“Pilea, or the Chinese Money Plant, is at the top of every gardener’s wish list this year,” says Meg Gallagher, English Gardens House Plant Buyer. “English Gardens just received a fresh shipment. We’re the first and only store in the area to carry these gems.”

Most varieties of Pilea thrive on table tops or counter tops. They also add interest to your home in hanging baskets, especially during the winter months when they burst with light yellow blooms.  

Pilea is native to China and popular lore suggests that a Norwegian missionary took cuttings home with him in the 1940s to share with friends and family. These plants quickly spread throughout Scandinavia and eventually the world. It is known to signify good fortune and abundance.

Considered a house plant, Pilea prefer bright, indirect sunlight. Avoid areas with low humidity or in areas where the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant in well-draining soil and in a container with drainage holes. Lightly mist soil and do not over water or allow the plant to sit in standing water.

Only fertilize your Pilea with a diluted house plant fertilizer once a month during the growing season, which is spring through fall. Do not fertilize in the blooming season, which is during winter.

One of the biggest benefits of Pilea is they are easily propagated. Propagation is the process of taking a cutting from your plant and sharing it with friends and family so that they may grow their own. There are two ways to propagate your Pilea:  

1. The first is done through plantlets that grow from the plant’s roots. A healthy and thriving Pilea will regularly produce these plantlets from the soil. Once they have leaves of their own, use a knife to cut the plantlet away from the mother plant. Then, place the cut plantlet into a pot and keep the soil moist. Because they have a root system of their own, they will start growing immediately. 
2. Plantlets also grow on the stem of your Pilea. Use a sharp knife to cut these Pilea plantlets from the stem. Place the end of the cutting in a vase of a water, keeping the leaf out of the water. The cutting should start to develop a root system in one to two weeks. Once a root system has been established, place the cutting in a pot with soil and keep moist.

Whichever method you decide to try, patience is key. It can take several weeks before you start seeing significant growth. 

Grab this rare house plant today, while supplies last! For a complete list of locations, visit our website.