Chinese money plant
The Chinese money plant comes from China. In the wild it is rare and is found only in wooded areas at fairly high altitudes. The plant quickly became popular as a houseplant in Scandinavia after being brought here as late as the 1940s. A Norwegian missionary played an important part in spreading the plant. Many Chinese money plants from the middle of the last century came from a plant he took home with him from China. In Chinese culture, it is a plant that has inspired poets and artists for a very long time. It has often been used as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. In China, the Chinese money plant has also been widely used in natural medicine. It is thought to relieve everything from cold symptoms to stomach trouble.You can eat the Chinese money plant
It is not very common for the Chinese money plant to be grown for eating. Young leaves do taste quite good, though, lightly fried or boiled. You can also make tea from the Chinese money plant by letting the leaves steep in hot water for a few minutes.Chinese money plant - care
The Chinese money plant is an easy plant to look after. If it thrives, it can grow to over 50 cm tall and produce many cuttings. When it comes to light conditions, partial shade suits the Chinese money plant well. You should let the soil dry out between waterings. In summer it is good to feed the Chinese money plant about once every two weeks. Taking a cutting from a Chinese money plant is rewarding, because it produces new cuttings all the time. If you plant Chinese money plant cuttings in new pots, you can have a home full of greenery in a short space of time.- Do not take cuttings from a Chinese money plant that is shorter than 10 cm.
- Choose cuttings that look healthy, preferably as large as possible.
- Dig up the cutting and try to bring as many roots with it as possible.
- Cuttings without roots can be placed in a glass of water until roots have formed.
- Put a Chinese money plant cutting in a pot with ordinary potting soil.
The Chinese money plant is also called the UFO plant
The Chinese money plant has leaves shaped like parasols on long stalks. The Chinese money plant does not need a flower to look good where it stands. With a little luck, though, it can produce dense clusters of small white flowers. By pruning the Chinese money plant you can give it the shape you want and, for example, influence how densely it grows. In addition to the ordinary Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides), there are several other varieties on the market. Here are a few examples of Chinese money plants with a slightly different look: Splash - Green leaves with white areas. Mojito - Silver and white spots on the leaves. Sugar - Dark green leaves with light green edges. Black Gold - Leaves with a bronze-coloured underside. Keep in mind that different varieties of the Chinese money plant can have different preferences when it comes to care.Why does the Chinese money plant lose leaves?
If the Chinese money plant is not thriving, it can start to lose leaves. If that happens, you need to try to work out why, so that you can put the problem right. Here are some common reasons why the Chinese money plant loses leaves:- The plant has not had enough water, or else it has had too much water.
- Your Chinese money plant needs more nutrients.
- It is standing somewhere too bright or too dark.
Author: Johanna Damm
Fact-checked by Erik Hoekstra
Last updated 2023-01-16