The Chinese money plant, also known as the Pilea, is one of the most beautiful plants that you can grow in your house. It is a gorgeous plant with beautiful foliage.
These plants are prized across the globe and will really liven up any surrounding area that they are placed in.
But, if you are going to grow the Chinese money plant, you need to make sure that you understand the different issues that can arise, and more importantly, know how to fix them.
This plant is incredibly rare, so securing one is going to pose a unique challenge for you.
But, when you grow houseplants, you should know that problems are likely to arise now and then, and it’s imperative for you to make sure that you treat them right away. The last thing that you would want is for your Chinese money plant to slowly wither and die, while you are unable to do anything for it at all.
The Chinese money plant is generally quite resilient, but one of the problems that you might encounter with the plant is when the leaves begin to turn yellow. Yellowing leaves are a big problem and indicate that there is something very wrong with the Chinese money plant.
More importantly, you need to pay urgent attention to the plant itself, otherwise it is only going to wither and fall apart.
The health of the leaves is indicative of the health of the plant itself, and you need to make sure that you take action right away to correct the problem. Now, you should know that the yellowing leaves might indicate a series of problems with the Pilea, and you will have to work on these one by one to better understand exactly what is causing the problem.
So, let’s tackle each of these problems one by one and figure out exactly what’s wrong.
1 – Moisture
Arguably the most common reason why your money plant is going to turn yellow is moisture.
Improper amounts of soil moisture can cause serious damage to the Pilea, and this is mainly caused due to overwatering. You need to make sure that the Pilea is only watered when the top quarter of the soil is dry.
Most people don’t check the moisture content in the soil before they add water to the plant. The soil should remain damp, but you need to understand that there is a difference between damp and soggy.
Excessive moisture is terrible for your plant and can lead to root rot as well.
You need to make sure that you manage the moisture content in the soil properly. The plant is going to suffer if the water content becomes too low, and it’s also going to suffer due to overwatering. You also need to boost the level of humidity of the plant.
This can be done by putting an electrical humidifier near the plant, or you can put a tray full of pebbles near the plant.
Another important thing that you need to make sure of is that the plant has proper drainage. If the soil has inadequate drainage, the water is going to remain in the soil, and your plant will get “wet feet.”
The Chinese money plant does not do well with this, and the plant will eventually succumb to root rot. This will open the way for a host of other fungal infections and really affect the health of the plant.
Remember, overwatering is a serious concern for the Chinese money plant, and you need to make sure that you control the amount of water you add.
Proper care and moisture control is very important for the Pilea. Remember, if you continue to alternate between excessively dry soil and excessively wet soil, it’s going to put undue stress on the plant and will eventually cause it to succumb to other problems.
Before you water your plant, you need to make sure that you first check the moisture content using your finger or a hygrometer. This is a great way to figure out just how wet the soil is.
If you notice that the soil is wet, you should consider waiting a day or two before watering it.
You should keep a drainage tray near the plant so that all of the excess water can be removed from it.
2 – Improper Lighting
Another important requirement for any plant is lighting. The Chinese money plant thrives really well in indirect sunlight. Even though the Pilea is a part of the succulent family, you should know that the plant does not do well when it is exposed to direct sunlight.
The foliage is going to succumb to sunburn as well. You need to understand that the plant is going to adjust quite easily to low light areas, but you have to be careful that you do not keep it in excessively dim and dark places.
The Pilea likes a bit of sunlight, and you have to make sure that it gets at least a couple of hours during the day.
Ideally, you should make sure that you keep the plant near a south side window, but keep it away from the direct sun. This is going to ensure that the plant is able to thrive inside your house.
So, you need to make sure that the plant gets just enough sunlight during the course of the day.
3 – Pests
Another thing that can cause yellowing on the leaves is pests. Harmful pests can infest your plants and they can eat through the leaves. If they end up inside your stem, they are also going to cause yellowing of the leaves.
A weak Pilea is going to be much more susceptible to an infestation, and won’t be able to ward off these incoming pests.
Mealybugs, aphids, and other pests can cause extensive damage to your plant if they are allowed to run free.
For instance, mealybugs usually leave a white residue on the leaves, and they like to hide on the underside of the leaves, where it joins the stem. You need to make sure that you look for a pest infestation and get the problem resolved as quickly as possible.
If your Chinese money plant is already under excessive amounts of stress, warding off a pest infestation won’t be easy. The plant is going to require adequate care and you will have to use an insecticide to get rid of the infestation.
Most people don’t pay attention to the money plant until the problem turns severe, so it’s recommended that you observe the plant every now and then.
4 – Natural Changes
As your plant ages over time, you should know that certain leaves are going to age and will fall off.
However, this will be replaced with new growth over time as well. If there are only a couple of leaves that are yellowing, you should just wait it out and see how the plant is going to deal with it.
In most cases, the yellow leaves are just going to fall off and will be replaced with newer growth. If that doesn’t happen, you will have to take action and check the moisture content first before making a decision.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.
Before you go: Now is the perfect time to start tracking your gardening progress, and I created a garden journal to do exactly that. Click the image below to see it in action and to get your own copy.
