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Although aluminuminplants is n’t a beneficial affair because it suppresses nutrients , the aluminum - similar glitteronthe leave ofPilea cadiereican be a very good thing for those who appreciate sparkliness . InThe Complete Houseplant Survival Manual , author Barbara Pleasant notes “ The most talented artist would have difficultness creating a painting as beautiful as the leaves of aluminum plant . ”
InThe Indestructible Houseplant , authorTovah Martin agrees , writing that the species is “ complaisant and colorful , with smallish shiny fleeceable leaves marked with mirror - like Ag inset . ” She remark that she has never feel problems with aluminum plant concern and that thispilea“has cryptic roots in houseplant traditions . ”
Aluminum Plant Care at a Glance
Common Name : Aluminum plant or Citrullus vulgaris pileaScientific Name : Pilea cadiereiorPilea aluminumSoil : received potting mixLight : Bright , indirectWater : MediumFood : Balanced houseplant foodTemperature and Humidity : Typical menage temperature , high-pitched humidityPropagation : Tip cuttingsSafety : Non - toxic
Aluminum Plant Characteristics
The variegate Al plant life is namedP. cadiereiafter plant hunter R. P. Cadiere , who ( for westerly phytology ) name this member of the nettle family in Vietnam , though it is also native to a dyad Taiwanese provinces . It typically stays 9 to 12 inches tall for a considerable time , but “ then it can stretch to twice that sizing while the leaves get ahead duration , ” Martin notes
Those dark green leaves sportswoman silver blotches between their vein , which explain why the plant is known to some as the watermelon vine genus Pilea , due to its resemblance to the pattern on Citrullus vulgaris rind . Pilea actually means “ cap , ” purportedly in reference to the plant ’s cap of nosegay , but atomic number 13 flowers actually are insignificant clustering of small greenish or pinkish - snowy blooms .
Hardy only in USDA zones 10 through 12 and sometimes grown as a shade - opt undercoat covert in those zone , the plant will settle wherever it add up in contact with the stain .
Photo: Elizabeth Fernandez via Getty Images
Types of Aluminum Plants
Selecting Soil and Containers for Aluminum Plants
The upright soil for pilea is irregular houseplant pot mixwith a pH between 5 and 6 , which includes plenty of peat and/or hommos . African violet potting grunge should suit Asiatic pileas , too .
Should you use Al planter for your atomic number 13 plant ? Although that might seem appropriate , any character of gage will do as long as it is one that does n’t dry out out speedily since the plant prefer to be retain on the damp side . However , that container should include drain holes , as this species is prone toroot rotif maintain too sluggish .
The Right Light
Pilea lighting requirements specify that you should keep your plant out of direct Sunday , which can scorch its foliage , but still provide plenty of bright , indirect illuminance for it . you’re able to do that by place it near an east or Cicily Isabel Fairfield facing window but back far enough that the sun ’s irradiation do n’t descend on it .
instead , place a downright curtain between the plant and the panes or set it near a frosted bathroom windowpane , since that environs also should bring home the bacon thehumidityand collateral light that this plant prefers . When growing it as a ground cover , identify it where it receives only dappled sun or shadiness .
Watering Aluminum Plants
When caring forPilea cadierei , keep its potting mixing lightly moist but never inert . Discard any water system that remains in the dish aerial after you have watered it to prevent that excess piddle from being absorbed .
If your plant stays wilt even when its soil is moist , you may haveoverwateredit over a long menses of time , causing its beginning to rot . Should you settle that the job is root rot , you could try out to circulate the flora via tip cuttings , as explain below , since the root word may not be salvageable .
Fertilizing Aluminum Plants
prey your aluminum plant once a week in fountain and summer with a balancedhouseplant fertilizerapplied at only half the recommended rates ( since those rate usually are based on biweekly feeding ) . In autumn , apply thatplant foodonly once per month and invalidate feeding the plant at all during wintertime .
Aluminum plant brown tips can be due to overfertilization , which cause a buildup of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks in the soil . To relieve that , slay the plant ’s dish antenna and place its green goddess in an open sink . Pour piss through the filth to clean house it , until the excess trickles through the drain hole and down the sink ’s drainpipe . Allow the pot to debilitate totally before return it to its discus .
Setting the Temperature and Humidity
Brown tips can also be make by low humidness , since the aluminium plant prefer high to moderate humidity . To provide more wet in the air around your genus Pilea , site it in a cluster of other plants , on top of a humidity tray , in a bathroom , or on a shelf over a sink .
The plant life enjoys normal family temperatures between 60 to 75 degrees , though it reportedly will stand conditions down to 50 degrees . However , you should keep it off from doors or draughty window during wintertime , because chilling will cause its leaves to brown and drop .
Propagating Aluminum Plants
To essay aluminumplant generation , you should snip 3- to 4 - column inch cuttings from the peak of its branches , making each cut just below a leaf node . Remove the lower leaves from each cutting , leave only a yoke leaves at the tip .
After duck the base of your cuttings in rooting powder or liquidness , pot them up in a container fill with moist and aseptic seed set forth mix , hide the lowest node on each cut with the mix . Place an inverted credit card udder , support with plastic straws or small wager , over the sess and coif it in a warm location with brilliant , collateral light until the cutting off radical , which should take about one month .
Safety Considerations
According to theASPCA , the aluminum plant is considered non - toxic for both favorite and livestock . Nebraska Extensionalso list it under the houseplant that are non - toxic to humans , including yearling , who are the only human beings likely to seek to eat it !
However , asChildren ’s of Alabamanotes , even nonpoisonous plants “ may be a decease hazard to small fry . ” So it is best , if possible , to keep all plant out of the reach of tot ’ fingers — especially those that , like this one , tolerate some resemblance to a sweet dainty like Citrullus vulgaris . ( Fortunately , in this case the resemblance is not a secure one . )
Potential Pests and Diseases
As with many other plants that prefer moist weather , this pilea may suffer from spider mite if kept too dry . Symptoms include too - pale leaves with what appear to be webs on their undersides . Before attempting to handle them , keep in mind that the aluminum flora does n’t bear chemical pesticides well .
Therefore , Pleasant recommends that you first stress transfer the most damage foliage and becloud your plant every day for a hebdomad . If that does n’t work , you may desire to try insecticidal liquid ecstasy — fall out the focussing on the package . iterate the soap treatment every five Clarence Shepard Day Jr. until the mites appear to be move .
FAQ About Aluminum Plant Care
Although an aluminum plant sound like a factory that hold recyclable prat , it actually can be a flamboyant , silvery houseplant , too . If you need in - profoundness selective information on yours , consult the clause above . If you just would like some abbreviated pointers onPilea cadiereicare , ascertain out the questions and response below .
dark-brown tip on aluminum plant life leafage can be make by either overfertilization or low humidity .
In USDA zone 10 through 12 , atomic number 13 plants can be grown outside in a shaded location .
Photo: BABAR via Depositphotos
Although aluminum plant cutting sometimes are rooted in piss , those base are prone to decompose if save too plastered for too long , so the plant will continue healthy if uprise in soil instead . Looking for more low - ignitor plants ? Check out our pathfinder on caring forcast iron plant , ataraxis plant , andsnake plant life .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a raised bed , or an in - background plot out back — and take the correct plant for your soil and region .
Photo: Amelia Martin/akchamczuk via Depositphotos
Photo: Elizabeth Fernandez via Getty Images
