How often should I water it?

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Why are my leaves drooping?

It usually needs a drink or is reacting to a change in light.

Plant guide

Chinese Money Plant.

Pilea peperomioides

Pronounced py-LEE-uh pep-er-oh-mi-OY-deez

Also known as Chinese money plant

The Chinese Money Plant is a charming, fast growing houseplant known for its unique, coin shaped leaves. It thrives in bright, indirect light and adds a modern touch to any indoor space. These plants are quite popular because they are easy to propagate from the offsets they produce.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial
Light: Bright indirect light is best.
Indoor light: bright-indirect
Water: Every 7 to 10 days
Mature size: 30 to 45 cm
Growth rate: fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil evenly moist but allow the top inch to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot. Rotate the pot frequently to ensure even growth, as the leaves will lean toward the light source. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often indicate overwatering or poor drainage.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Remove dead or yellowing leaves to keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: Repot when the plant becomes root bound or produces too many offsets.
Soil: Well draining, peat based potting mix.
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: 10 to 24°C
Humidity: 40 to 60%
Drought tolerance: low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years.
Deer and rabbits: moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
The plant stops producing new leaves.
Water runs straight through the pot without soaking in.

Safety

People: It is non toxic to humans and pets.
Pets: This plant is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The plant is safe for children, though the stems can be fragile and break if handled roughly.
Edibility: While not considered toxic, it is not a food source and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Perfectly round, coin shaped green leaves
Long, slender petioles attached to leaf center
Succulent, upright, woody main stem
Produces small plantlets at the base

Height: 0.2 to 0.45m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.45m
Leaves: green, evergreen
Flowers: white, pink, 0.5 to 1cm

Common problems

Root rot — This occurs when the soil stays too wet for too long.
Yellowing leaves — This is often a sign of overwatering or poor drainage.

Growing it

Propagation: division, cuttings
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Keep the plant away from cold drafts and reduce watering slightly during the winter months when growth slows down.
In containers: It grows very well in pots and prefers a container with drainage holes that is just slightly larger than the root ball.

Offset Division

Wait for the small plantlets to appear at the base of the mother plant.
Gently remove the plantlet with a clean, sharp knife.
Place the offset in a small pot with moist, well draining soil.

Group plants with similar humidity needs together to create a microclimate.

Grows well with

Spider Plant — They share similar light and water requirements.
Peace Lily — They both thrive in indirect light and consistent moisture.

Keep away from

Succulents — Succulents require much drier soil than this plant prefers.

Similar species

Peperomia — They share a similar leaf shape and growth habit.

Science

Family: Urticaceae
Genus: Pilea
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southern China in the Yunnan Province.
Conservation: It is not currently listed as a conservation concern.

It grows in the shaded, moist environments of the Himalayan mountains.

Uses: houseplant, indoor decor

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How often should I water it?: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Why are my leaves drooping?: It usually needs a drink or is reacting to a change in light.

Where the name comes from

The name Pilea refers to the Latin word for a felt cap, while peperomioides means it looks like a Peperomia.

Good to know

It was brought to Europe by a Norwegian missionary in the 1940s.
The leaves will naturally turn toward the light source.
It produces small plantlets at the base that you can share with friends.

Is your chinese money plant looking unwell?

This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.