Missionary Plant (Pilea peperomioides) Care Indoors, Propagation & Common Problems

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Pilea peperomioides (Missionary Plant) thrives in bright indirect light, average warmth and humidity and moderately moist, fertile potting soil coupled with quarterly feeding in the growing season.

Pilea peperomioides also called Chinese Money Plant Pancake Plant, Friendship Plant, or UFO Plant is among the popular succulent plants and bears round, dark-green leaves which are held on long petioles.

The stem is greenish to dark brown and often upright straight. The flowers are inconspicuous consisting of clusters of highly reduced unshowy, unisexual flowers.

The common name, 'Missionary Plant', is because a Norwegian missionary, Agnar Espegren, brought it from China to Norway in 1946, from there it was spread throughout Scandinavia.

Botanical name: Pilea peperomioides
Family: Urticaceae
Common names: Missionary Plant, Pancake Plant, Friendship Plant, Chinese Money Plant, UFO Plant

Origin

Pilea peperomioides has its origins in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in southern China.

Size

Missionary Plant is an erect, succulent, evergreen, perennial growing to a height of 12 inches only. The leaves are round, dark-green, about 4 inches in diameter and are held on long petioles. The compact size of this plant makes it one of the best low-light plants for small spaces like a study table to boost concentration or an office desk with no sunlight.

Is Pilea peperomioides toxic?

No. Pilea peperomioides is non-toxic to both humans and pets according to ASPCA. It is one of the pet-friendly plants that you may grow indoors.

Related Plants

The inflorescence in Chinese Money Plant is like that of Pilea cadierei (Aluminium Plant) while the leaves are like those of Peperomia polybotrya (Coin-leaf Peperomia) and hence the Botanical name Pilea peperomioides.

Where to Buy

Missionary Plants are a great addition to any plant collection, You may obtain them online from Amazon (Link to Amazon).

Pilea peperomioides Care Indoors

To care for Pilea peperomioides indoors, give it bright indirect light, warmth of 18-28⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile succulents potting mix coupled with quarterly feeding during the growing season.

Missionary Plant care requires regular pruning to keep it neat as well as encourage a bushy, compact growth. Repotting is needed when overcrowded to provide enough room for expansion. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.

Light Requirements

How much light does Pilea peperomioides need?

Pilea peperomioides needs bright indirect light; put it near a large, bright, sunless window. Keep it away from direct sunlight or use a sheer curtain to filter the sunrays to prevent scorching of the leaves.

Note that, the foliage will lose its bright green color if the light is too low. Therefore, where the natural light is not adequate, instal full spectrum grow lights to complement it.

Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives right on all sides for uniform growth and avoid leggy growth.

Watering

How often should I water Pilea peperomioides?

Water your Pilea peperomioides liberally during the growing season while allowing the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings. Avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing, drooping and leaf drop.

Cut down on watering during the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist since growth is minimal at this time. However do not allow the soil to dry out completely as underwatering can lead to wilting, drooping, yellowing and leaf loss.

To prevent cold shock which can result in stunted growth and leaf drop, water with room temperature water. Watering with chlorinated water will result in staining and browning of leaf edges, therefore, use rainwater, filtered water or any chlorine-free water.

Use a pot with a drainage hole and fast-draining soil to prevent waterlogging which can lead to leaf drop due to root-rot. Always empty the catch plate or saucer to prevent the plant from sitting in soggy soil.

Temperature & Humidity

Pilea peperomioides flourishes in a warmth of 18-28⁰C. Keep it away from sources of drafts like AC units, heat sources, open doors and others to prevent sudden changes in temperature which can cause reduced growth and leaf drop.

Missionary Plant prefers a humidity of 50-55%; it has no need for extra humidity. However, if the leaf edges become crispy and curled, it means that the air is too dry. To up humidity, group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Maintain good air circulation to minimize fungal diseases.

Fertilizer

How to feed a Missionary Plant?

Feed your Missionary Plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 3-4 months during the growing period for a lush growth. Do not feed in the cold season to prevent fertilizer burn as growth is minimal at this time.

Occasionally, flush out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it drains through the drainage holes. Repeat the process several times to get rid of as much salts as possible.

Potting Soil

What kind of soil does Chinese Money Plant like?

Chinese Money Plant like a rich, loose, free-draining soil to avoid waterloffing. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough.

Pilea peperomioides is prone to root-rot if the soil begomes soggy (retains too much water), therefore, a cactus and succulents mix is good for this plant as it drains easily.

Repotting

Repot Missionary Plant when overcrowded in its current pot. Use a pot one size larger than the current one. Choose a clay pot as it allows the soil to dry out faster and thus prevents the soil from getting soggy.

Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot. If the plant is too overcrowded, divide it and pot the splits into individual pots to propagate new plants. Check out these succulents pots available on Amazon.

Pruning & Maintenance

How to prune Pilea peperomioides?

Pilea peperomioides does not require much pruning as it is a slow-grower. Pruning involves removal of yellow, dead and stray foliage to maintain the plant neat and reduce pest and disease infestations.

For a fuller and bushier plant, regularly snip off the topmost part of the stem and pinch off the plantlets as they appear so that the plant can focus its energy on sprouting new growth from the main stem.

Regularly clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and also discourage pest and diseases infestations.

Pilea peperomioides Propagation

Pilea peperomioides (Missionary Plant) is propagated in 3 ways; by plant division, from stem plantlets or from stem cuttings. Propagation is more successful when done at the beginning of the growing season.

1. Propagating Pilea peperomioides by division

Chinese Money Plant produces offsets or pups at the base of the plant.

