This page is the Chinese money plant, Pilea peperomioides, also sold as pancake plant, UFO plant, or friendship plant. The leaves are round and attach at the center. NCSU: about 8 to 12 inches tall. The money tree, Pachira aquatica, is a different plant, with palmate leaflets, at how to propagate a money tree.
NCSU: propagate by offsets or pups and by stem cuttings, best in spring or early summer. Penn State: Pilea peperomioides makes pups you can pot on their own. Iowa State lists Chinese money plant under division and offsets. For mix in a drained pot, see soil propagation.
Pups
Iowa State, offsets: take the plant out of its pot. Separate it so each piece has healthy leaves, stems, and roots. Pot in a container that fits. Water to settle the mix. Bright, indirect light. Wait a few weeks before fertilizer. Early spring is the ideal time on that page; most houseplants can be divided any time of year.
Penn State: remove the pup and pot it apart from the parent.
UC Master Gardeners of Solano: pups also rise from the soil near the parent, still attached underneath. They wait until the pup is 2 to 3 inches tall, then move it to a new pot. Well-draining mix. They prefer the warmer months.
NCSU: moist, well-drained potting mix. Overwatering leads to root rot. Keep water off the leaves if you can; wet foliage can spot.
Stem cuttings
NCSU names stem cuttings. Penn State names stem cuttings for Pilea in the growing season. Neither page gives a cutting length or a week count.
UC Master Gardeners of Solano: cut a stem offshoot with a clean blade. Stand the cut end in water. Pot when roots are 1 to 2 inches long. For jars in general, see water propagation.
Common mistakes
- Treating this as a money tree. Pachira is the other URL.
- A soggy pot. NCSU: root rot if overwatered.
- Taking a pup with no roots of its own. Iowa State wants leaves, stems, and roots on each piece.
- Direct sun. Penn State and NCSU want bright, indirect light.
People also ask
Is a Chinese money plant the same as a money tree?
No. This URL is Pilea peperomioides. Money tree is Pachira aquatica, at how to propagate a money tree.
When should I take pups?
NCSU: spring or early summer. Iowa State: early spring is ideal for division, and most houseplants can be done any time of year. Solano: warmer months, and they wait until a soil pup is 2 to 3 inches tall.
Can I root Pilea in water?
UC Master Gardeners of Solano root a stem offshoot in water and pot at 1 to 2 inches of root. Iowa State’s FAQ on this species is offsets in mix.
How long until it roots?
NCSU and Penn State do not give a week count. Solano uses root length (1 to 2 inches) for the water offshoot, not a number of weeks.