Learn about Growing Pilea Silver Tree in Pots and help this unique foliar specimen thrive in limited space on your porch or balcony!
Pilea Silver Tree stands out with its shiny foliage and a bright metallic sheen. If you want this handsome plant to grace up your garden, here’s all you need to know about its growing requirements!
Find out the Best Pilea Varieties here
Pilea Silver Tree Profile
Pilea Silver Tree is quite a forgiving specimen with deeply wrinkled, dark green foliage with a silvery streak in the middle. The contrasting combination of dark and light hues adds an eye-catching charm to the plant, making it the first choice of most gardeners.
The plant has an upright growth habit with an average height of 1-1.5 feet—perfect for growing in pots. With mild morning sunlight, you can display this dark beauty in the Northeastern corners of the house.
Botanical Name: Pilea Spruceana ‘Silver Tree’
Ideal Pot Size for Growing Pilea Silver Tree
Pilea Silver Tree has shallow roots and does not appreciate large pots, as that would retain more moisture than required. Start the plant in a 6-8 inches pot, then re-pot it according to its growth into a bigger container than the old one.
Learn about Growing Chinese Money Plant in Water here
Propagating Pilea Silver Tree
Propagating Pilea Silver Tree is pretty straightforward via stem tip cuttings. Snip 4-6 inches cuttings and plant them in a well-draining mixture. Moisten the medium thoroughly and place it in a location with bright indirect sunlight. You’ll notice new growth in 30-40 days.
Requirements for Growing Pilea Silver Tree
Sunlight
The bright and shiny foliage of the Pilea Silver Tree requires a little more sunlight to retain its glory compared to the other pilea varieties. Expose it to the direct mild morning sun for 2-3 hours, then keep it in indirect light for the rest of the day.
Keeping it in complete shade will make the foliage green while exposing it to harsh afternoon sun might burn the leaves.
Soil
Pilea Silver Tree is pretty forgiving regarding soil type as long as it drains well. Grow the plant in a well-draining potting mix of 50% peat moss, 30% garden soil, and 20% leaf mold or aged manure with a handful of perlite or vermiculite for the perfect blend.
Water
The plant prefers to stay in a moist yet well-draining medium. Ensure the medium never dries out, which would otherwise make the leaves dull and droopy.
Water the plant when the topsoil goes a little dry. Avoid watering it daily.
Temperature and Humidity
The ideal temperature range for this plant is 65-80 F or 18-26 C. It is extremely sensitive to frost and goes dormant as the temperature dips below 50F or 10 C. Keep it away from A/C or heating vents to prevent plant shock.
Maintain a humidity of 50-70% around the plant. Consider keeping a pebble tray or a humidifier handy for drier days.
Want to Grow Manjula Pothos? Click here
Pilea Silver Tree Care
Fertilizers
Pilea Silver doesn’t need fertilization if grown in a moderately rich medium. However, you may feed the plant with a balanced liquid fertilizer after diluting it to one-fourth of its strength every 6-8 weeks. Avoid fertilizing it in winter.
Pests and Diseases
Pilea Silver is not susceptible to pests unless you sog the medium. However, sap-sucking pests like aphids or fungus gnats can disturb its growth. Wipe the affected areas with a cotton pad dipped in an organic neem oil solution to remove them.
To keep the plant safe from potential diseases, avoid overwatering and keep it in a well-ventilated area.