1. When the pups are about 1-2 inches tall, dig up the soil at the base to expose the roots.


2. Using a sharp sterile scissors, seperate the pup from the mother. Ensure each pup has enough roots.


3. Pot the pups in individual pots in moist, free draining soil which is rich in organic matter.


4. Maintain the soil moist until new growth has emerged and begin normal routinue care for the new plant.

2. Propagating Pilea peperomioides from stem plantlets

Missionary Plant produces plantlets on their stems which can be used to propagate new plants.

1. With a clean sharp knife, cut the plantlet at the point where it joins the mother plant to seperate it.


2. Pot the plantlet in moist, rooting soil and place the set up in a warm, well-lit place.


3. Maintain the soil moist through out until rooting occurs. Rooting is indicated by the emergence of new growth.


4. Wait until the plantlet is well established before transplanting into a new pot after which you can begin normal routine care.

3. Propagating Pilea peperomioides from stem cuttings

Missionary Plant can also be propagated from stem cuttings. The cuttings root easily and do not require a rooting hormone.

Take stem cuttings from the thicker, coarse brown stem of the Missionary Plant. The stem cuttings can either be rooted in soil or in water.

(a) Rooting Pilea peperomioides stem cuttings in soil

1. Insert the stems cutting in moist rooting soil and place the set up in a warm, well-lit place.


2. Maintain the soil moist through out until rooting occurs. Rooting is indicated by the emergence of new growth.


3. Wait until the new plant is well established before transplanting into a new pot after which normal routine care can begin.

(b) Rooting Pilea peperomioides stem cuttings in water

1. Place the stem cutting in a container of water with at least 2 inches of stem on the lower cut end submerged in water.


2. Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and change the water every 5-7 days. The stems cuttings may take about 4-6 weeks to develop roots.


3. Acclimatize the new plant to growing in soil by gradually adding small amounts of soil into the water when the roots are about 2 inches long.


4. Transplant the new plant when the roots have grown to about 4 inches long by which time all the water should be absorbed by the soil.

Pilea peperomioides Problems & Remedies

Pilea peperomioides (Missionary Plant) problems are yellow leaves, brown leaf tips & edges, dropping leaves, curling leaves, drooping leaves, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Yellow leaves

Some of the causes of yellow leaves on Pilea peperomioides are low light, Potasium deficiency, salts buildup, inconsistent watering, soggy soil or aging.

How to fix it

Low light: Position the plant in bright indirect light or use a grow light if the natural lighting is not enough.

Potasium deficiency: Feed the plant with high-potasium fertilizer. Maintain the soil PH at 6-7 which is the ideal PH for potasium uptake.

Salts buildup: Occasionally, leach out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it drains through the drainage hole.

Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule; water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out.

Soggy soil: Use a loose, fast-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole.

Aging: Naturally, the older leaves turn yellow, brown and drop as the plant matures.

Brown leaf tips and edges

Brown leaf tips and edges on Missionary Plant are due to too little light, dry air or temperature stress.

How to fix it

Too little light: Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light or instal grow lights where the natural light is not enough.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units, hot air vents, hot surfaces among others.

Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier or group the plants together to elevate humidity.

Dropping leaves

Dropping leaves on Pilea peperomioides are caused by temperature stress, inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, use of cold water among others.

How to fix it

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, hot air vents, windy doors, drafty windows, heat sources among others.

Inconsistent watering: Water the plant when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry but never allow the soil to dry out completely.

Soggy soil: Use a pot that has a drainage hole and a well-draining soil.

Too little light: Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural light is not sufficient.

Use of cold water: Water with water that is at room temperature water to prevent cold shock.

Inwards curled lower leaves

Inwards curled lower leaves on Pilea peperomioides are caused by Nitrogen deficiency. Feed the plant with a high-nitrogen fertilizer and consider using a high-nitrogen fertilizer for the monthly feeding too.

Curled, drooping leaves

Curled, drooping leaves in Missionary Plant are caused by underwatering. Water the plant when the top half of the soil dries out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Drooping lower leaves

Drooping lower leaves is a natural characteristic of Missionary Plant. The bottom leaves will droop as they grow older; this gives the plant its unique shape. The leaves do not need to be removed.

Pests

Common pests on Pilea peperomioides are mealybugs and spider mites especially in dry air conditions.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the infested plant to minimize spread to the rest of the plants.


2. Treat the infested plant with neem oil or an insecticidal soap as recommended by the manufacturers.


3. Maintain the plant well pruned to discourage the pests.


4. To increase humidity, use a humidifier, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or group the plants together.

Diseases

Pilea peperomioides is prone to the following diseases:

1. Stem-rot disease which is encouraged by humid conditions coupled with too little warmth.

How to fix it

1. Use the upper stem to propagate new plants and discard the infected parts.


2. Treat the affected plant with neem oil as instructed by the manufacturer.


3. Lessen the frequency of watering in fall and winter to reduce occurence of the disease.

2. Root-rot disease which are promoted by soggy soil. It presents as general yellowing and browning of the leaves accompanied by rotting and followed by plant collapse.

How to fix it

1. Slip the plant out of its pot, wash off the soil and inspect the roots.


2. Brown-black, mushy roots indicate root-rot; cut them away. In addition, cut away any stems showing any signs of rot.


3. Treat the healthy roots and the entire plant with a copper-based fungicidal solution as recommended by the manufacturer.


4. Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh potting soil.


5. Use a pot that has a drainage hole and fast-draining soil to prevent waterlogging.


6. Water the plant with the fungicidal solution and place it in a warm, brightly-lit spot.


7. Stop watering until new growth appears and avoid overwatering and soggy soil thereafter.

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