Aluminum Plant, or Pilea cadierei is an attractive mounding tropical with fun silvery striations in its long boat shaped leaves. You’ll notice the subtle ruffling around the edges of the leaves, a characteristic of belonging to the nettle family! It luckily does not share the toxic traits of nettles however! Native to China and Vietnam, this shiny beauty is found in moist soils in shaded areas. Try to mimic this environment with mossy soil and scheduled misting. Its foliage rarely grows over 12 inches, making it an excellent shelf or office plant! Because of its small stature, it could take a couple years before it’s ready to be repotted. Do so when it’s rootbound and uppot into a container 2 inches larger in diameter than its previous one. 

While pileas are tropical plants that love humidity, it is easy to overwater them and they won’t always be forgiving. With plants that have compact foliage, it can be hard to stick  your fingers into the pot to feel the soil. A good alternative technique for proper watering is to feel the weight of the pot when it has been freshly watered. Wait a week and pick up your pot again. You’ll feel the difference as your soil dries out. There are also low profile moisture meters you can stick into the plant that will indicate the water retention of the soil. Come into the nursery and we’ll show you our array of watering tools!

A common problem in aluminum plants is leaf drop. Most of the time, this is due to the plant being near a cold window or door that exposes them to harsh weather. Pileas in general are not tolerant of sudden temperature changes. Make sure you make their home warm, humid and protected from shifts in their environment!