Complete guide to Chinese money plant care

Penny, the Chinese money plant, largely takes care of herself and requires minimal attention. Follow our checklist to get the most out of this easy care plant:

• Water your Chinese money plant when its soil feels dry – weekly in summer and fortnightly in winter
• Apply a fertiliser every few months in spring and summer
• Rotate her every few days to encourage even growth
• Keep in a warm spot, ideally above 10°C
• Let her soak up the sunshine – but keep away from windows to avoid scorching
• Wipe Penny’s glossy leaves with a dust cloth once in a while to remove dust

Chinese money plants are also known by their fancy botanical name, ‘pilea peperomioides’. More affectionate nicknames include ‘Pass-it-on-plant’, thanks to its self-propagating abilities, ‘Pancake plant’ and ‘UFO plant’. 

These spectacular houseplants are native to southern China. They’ve been a popular addition to homes since the 20th century, thanks to their low-effort upkeep. Their crisp, rich green leaves overlap to give the appearance of stacked coins, and if Chinese legend is anything to go by, this money plant could bring you a pretty penny.

If very well-looked after, Chinese money plants can even produce small white flowers on pink stems.

These plants are some of the most relaxed in our collection. They thrive on feeding only during the growing season and infrequent watering throughout the year.

If you have inquisitive children or pets wandering around your home, non-toxic Penny is a perfect choice for ultimate peace of mind.

You’ll know when your Chinese money plant needs a tipple if their soil feels very dry or crumbly. This tends to be once a week in summer and fortnightly in winter but you can check the condition of Penny’s soil with our simple finger dip test.

Chinese money plants love soaking up the sun, but it is important that you’re careful to not place them in direct sunlight, so keep yours off the window sills. Sit Penny on a shelf or a side table and let her bask in those bright but gentle rays. 

The Chinese money plant thrives in temperatures of 13°C to 30°C. This variety doesn’t like to be too chilly, so keep it away from draughty windows and doors.

If you do decide to repot your Chinese money plant, be sure to use high-quality, well-draining potting soil, preferably organic. The perfect time for repotting is every two years with new soil. Make sure not to repot more often than this as the process can be stressful for the plant.

Your Chinese money plant enters its growing season in early spring, so this is an ideal time to repot so it can strengthen its roots in refreshed soil.

Propagating couldn’t be more simple. Take stem cuttings, or let your Chinese money plant work its magic. Healthy plants produce baby plants from their roots and stems which you can repot and look after in the same way as your fully-grown friend. Check out our propagation tips here. 

Chinese money plants are the type of non-fussy housemate we all deserve. If you want to give your Chinese money plant some extra TLC, they’ll enjoy being spritzed with a mister a couple of times a week. This will help keep the leaves hydrated.

Treat your Chinese money plant to the occasional boost of diluted houseplant fertiliser solution during the warmer growing months. She’ll reward you by looking even more gorgeous, and maybe a flower or two.