LIGHT

• Prefers bright, indirect light. East or West-facing window is ideal.
• Needs bright light to maintain a compact shape and deep green color.
• Insufficient light causes the plant to stretch, become leggy, and the leaves to become smaller and paler.
• Avoid direct afternoon sun, which will burn the leaves easily.

WATER

• Prefers the soil to dry out mostly between waterings.
• Allow the top half of the soil to dry out completely.
• Overwatering causes the main stem to rot and the leaves to yellow and drop quickly.
• Underwatering causes the leaves to droop and lose their stiffness, but they recover quickly once watered.

SOIL

• Needs a very well-draining, standard indoor potting mix.
• A mix of standard potting soil with a generous amount of perlite or pumice is essential to prevent root rot.

GROWTH HABIT

• Ideal conditions: Consistent warmth (65-75F) and average indoor humidity.
• Growth rate & size: Growth rate is moderate to fast. It grows as an upright plant, typically 10-12 inches tall, and frequently produces small offsets ("pups") from the soil.

PROPAGATING

• Propagates easily by separating the offsets ("pups") that emerge from the soil near the mother plant's base.
• Gently slice the pup away from the main root system with a clean knife, ensuring it has some roots, and plant it in moist soil.
• Can also be propagated from stem cuttings or by removing and rooting the entire top rosette.

PRUNING

• Minimal pruning is needed for the mother plant.
• Remove old, lower leaves that have naturally yellowed or dropped.
• The main pruning involves separating the offsets for propagation or to thin out the pot.
• Trim any legginess by cutting the main stem (and re-rooting the top section).

REPOTTING

• Repot when the plant is root-bound or when the soil has degraded, typically every 1-2 years.
• Repot in spring or early summer.
• Use a pot only slightly larger than the current one; they like to be slightly root-bound.

FERTILIZING

• Feed regularly during the spring and summer growing season (monthly).
• Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength.
• Stop fertilizing in the fall and winter.

FLOWERING

• Produces small, greenish-white, insignificant flowers on pink-tinted stalks.
• Flowering is a sign of a healthy, mature plant, but it is not the reason it is grown.

TOXICITY

• Pilea is generally considered non-toxic to humans and pets.

PRO TIPS

• Rotate the pot frequently (daily or weekly) to prevent the leaves from growing unevenly toward the light source.
• White, mineral deposits often appear on the leaves; this is normal and can be wiped off with a damp cloth.
• If the leaves are cupping inward (like a taco), it often indicates a need for more water.