Chinese money plant care guide

The Chinese money plant has round, flat leaves on long stems, like a cluster of green pancakes. It makes pups, baby plants, from its roots. People shared those pups from friend to friend around the world long before stores sold it. It is easy, quick, and safe for pets.

Light

Give it bright, indirect light, such as a spot near an east window. Direct afternoon sun scorches the leaves.

The leaves turn toward the light, and the plant leans. Turn the pot a quarter turn every week to keep it round and upright.

In low light, the stems stretch long and the leaves get small.

Water

Water when the top 2 to 3 cm (1 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer.

Droopy leaves with dry soil mean it is thirsty. It perks up within hours. Drooping or yellow leaves with wet soil mean too much water. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a well-draining houseplant mix with extra perlite.

Repot every year or two in spring, one size up. This is the best time to pull off pups. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Average room air is fine. Keep it between 15 and 27°C (60 and 80°F). It handles a cool room well, but keep it off cold windowsills.

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip fall and winter.

Pruning

Pull off yellow lower leaves. Older plants grow a bare, woody stem with leaves at the top. That is normal. To restart a leggy plant, cut the top off with a few centimeters of stem and root it in water.

Propagation

Healthy plants send up pups from the soil around the main stem. Some grow from the stem itself.

1. Wait until a pup is 5 cm (2 in) tall with a few leaves.
2. Dig down and cut the pup free with some roots attached.
3. Pot it in damp mix, or set it in water until it grows more roots.
4. Keep it bright and warm. It settles in within a few weeks.

Pups make great gifts, which is how this plant got the name friendship plant in some places.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Plant leans to one side	Not turned often enough
Leaves cup or dome	Light too strong or too low, or a change in light
Droopy leaves, dry soil	Thirsty
Yellow lower leaves	Normal aging, or too much water
Brown, crispy spots	Sunburn
Small leaves on long stems	Not enough light
White spots on leaf backs	Normal mineral deposits from the plant

Pests

Pests are uncommon. Mealybugs, spider mites, and scale can show up. Fungus gnats mean the soil stays wet too long. Read how to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists the Chinese money plant as non-toxic to cats and dogs. A pet that eats a lot can still get an upset stomach.

Another plant also goes by “money plant.” The jade plant is toxic to pets. Check the botanical name, Pilea peperomioides, on the tag.

Varieties

• Plain green is the classic.
• ‘White Splash’ has leaves speckled with white.
• ‘Sugar’ has leaves dusted with fine, pale speckles.
• Other pileas, like the aluminum plant and the friendship plant, look different but need similar care.