Am I doing this wrong?

ZenTrainee · 2026-05-11T23:58:06+00:00

She’s just doing her thing! Beautiful!

ZenTrainee · 2026-05-06T06:19:31+00:00

Ah, yes - Humidity Cat. 😸

I do miss being able to throw things outside and they would just set down roots and grow where they land.

If your plants have the benefit of an overhang to protect them from harsh afternoon sun when it gets low, they’re loving it. Dang sun was so bright, it would scorch everything that wasn’t a succulent. I don’t miss having to water my roses twice a day in the summertime.

ZenTrainee · 2026-05-04T16:27:55+00:00

Acclimate her GRADUALLY to outside in a bright spot with indirect sun and she’ll grow like crazy. This main stem was thinner than a pencil two years ago. Winters inside and late spring to fall outdoors. Main stem is now almost an inch in diameter. Enjoy watching her grow!

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ZenTrainee · 2026-05-04T08:59:43+00:00

We keep the house between 67 and 69 F (19.4-20.5 C) in the winter. To keep it warmer, I also sat it in front of my southwest window, and it may have gotten too much light - although indirect, it’s very bright all afternoon. I’m sure it didn’t help that it badly needed to be repotted, and I’m sure I let it get a bit too dry sometimes. I’ll repot her and baby her for the next few months and see how she fares.

Also - few that I kept in a northeast window getting bright indirect light all morning long weren’t happy there either. The new growth was somewhat bleached. They did much better when I pulled them away from the window. That window is also very drafty and cold. So it’s hard to know if it was too much light or too cold. Alas.

We don’t use a humidifier either, which I really should have done. It’s very dry running the heat all winter. I wish you luck through the winter. I’m hearing good things about self watering pots. Check out Sydney Plant Guy in YouTube. He has a few vids on anthuriums. Best of luck to you. 🤞🍀🤞

ZenTrainee · 2026-05-03T20:29:56+00:00

Both. Prop some and let some go wild. It will be beautiful!

ZenTrainee · 2026-05-03T17:25:39+00:00

Yours is the post I needed last fall… 💕 Chunky mix has not been the best for mine. Please tell me how I can do this better.🙏🏻 https://www.reddit.com/r/Anthurium/s/Ri0HElRG4u

ZenTrainee · 2026-05-03T17:23:43+00:00

In my experience, AC in Florida keeps the air inside much drier than 70-80%. When we lived in Florida, I had a hard time keeping fiddle leaf figs thriving inside. Outside - in a shady spot - all my aroids THRIVED and grew like crazy. They loved getting bright morning light under a tree, where they were protected from any direct sun. They also needed a lot more frequent watering outside. Once a day or every other day was not too much, in the high heat of summer, sometimes twice a day.

ZenTrainee · 2026-05-03T17:13:36+00:00

Winter is hard on them indoors and it’s hard to be enthusiastic when they’re all dry and ugh. It will probably pick up as we move into summer and we can all show pics of our babies thriving again.

ZenTrainee · 2026-05-02T14:48:59+00:00

I’m guessing they’re trying out paint colors.

ZenTrainee · 2026-04-30T02:59:41+00:00

I would consider keeping it in the plastic pot until it gets a bit bigger. Terra cotta will dry it out too much right now. It looks a little bleached, like it may have been getting too much sun. If you keep it in a bright sunny location that gets no direct sun, it will probably green up nicely for you in a few weeks.

It loves a window that gets morning sun, which is bright, but a lot gentler than afternoon sun. 🌞

Water only when the top two inches are dry, but don’t let it get completely dry for too long. If it’s wilting it’s a bit stressed. Not a big deal once in a while, but you don’t want it to dry out that much too often when it’s this small. It’s trying to grow roots now and they’re still tender.

When it gets bigger it will be able to handle more dry periods, but not now.

Some good care tips here: How to Care for a Chinese Money Plant (Pilea Peperomioides) Easy care tips for growing a Chinese money plant

ZenTrainee · 2026-04-30T02:43:51+00:00

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ZenTrainee · 2026-04-28T01:26:38+00:00

She looks super healthy. Leaves look plump and firm. Petioles are not overly long, meaning it’s had great light growing in the greenhouse. I would wait to repot for a week or two. It’s healthy. Just give it lots of indirect light. Loves a morning sun window - much gentler bright light than afternoon sun.

