Pilea Peperomioides is native to southern China, growing naturally along the base of the Himalayas. Many people love to grow this plant indoors because of the unique shape of the leaves that resemble coins. Pilea Peperomioides can produce small, white flowers throughout the spring months.
In addition, Pilea Peperomioides is easy to grow and easy to care for. This plant does not require constant care or complicated techniques. One of the top issues that many people are concerned about is the propagation of this plant.
Can I propagate Pilea Peperomioides from the leaf? Is the breeding process difficult? What do I need to prepare to propagate Pilea plants? To answer these questions, let’s explore the details in this article.
Can I Propagate Pilea Peperomioides From The Leaf?
The answer is that you can completely propagate Pilea plants from healthy leaves.
However, many gardeners have tried this technique unsuccessfully and are skeptical about the leaf propagation method of Pilea plants. The reason is that the petiole of Pilea plants (or the stalk that connects the leaf to the stem) doesn’t have the tissue needed to grow new leaves and grow into a new plant.
If you propagate from a leaf that has no shoots, that leaf can only produce a simple root system. From there, it won’t be able to form a new stem from that leaf. You will still see roots growing from the leaves when inserted into the water or soil. However, that root system will only transport water and nutrients to the leaves of the Pilea plant and cannot create a new branch.
The trick to propagating the leaves of Pilea plants is that you should get some of the stems when you cut the leaves. A small amount of stem will produce young shoots and grow into new plants when conditions are right.
Procedure To Propagate Pilea Plants From Leaves
The process of propagating Pilea plants from leaves is no longer a strange method for many gardeners. However, to ensure a high success rate when breeding, you should pay attention to some specific steps in this article.
Choose Healthy Leaves
Selecting leaves that are healthy and able to grow and thrive during propagation is one of the most important factors. A healthy leaf with young shoots will give a higher success rate. You should choose leaves that are mature, green, and without white, brown, or yellow spots. The petioles are free from pests and diseases, large, and sturdy. You should not choose young or old leaves because they will not have enough energy to create a new plant in the future.
You also need to prepare some tools such as clean and disinfected scissors, clean paper or towels, and gloves to prevent bacteria from entering the open wound on the leaves. After you have identified a healthy leaf with young shoots, use a knife or scissors to cut the petiole with a small portion of the stem.
You should prepare some healthy leaves because propagation may not be 100% successful. Instead, you will also have more options to select healthy young plants.
Stem The Body In Water
Once you have selected healthy leaves, you can plant them directly in the ground or water. However, many gardeners recommend cutting them in water to observe the rooting process in the plants. You can place the base and stem in the water and make sure that the water does not cover the leaves.
You should change the water regularly to ensure the hygiene of the root system. Usually, you should change the water at least once a week for this plant. You should be gentle to change the water because the roots are small and expected to grow very quickly.
Place the potted plant in a location with indirect sunlight, good air circulation, and adequate humidity. The root system will begin to develop vigorously in the first few weeks. After that, you can observe young shoots sprouting from 1 to 2 months. Your original leaf will also age and die according to the laws of nature. Therefore, young shoots will play an important role to create a new stem in the future.
Put The Stem Back In The Ground
After a month or two, the new shoots have grown and are strong, you can cut them into the ground. You need to do this process carefully and gently to avoid breaking the roots and damaging the young shoots. You also need to prepare the well-draining potting soil. Some ingredients such as loose soil, moss, coir, or perlite will create a well-draining potting soil. Coir or perlite will create gaps in the bottom to help remove excess water and better air circulation.
After that, you still put the potted plant in a place where there is indirect sunlight every day. Water when the soil is 1-2 inches dry. You should not water too much because the weak root system will be waterlogged and root rot. You should also not compact the soil too tightly, but create gaps for the root system to adapt to the new environment.
The Best Time To Propagate The Pilea Plant
For any of these plants, the best time to propagate is during the growing season. During this time, plants are having the most energy and vigorous growth. Pilea plants will tend to thrive from spring through summer and early fall.
They will not grow in the winter months when temperatures are low. Therefore, you should not propagate this plant when the temperature is low. You can propagate at any time during the growing season. However, spring will be the most ideal time to propagate Pilea plants.
Conclusion
You can propagate the Pilea plant with healthy leaves that contain young shoots. Choose mature leaves, with no black, brown, or white spots. Use sterilized scissors or a knife to cut the petiole and some of the stem.
If you cut only the leaves, the root system will still grow but they will only nourish the leaf until it is old. A new stem will only grow from the young shoots on the mature trunk.
Before cuttings into the ground, you should put them in water to observe the growth rate of the root system. From there, you will also choose healthy leaves to plant into the ground and start forming new branches. Do not place them in direct sunlight. Instead, a space with indirect sunlight and good air circulation would be an ideal choice for propagation.