Tips Archives - The Happy Houseplanter

Chinese Money Plant Basics

Jennifer — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 18:05:51 +0000

The Chinese Money Plant (pilea peperomioides), a popular easy care house plant got its nickname from its coin-like leaves. Its tolerance for a variety of lighting conditions and minimal care make it a good beginner houseplant. Pilea are known for growing “pup” plants that you can give away to friends, spreading your plant love. Chinese Money Plant Care Basics Pilea will tolerate a variety of lighting situations but do best in bright indirect light. Avoid putting it in direct sunlight so you don’t burn the leaves. My pilea is thriving slightly outside of the bright indirect light – it gets medium indirect light from sunrise to sunset from a east-facing sliding door. Pilea actively reach for the light, so it’s best to rotate your Chinese Money Plant every few weeks to avoid it all growing in one direction. Do not overwater your pilea. Waiting until the top inch of soil is dry or even until the plant is slightly droopy to water is fine. Overwatering can cause root issues and leaf drop. If you notice water spots on those signature coin-shaped leaves you may try watering from below. Place the bottom of the pot in a tray of water and let […]

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Nerve Plant Care

Jennifer — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 14:02:24 +0000

The nerve plant is a great beginner plant. Nerve plant care couldn’t be simpler. Once you have a handle on the basics, you can prune your plant and propagate clippings for yourself or to give away. Nerve Plant Care Basics Nerve plants (fittonia) are native to the rain forests of South America where they grow as ground cover. The nerve plant is a low maintenance houseplant with a natural tendency to spread, which makes it an easy and attractive choice for indoor container gardens. Since it thrives in the rain forest under a canopy of other foliage, it prefers both high humidity and indirect filtered bright light. Keep your nerve plant well watered and sit it on a tray of pea gravel and water. If you under water it you will find that the whole plant wilts and droops. If you over water, the leaves will turn yellow and the roots will rot. Some people grow this plant in a terrarium for maximum humidity. Despite their rainforest origins, nerve plants do well in the typical range of temperatures found in a home. However if exposed to extreme cold they may begin dropping leaves. To prevent this, avoid placing your plant […]

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Fungus Gnats in Potted House Plants – Get rid of them!

Jennifer — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 17:48:05 +0000

What is a fungus gnat you ask? A few weeks ago I was watering one of my plants and noticed that it was swarming with flying bugs. What the heck? Gross. Every time I moved a leaf, what seemed like dozens of bugs would fly up out of the plant. Fruit flies, I thought, and put out a dish of apple cider vinegar covered with plastic wrap poked with holes. Works every time. Except this time, I checked back the next day and there were no fruit flies. After some Googling I realized I wasn’t dealing with fruit flies, these bugs were fungus gnats. Do fungus gnats bite? Will fungus gnats kill my plant? Fungus gnats are bugs that resemble tiny flies. To me they look like fruit flies or miniature mosquitoes. They basically spot some moist soil, get busy with each other, lay their eggs in there and next thing you know – you’re living in a version of the Birds but in miniature. From my research, fungus gnats do NOT bite and they likely will NOT kill your plant. They are more of a nuisance. Their larvae may eat the roots of your plant, stunting it or causing […]

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