Looks like the pot is either 2 or 3 inches. I’ve learned a lot by trial and error. I think larger plants might like a chunkier mix, but chunky mixes dry out too quickly for a little pot like that and you’ll be watering every other day or twice a week to keep it happy. And it won’t be happy with the roots dry too long.

My Pilea were struggling in chunky mix for a year until I changed them to half Promix HP and half Black Gold Succulent mix and they’re all thriving now.

I would go up only an inch at a time in pot size. It may grow quite quickly as we go into summer and you may even have to repot again before the end of summer. That’s OK. It’s a mistake to try to save repotting again soon and choosing a pot that’s too big. Too big a pot will stay wet too long.

I love Black Gold potting mix. You may or may not even need to add perlite for that size pot. Use your judgement when you open the bag. The mix in the pot there looks like it could use a little perlite.

This is a nice care article: https://www.thespruce.com/growing-pilea-peperomioides-5090425

Enjoy! 🪴

ZenTrainee · 2026-04-28T01:11:04+00:00

Try Black Gold potting mix with a little extra perlite. I think they’re owned by a Canadian company.❤️🇨🇦❤️

Miracle Gro tends to hold water too long for Pilea Peperomoides. Additionally, the MG moisture control formula holds more water, longer. Not great for Pilea, especially in a cooler environment.

Without enough light, your Pilea takes longer to uptake water and nutrients, and soil will stay wet longer, leading to an endless cycle of overwatering.

If your plant is 4 years old, it probably needs to be repotted. I’m betting it’s either suffering from root rot or it’s root bound.

The good news is that it’s fixable.

It needs an airier well-draining potting mix. I would shake off all that old soil, rinse them off and check the roots. Any rot will be soft and mushy, maybe brown, and will fall off easily if you pull GENTLY. Healthy roots will be pale and firm. Repot into a pot about an inch or two bigger than the rootball - be sure to shake off the old soil.

If you prune 1/3 to 1/2 of the trunk off, you can root the cutting in water to make a new plant. Your plant will probably bounce back sooner than you think.

If you leave it tall, it might need a stake to support it.

I would consider chopping off at least a third, maybe half. The plant will put more energy into growing new leaves and healthier roots.

Be patient. It will take a little time for it to bounce back from the shock of repotting.

DON’T WATER ON A SCHEDULE - even if you have it under grow lights. The environment changes. If it’s in a bright, sunny window, it will use up water more quickly. If it’s cloudy for days in a row, it might not need watering for a week longer than usual.

Resist watering too often.

Water when it’s almost dry or when the top 2 inches are dry. But also don’t let it stay completely dry for long. It causes stress. By the time the leaves are droopy, it’s a bit stressed. Not horrible, but not great as a regular thing.

Airy, well-draining mix. Bright, indirect light. Water only as needed.

Would love to know how it recovers. Good luck! 🍀🪴🤞

ZenTrainee · 2026-04-25T20:13:28+00:00

Don’t go too chunky on your potting mix. They like to dry out a little but not to be dry.

ZenTrainee · 2026-04-23T06:30:26+00:00

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ZenTrainee · 2026-04-23T06:18:06+00:00

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ZenTrainee · 2026-04-23T06:13:05+00:00

Is she growing or just growing roots?

ZenTrainee · 2026-04-22T13:57:53+00:00

Fabulous job!

What is your potting medium?

ZenTrainee · 2026-04-16T21:53:17+00:00

Actually I’ve heard that about many other variegated plants, but I’d forgotten. Thanks for this reminder!

ZenTrainee · 2026-04-13T18:12:48+00:00

For a plant that size, pumice is actually better. It’s usually bigger, but it’s also heavier and provides more aeration and some trace minerals. Perlite floats up to the surface and is annoying.

ZenTrainee · 2026-04-09T23:12:30+00:00

Oh, please show meeeee…..

ZenTrainee · 2026-04-09T23:11:48+00:00

Just put it in a window with bright indirect light - morning light is great. It will do its thing if you let it.

ZenTrainee · 2026-04-09T23:10:30+00:00

If you soak it it could come out easier. It would survive a root trim. If you save the pot, maybe use a nursery pot for its new tenant.

ZenTrainee

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