our dear old Chinese money plant. Keep the plant in the southeast direction and enjoy peace and fortune with your spouse.
As I said earlier, the Chinese money plant really brightens up a room and creates a positive and happier environment. They are great focal points too. Keep the chemise money plant in a place where you can see it often and feel the positive vibes thrumming into you.
People believe that the Chinese money plant reduces stress and has a positive effect on health. Some hospitals even keep money plants in their patient’s hotel rooms to improve their recovery.
The next benefit I am going to tell you is not a superstition but a fact. The Chinese money plant is a good air purifier, like a lot of plants. It is a low-maintenance solution to your home's air quality issues. With a Chinese money plant in your home, you can now breathe easily.
You can always take offsets or plantlets from your Chinese money plant and gift them to friends and family, or grow new ones in a propagation station. I love how quickly they grow and look on the wall.
How to take care of your Chinese money plant
If you want your plant beauty to look its best, you have to give the Chinese money plant the best care possible. It’s actually quite easy to take care and they grow quickly.
Sunlight
The Chinese money plant loves sunshine. So let it soak in the sun for some time. But, be a bit careful during hot summer days. You don't want to scorch all that beautiful greenery. There is no need to place it in direct sunlight. In fact, a little bright indirect sunlight will do for the Chinese money plant. Place it near a window or a balcony and let it enjoy the warm sunshine. If your plant is not getting enough sunlight, it wont grow very tall. Also, remember to regularly clean the dust from the leaves so that they can take all the sunlight they need.
If your house does not receive enough sunlight, it is a good idea to invest in a good tabletop grow light to help your Chinese money plant get enough supplemental light.
Watering
Watering is essential for the healthy growth of your Chinese money plant. It can get thirsty just like a human. It is ideal to water your money plant 2–3 times a week. But do not pour an entire jug of water on it. The Chinese money plant is not a hydrophilic plant. This means it can't be waterlogged. Always check the soil dryness before watering and pour only a sufficient amount of water. If the soil feels soggy, it is better to leave watering for another day. Overwatered plants can be identified by their yellowing leaves. If your plant's leaves are turning yellow, adjust the watering schedule. You can also snip off the yellow leaves so that the plant can concentrate on the healthy ones.
Similarly, if the soil is dry, the leaves will start to become droopy. The droopy leaves are the plant's way of asking you to water them. Water the plant in such a way that the water runs all the way through.
Humidity
The Chinese money plants love humidity. If your house is in a humid climate, then you are in luck. For people living in a dry climatic area, it is good to invest in a humidity tray that can be kept below the plant pot.
Fertilizing
The Chinese money plant doesn’t require but if you want to give your plant baby a bit of a jolt, try a few drops of this plant concentrate fertilizer it helps! You can simply use an all-purpose plant fertilizer once a month to improve its growth and vigor, especially during summer and spring. Always remember to water the plant before fertilizing. It is better to feed your plant one day after you water it. But remember to not overfeed your plant out of love. Our kindness and blind love kill most of our houseplants. Overfeeding (or watering) a Chinese money plant can cause the leaves to go soft.
Soil
The Chinese money plants like well-drained potting soil. It is best not to use garden soil for your plants. Also, try not to go for the cheapest potting soil available on the market. Using good-quality potting soil will make your plant happy and improve its growth. Some people also use DIY soils suitable for houseplants. If you are buying an already potted plant from a nursery or greenhouse, then you don't have to worry about the soil issue.
Potting
Houseplants generally come in plastic pots. But some greenhouses and nurseries use terracotta pots for the Chinese money plants. This is a bit tricky since the terracotta can dry out fast. Use a glazed ceramic or plastic pot to combat this issue. If the plant you have is in a terracotta pot, you can always consider repotting it. If you are tempted to keep the terracotta pot because it looks beautiful, then remember to water the plant frequently. You can also use a plastic pot for the plant and then put the plastic pot in a terracotta one to improve the aesthetics. Whichever container you choose, remember to put a drainage hole in it. The Chinese money plants hate to put their roots in water. Therefore, good drainage is essential. Otherwise, the plant roots will rot.
Temperature
Even though the temperature is not a big consideration while growing a Chinese money plant, the ideal temperature that you can maintain is 55°-86 °F.
Repotting
When you provide your Chinese money plant with the best possible conditions, it will surely outgrow its pot. When its container feels full, you can move it to a bigger pot, or you can propagate it. Repotting will give the plant a fuller, more beautiful look. So many people prefer to keep the offsets with the mother plant.
Propagating
Propagation is done using a healthy Chinese money plant. Look for plantlets or offsets coming up through the soil. I love using a propagation station to grow them easily. When they become about 3 inches tall, you can remove them from the mother plant using a sharp and clean knife. This cut offset can be placed either in water or soil. If you choose to keep it in soil, make sure that the soil is watered amply.
As you can see, taking care of a Chinese money plant isn’t difficult at all. They also look amazing in your space. By giving it a little love and attention, you can have a gorgeous houseplant that makes your home look great. As your plant-caring skills increase, you can pass the little bundles of joy on to your friends and family after propagation. So, are you ready for your plant-growing adventure? I hope so. Grab one now.
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