Round leaves for me!

Since becoming a plant enthusiast and aquiring quite a large collection (that will continue to grow larger), I now find excitment in the rarer or harder to get your hands on plants. I also tend to like the obscure and “different” looking plants. And here lately I’ve been drawn to odd shaped leaves, particularly round ones. While I have a few plants with round leaves now (and many more I still want to add) there is one that has stolen my heart and quickly became my favorite plant of them all; and that’s really hard to do. I do admit I have many favorites but this one takes the cake. So, without further ado let me introduce you to my collection of Pilea Peperomiodes.

Pilea peperomiodes are also known as the “pancake plant”, the “ufo plant”, and the “chinese money tree”. It took a lot for me to get my hands on these, they actually came all the way from Germany. Apparently, as the history goes, they are from China and became known as the “pass it on plant” because you only got it from a friend propagating their own. I do know that most nurseries have never even heard of this plant and it felt pretty cool being able to introduce people like that to a new plant. I made it my mission to find one, and ended up with three (actually 4, one more is on the way!). They are super easy plants, and look so freakin’ cool with their big round leaves. They grow EXTREMELY fast and they produce these little “babies” which you then can propagate and make new plants. I haven’t given it a go yet because I am very nervous at the very thought of attempting that and it turn out right. But, I do have lots and lots of . babies that could be detached if I wanted to do so. I’m trying to get the nerves up but the plan is to do so and then hopefully ship some out and continue the tradition of passing the plant on. And with it being such an easy plant to maintain, I think everyone should have one in their home. Pilea’s literally tell you when they need water, their leaves will start to droop. Some of my favorite plants are ones that actually show signs of needing water. I like to think they are communicating with me, I guess they actually are though, aren’t they? I water mine once or twice a week I would say. They like the sun, I rotate them through getting sun to moving them under my grow lights since the days are still pretty short. My littlest pilea went through quite a struggle. I suppose it had something to do with it being shipped in an alcohol box (since Germany cannot export alcohol). My guess is it got scanned one too many times? And while everywhere that poor plant went they had to check again to make sure it wasn’t liquor in the box it lived in the dark. So when it arrived it was completely destroyed. All of the leaves were dark brown, rotted, and slimy to the touch. The leaves and their stems just fell right off, it was so devastating to me. But I had faith in the root system of this plant, if nothing else. So, I planted the roots and the little tiny main stem (what was left of it) and I’ll be damned that plant is doing amazing. It has produced so many leaves it is just crazy to me. Nature never ceases to amaze.  So yea, pilea peperomiodes are the bees knees and if you are an indoor garden person, you need one of these in your house pronto. Also, if anyone has any questions about this plant I would be more than happy to answer them!

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