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Common Name: | Pilea |
| Scientific Name: | Pilea | |
| Family: | Urticaceae | |
| Origin: | rainforest throughout tropical region worldwide, except Australia | |
| Leaves: | textured, occasionally fleshy, attractively marked, opposite, variable in shape and color |
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| Flowers: | wispy, usually insignificant, unisexual, 3 or 4 tepalled flowers in cymes or panicles, or sometimes singly, from the leaf axils |
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| Light: | 1 m away from a window with West or South-West orientation, bright indirect sun |
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| Soil: | potting compost mixed with river sand and gold peat |
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| Fertilizer: | during the growth season apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every month |
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| Air humidity: | dry air determine the yellowing of leaves margins, mist daily |
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| Watering: | during the growth season water moderately allowing the surface to dry out between waterings; water sparingly in winter |
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| Transplanting: | every spring in wider pot but not deeper |
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| Dimensions: | 20 cm height and wide |
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| Propagation: | sow seed at 19-24 degrees Celsius (66-75 F) in spring; divide or detach rosettes in spring; root stem-tip cuttings with bottom heat in spring |
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| Life: | 2-5 years indoor |
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| Pests and diseases: | may be affected by powdery mildew |
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| Species and varieties: | P. cadierei - dark green leaves, each have 4 raws of raised silver patches |
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| Tips: | in frost-prone areas, grow in a warm greenhouse or as houseplants, use trailing species in a hanging basket; in a warmer climates, grow as ground cover in a damp shady border |
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| Hardness: | frost tender
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