How to Take Care of a Chinese Money Plant

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If you’re looking for a small plant that adds a lot of character to any room, try growing a Chinese money plant, Pilea peperomioides. Also called UFO or pancake plants because of their saucer-shaped leaves, these plants are hardy, easy to care for, and popular across the world. They are sunlight-loving plants that can grow well inside your home with infrequent watering. Take good care of a money plant and you will end up with a lovely and long-lasting piece of nature for your home.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Choosing a Spot for Your Plant

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  1. Chinese money plants grow well in spots that receive plenty of sunlight throughout the day. The best spot is an east-facing window, which receives the first, weak rays of sunlight in the morning. Your money plant can handle this sunlight. A west-facing window, which receives direct sunlight late in the day, is the second-best spot. [1]
    • Other spots are fine too, but make sure your plant gets the proper amount of sunlight there. If there isn’t enough sunlight, set up a grow light.
    • Keep money plants out of direct sunlight. Harsh sunlight burns leaves, eventually destroying your plant.
  2. Money plants grow well in temperatures from 50 to 86 °F (10 to 30 °C). Although they are pretty hardy, temperature spikes from air conditioners or heating vents can cause some problems. Try to keep your money plant in a place where the temperature stays consistent throughout the day. [2]
    • Your plant will survive if the temperature dips a little lower than usual, but don’t let it stay in such a condition for very long.
    • Curling leaves are often the result of high heat. Extreme cold causes a money plant to stop growing or freeze.
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  3. No matter where you place the plant, it won’t receive light evenly on all sides. This causes the plant to lean toward the light as it grows. Prevent this by giving each side an equal amount of exposure. Give the plant at least a quarter of a turn each week.
    • Come up with a schedule so you don’t forget to rotate your money plant. Try doing it each time you water the plant, for instance.
    • If you’re using a grow light, keep it directly above the plant so it won’t lean. Otherwise, continue rotating it each week.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Watering a Money Plant

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  1. Chinese money plants don’t require a ton of upkeep compared to some other houseplants. They mostly grow in the warmer months and will require more frequent watering during that time. You won’t have to give the plant more water until you notice that its soil is nearly dry. Keep in mind that summer conditions, such as high heat and exposure to sunlight, can cause the soil to dry out at a quicker rate than normal. [3]
    • Chinese money plants don’t require much in the way of humidity, but you can also spritz them with water if they look brown or droopy despite regular watering.
  2. Your plant slows down during the colder months of the year. You will notice the soil staying wet for longer periods of time. Keep watching the soil and sprinkling it with water as it dries out. Let the soil nearly dry out each time so your plant stays healthy while it’s dormant. [4]
    • The opposite is true during warm, dry weather. Your plant may need to be watered a little more frequently than once a week.
  3. Monitor the soil by placing your finger in it. If the top 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) feel somewhat dry, refresh the plant with clean water. Dry soil feels hard and dusty instead of damp and sticky. Water your money plant, then wait until the soil nearly dries out before watering it again.
    • The right moisture level makes a big difference. If the soil is kept too damp, it will cause the plant’s roots to rot. Make sure the soil isn’t saturated with water.
    • Money plants aren’t cut out for bone-dry soil. Add more water as soon as you notice the soil getting too dry. The plant may also start drooping when this happens.
  4. Set the plant on top of a planter saucer. Using a watering can, sprinkle lukewarm water directly onto the soil. Watch for a stream of water to pass through the drainage holes at the bottom. Move the plant off the saucer afterward so it isn’t sitting in water. [5]
    • You could also take the plant to the sink and add tap water until the soil is moist. However, distilled and filtered water are healthier for plants than tap water due to the lack of minerals.
    • Check the soil about 2 hours after first watering it. Make sure the first 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of soil stay moist.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Fertilizing and Repotting Money Plants

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  1. If you wish to give your money plant a little boost, try using a balanced liquid fertilizer. The number rating indicates the amount of each nutrient in the fertilizer. Mix about 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of it into 1 US gal (3,800 mL) of lukewarm water. Then, use it to moisten the soil next time your plant needs water.
    • Many money plants do well without fertilizer. A quality fertilizer provides additional nutrients for plants to grow bigger and fuller.
    • Your plant doesn’t need fertilizer during the winter months. It won’t be growing much then, so don’t overload it with nutrients.
  2. The money plant’s roots will continue to expand, so watch for them to poke out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. When this happens, get the next biggest pot size available. Choose a plastic or glazed ceramic pot with adequate drainage holes. The right pot creates the perfect environment for your plant to continue to grow. [6]
    • Terracotta pots don’t retain moisture very well. You can use a terracotta pot if you’re prone to overwatering, but plastic and ceramic pots are usually a better choice.
  3. Check your local gardening center for a good houseplant potting soil. Take the new pot and scoop soil into it with a trowel, leaving a hole in the center for the money plant. After placing the plant in the hole, spread soil over its roots. Make sure it is well-covered so the lowest leaves are right above the soil.
    • You can use the old pot to help set up the new one. Stick the old pot in the new pot, then pack soil around it. Remove the old pot and slide the money plant into its new home!
    • Be gentle when taking a money plant out of its old home. Grip it lightly and slide it out of the pot. If it’s stuck, run a knife or trowel around the edges of the pot to break the soil loose.
  4. Over time, your money plant will sprout baby plants. Wait until they grow at least 2 in (5.1 cm) above the soil with a set of 3 or 4 leaves. Push aside the soil to reveal about 1 in (2.5 cm) of the main stem and roots. Use sharp, clean scissors or a knife to detach the new plant so you can grow it elsewhere if you wish.
    • Transplant a new cutting by placing it in a glass of water until it begins sprouting roots. Put it in its own pot filled with potting soil afterward.
    • Some people prefer leaving the young plants alone. They will continue to grow, but the pot can look a little messy as a result.
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      Tips

      • Chinese money plants are not the same as money trees. Money trees are tropical houseplants that grow in similar conditions and are often mislabeled as money plants. [7]
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      • Watch your plant’s leaves. They are a good indication of the plant’s health, drooping when the plant needs water, turning yellow from overwatering, or crisping up from too much sunlight.
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      • Money plants are not super common at plant nurseries since they grow so slowly. If you’re looking to buy a new one, you could order one online or get a cutting from an existing plant.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Potting soil mix
      • Planter pot
      • Balanced liquid fertilizer
      • Watering can
      • Gardening knife or scissors

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      References

      1. ↑ https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2018-05-31-houseplants-and-indoor-lighting
      2. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1318&title=Growing%20Indoor%20Plants%20with%20Success#Pruning
      3. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/malvern-spring-festival/news/2019/malvern-houseplant-extravaganza
      4. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/malvern-spring-festival/news/2019/malvern-houseplant-extravaganza
      5. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/malvern-spring-festival/news/2019/malvern-houseplant-extravaganza
      6. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1318&title=Growing%20Indoor%20Plants%20with%20Success#Pruning
      7. ↑ https://sites.psu.edu/forloveofchlorophyll/2018/01/23/pachira-aquatica/

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