How to Care for Pilea

Give a pilea the low or moderate light of a north or west window. A pilea can grow in rooms with east or south windows, but must not be placed in front of these windows. Direct sunlight is deadly to a pilea. A transparent curtain covering the window may help.

Place the pilea in rooms where the temperature never falls below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal temperature for a pilea is 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but they do tolerate slightly lower or slightly higher temperatures.

Mist a pilea once a week with soft water to keep their humidity high. Placing it on a tray of pebbles also helps to raise humidity.

Care for a pilea in pots up to 4 inches. Re-pot when the roots wrap around the bottom of the pot, but because the pilea has shallow roots and decline with age, it should not require pots larger than 4 inches. Small, shallow containers also work well.

Keep the pilea plant bushy by pruning long branches. Cut off branches which outgrow the rest of the plant to give the pilea a round shape. Pruning also encourages the plant to branch.

Water only when the potting mix has dried out, about once every two weeks or slightly more often. However, water immediately if the plant is dry and begins to wilt. The pilea has a hard time recovering if they wilt for more than one day.