Pilea Glauca 'Aquamarine' /타라

From Rona $5

 

easy to water propagate but hard to adapt in the pot.

July 31, 24 only one pot barely survived. 

 

 

 

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If you examine the leaves up close, you'll see tiny speckles all across the silvery-blue, rounded leaves of Pilea glauca 'Aquamarine.' This terrarium plant loves high humidity and low light. Its low-growing, densely matted, creeping stems create the perfect base for other plants in your terrarium.

Name: Pilea glauca 'Aquamarine'

Size: To 12 inches tall and wide

 

 

 

• Care
• Pruning
• Propagation
• Pests & Diseases
• Common Problems
• FAQ

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Pilea glauca, sometimes known as pilea libanensis or silver sparkles plant, is a tropical plant known for its tiny green leaves that appear to have a silvery sheen.

With a low, bushy growth habit, this relatively new cultivar makes an attractive, easy-to-grow houseplant in temperate climates.

Like other pilea plants, pilea glauca prefers well-drained soil, warm temperatures, and bright, indirect light. Here's how to care for it in your home.

 

Common Name	Silver sparkles plant, artillery plant, pilea silver sparkles, pilea aquamarine
Botanical Name	Pilea glauca, Pilea libanensis
Family	Urticaceae
Plant Type	Perennial
Mature Size	4 in. tall, 12-24 in. wide
Sun Exposure	Partial
Soil Type	Well-drained
Soil pH	5.0 - 6.0
Bloom Time	Spring
Flower Color	Pink
Hardiness Zones	10-11
Native Area	Central America, South America

 

Pilea Glauca Care

• Give pilea glauca lots of bright, indirect light.
• Plant this pilea in a loose, well-drained potting mix.
• Water pilea glauca when the soil has just begun to dry out.
• Feed this plant with a balanced houseplant fertilizer during the growing season.

Light

Pilea glauca does best with bright, indirect light, such as in an east-facing window or several feet from a south- or west-facing window.

Keep the plant out of direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves. Too little light can make this plant leggy. Turn your plant every week or so to keep its growth even.

Soil

Use a loose, well-drained soil mix that contains peat moss or coconut coir to retain some moisture. Some gardeners swear by cactus or succulent soils with pilea plants to ensure drainage and keep soil from staying waterlogged.

Water

Water your pilea glauca when the top inch or so of the soil has begun to dry out, but avoid letting the soil dry out completely between waterings.

Overwatering tends to be more of a risk than underwatering with this plant. Make sure that water drains thoroughly from the pot's drainage holes, and check saucers and drip trays after watering to ensure the plant never sits in water.

Temperature and Humidity

This jungle plant prefers warm temperatures between around 60 and 80 degrees, but extended periods below 55 degrees can harm or kill the plant.

In terms of humidity, 60 percent is ideal. If your space is particularly dry, consider running a humidifier near your plant to add moisture to the air.

Fertilizer

Feed pilea glauca with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength around once per month during the growing season.

Begin fertilizing in late winter or early spring when you see the season's first new growth, then continue until days shorten and temperatures drop in fall. Avoid fertilizing in fall and winter.

Pruning

There's no need to prune pilea glauca regularly, but you can cut back excess growth as needed during the growing season to control the plant's shape. Cut away dead or damaged plant parts with clean, sharp shears or pruners as they appear.

Avoid removing more than 30 percent of the plant at one time, and try not to prune the plant during the cold months when it's not in active growth.

Propagating Pilea Glauca

Pilea glauca is easy to propagate using stem cuttings. While it's possible to propagate this plant in water, cuttings are prone to rotting before they've rooted successfully.

You'll likely have more success propagating pilea glauca in soil, ideally during spring or summer when the plant is actively growing.

To propagate pilea glauca in soil, you'll need a healthy mother plant, sterilized scissors or pruners, a small plant pot, fresh potting mix, a clear plastic bag, and water. Here's how to do it.

1. Examine your plant and choose a few healthy stems with several leaves and at least one node, the portion of the stem that clusters of leaves grow from. Take cuttings that are around two inches long, cutting just below a node.
2. Fill a small plant pot with your usual pilea potting mix. You can also use a blend of equal parts perlite and peat moss or coconut coir. Moisten the mix thoroughly with water.
3. Lay the cuttings on the soil so that the nodes are making contact with the surface. You can use propagation pins or bent paper clips to keep them in place.
4. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag or a piece of plastic wrap to hold in humidity, then put the cuttings in a warm place with bright, indirect light. Spritz the soil surface with water regularly to keep it from drying out.
5. After a few weeks, you'll see small white roots growing from the nodes of the cuttings. When the roots are at least an inch long, the cuttings are ready to plant.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases 

Insect pests that typically affect houseplants can infest pilea glauca, including aphids, scale, spider mites, and mealy bugs. The main plant disease to watch out for is root rot, a fungal issue caused by overwatering.

Common Problems With Pilea Glauca

Curling Leaves

Leaves that are curling or turning dry and crispy at the edges can be a sign of underwatering. Check the soil moisture and consider your recent watering habits.

If the soil is very dry, give the plant a deep watering, and monitor soil moisture regularly to know when to water again.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Yellow leaves on a pilea glauca can indicate the early stages of overwatering. If the soil is very soggy or waterlogged, it's a good idea to let the plant start drying out before watering again.

Consider repotting with a faster-draining soil mix or a terra cotta pot, which can help wick away excess moisture.

Stunted Growth

If your plant is looking dull or unhealthy and doesn't seem to be growing, this could be a sign of too much light, especially when accompanied by dry, brown spots on leaves.

Move the plant further from the light source and increase watering slightly to help it recover.

 

FAQ

What is another name for pilea glauca?

Pilea glauca is sometimes known by the botanical name pilea libanensis or the common names silver sparkles plant, pilea aquamarine, or artillery plant.

 

Is pilea glauca a perennial or an annual?

In its natural habitat or when kept as a houseplant, pilea glauca is a perennial plant.

 

Is pilea glauca a succulent?

Pilea glauca is a tropical perennial that can benefit from being cared for like a succulent. Avoid overwatering and plant it in a fast-draining potting mix or even cactus soil.