Learn how to get your Chinese Money Plant to flower and why its blossoms matter—a sign of happiness and health!
Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides) is loved for its round, coin-shaped leaves, but did you know it can also bloom? Learning how to get your plant to flower adds charm and shows it’s thriving and in perfect condition. Here’s how to make them bloom and why it’s essential that they do!
Why Flowering Matters?
When it flowers, of course! While this evergreen perennial houseplant is famous for its foliage, let’s not forget that blooming indicates it’s getting proper nourishment—especially light, water, and nutrients.
Blooms also signal the plant’s coming of age and showcase how well adapted it is to its environment. While not as showy as the leaves, tiny, delicate pink-white flowers appear in spring to summer, lasting about a month or two.
These flowers don’t have a scent as the plant doesn’t rely on pollinators. They have male and female parts, which release pollen into the air to self-pollinate.
To encourage blooming, keep your plant in a moderately cool room during winter and move it to a warmer spot in spring.
So, when your pilea plant flowers, it is reassuring that the conditions in your home are perfect—just look at the blooms as a thank you!
How to Get Your Chinese Money Plant to Flower
Mature Chinese Money Plants grow tiny flowers on stalks that sprout from the base. If you want your plant to blossom, try moving it to a cooler room during winter. The temperature change can coax the plant into producing blooms as a way to reproduce.
1. Get a Mature Specimen
Chinese Money Plants need to mature first to be able to flower. It usually takes 2-3 years for them to start flowering. If your plant is still small, focus on giving it the proper care to help it grow.
If you’re buying one from a nursery, choose a bigger plant—one with thicker stems and more leaves.
2. Keep in Bright, Indirect Light
Pilea flourishes in bright, dappled sunshine. Place your plant near a sunny window, but provide some afternoon shade and protection from direct sunrays, as the leaves scorch easily. A north or east-facing window works, or filter the brightness with sheer curtains.
3. Grow the Plant in a Succulent Mix
The next step to get your Chinese Money Plant to flower is to focus on the medium. A well-draining potting mix is essential for it to thrive. Use a mix designed for succulents comprising sand, potting mix, perlite, or pumice.
4. Follow the Right Watering Routine
Overwatering or underwatering can stress the plant and prevent flowering. Water your plant when the top inch of soil feels dry. Ensure that the pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, and avoid wetting the foliage to prevent leaf spots.
5. Fertilize in the Growing Season
The Chinese Money Plant is a light feeder and only needs fertilizer once a month when the plant is growing actively, typically from spring through early fall! Use a balanced 20-20-20 NPK fertilizer diluted to half its strength.
Note: Avoid feeding a dry plant; water it first and then fertilize it the next day.
6. Maintain Ideal Temperature and Humidity
Chinese Money Plants prefer stable temperatures around 65-80 F (18-27 C) to grow best. Avoid placing your plant near drafts, heating vents, or air conditioners. If you live in a dry climate, consider using a humidifier or misting the plant occasionally.
To improve the humidity level around the plant, particularly in dry climates and homes, use a humidity tray beneath the plant’s pot or turn on a humidifier.
7. Be Patient
Pilea plants typically flower when they’re mature and happy. If your plant is young, it might take a year or two to see blooms. Don’t rush the process; consistency is key. And until they do, enjoy their showstopping fleshy, succulent foliage!
