Easy Tropical Safe for pets

Chinese Money Plant

Pilea peperomioides

With its round coin-shaped leaves held on long petioles, the Chinese Money Plant is a graphic and easy-care houseplant.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 7 days
Light

Bright indirect light
Humidity

40–50 %
Temperature

15–25 °C

How to care for your Chinese Money Plant

Everything you need to keep your Chinese Money Plant healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Native to the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China, Pilea peperomioides naturally grows on shaded rocks in the foothills of the Himalayas. Its perfectly round, bright green, slightly succulent leaves are held on thin petioles that give it a unique and highly decorative appearance. This plant generously produces offsets at its base, which can easily be separated to share or repot. Undemanding, it simply needs good indirect light and moderate watering to thrive.

Watering your Chinese Money Plant

Every 7 days

Water thoroughly when the top 2 cm of soil is dry. Ensure good drainage as this plant is sensitive to root rot. Reduce watering in winter.

How to know it needs water

Top 2 cm of soil feels dry to the touch
Leaves begin to droop slightly
Pot feels noticeably lighter

How much light a Chinese Money Plant needs

Bright indirect light

Bright indirect light. Rotate the pot weekly for even growth. Tolerates some direct morning sun but avoid harsh afternoon rays.

Direct sun tolerated: 0 to 2 h a day
Orientations that suit it: North, North-east, East, South-east, South, South-west, West, North-west

Humidity and misting

40–50 %

40–50% Average household humidity is usually sufficient. Mist occasionally in very dry heated rooms during winter.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 30 days

Feed once a month from spring through summer at half strength. No fertilizing needed from October to February.

Recommended feed: Balanced liquid fertilizer (20-20-20) · 5-10-5

Repotting your Chinese Money Plant

Every 12 months

Repot in spring into a pot one size larger. Use a well-draining potting mix with added perlite. Separate pups during repotting if desired.

When: Spring
Potting mix: All-purpose potting mix
Mix in: perlite, coco fibre

The tell-tale signs

Numerous baby plants (pups) crowding the pot
Roots visible at the soil surface
Plant becomes top-heavy and tips over

Pruning your Chinese Money Plant

Year-round as needed to remove yellowing lower leaves. Remove yellowing leaves at the base. Separate baby plants (pups) by cutting below the soil line with a clean blade. Let pups develop roots before potting.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 9 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 6 in the growing season.

Active growth · Days between waterings

Good to know

Nicknamed the 'missionary plant', it was introduced to Europe by a Norwegian missionary who brought cuttings from China in 1946.
Pilea peperomioides went viral on social media in the 2010s, making it one of the most sought-after houseplants in the world.

Frequently asked questions about the Chinese Money Plant

How do you care for a Chinese Money Plant?

Water it every 7 days. Give it bright indirect light. Ideal humidity: 40–50 %. Ideal temperature: 15–25 °C. Water thoroughly when the top 2 cm of soil is dry. Ensure good drainage as this plant is sensitive to root rot. Reduce watering in winter.

How often should you water a Chinese Money Plant?

Every 7 days Water thoroughly when the top 2 cm of soil is dry. Ensure good drainage as this plant is sensitive to root rot. Reduce watering in winter. How to know it needs water : Top 2 cm of soil feels dry to the touch ; Leaves begin to droop slightly ; Pot feels noticeably lighter.

How much light does a Chinese Money Plant need?

Bright indirect light Bright indirect light. Rotate the pot weekly for even growth. Tolerates some direct morning sun but avoid harsh afternoon rays. 0 to 2 h a day

Is the Chinese Money Plant toxic to cats and dogs?

No, the Chinese Money Plant is not listed as toxic to cats and dogs. That is still no reason to let your pets chew on it.

Why are my Chinese Money Plant leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Chinese Money Plant?

Repot every 12 months, ideally in spring. Repot in spring into a pot one size larger. Use a well-draining potting mix with added perlite. Separate pups during repotting if desired.