Description
Creeping Charlie, Pilea nummulariifolia
Pilea nummulariifolia is a perennial evergreen creeping herbaceous houseplant. It has right green, round to oval leaves and are deeply wrinkled with notched tips. Veins appear to be sunken giving the interveinal sections a puffy, crinkly look. Flowers are white greenish but are insignificant. Sprawling fleshy stems can root at the nodes where stems contact soil so it can be quite weedy. It is ideal for a hanging plant.
Light:
It thrives well in bright light, but should not be placed into direct sunlight, which can scorch its leaves.
Soil:
It prefers organic soils over mineral soils. Use African Violet or peat-moss potting mixes.
Temperature:
Pilea nummulariifolia prefers average to warm room temperatures 65 degrees Fahrenheit – 80 degrees Fahrenheit / 18 degrees Celsius – 27 degrees Celsius suit this tropical plant. Keep it away from heat vents or drafty windows.
Water:
Water regularly, keep the soil evenly moist spring through fall. Reduce watering in winter, allow the top one inch of soil to dry out between waterings.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize monthly during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.
Propagation:
Creeping Charlie plant can be easily propagated by dividing the rootball or by stem cuttings. Take stem tip cuttings in spring. Put the stem in the moist potting blend, then firm the blend around the stem so that it stands up. Enclose the entire pot in a plastic bag to hold it in moistness. It is also propagated from seed.
Pruning:
Pinch off stem tips to keep the Creeping Charlie plants smaller. This is especially important if you are growing them in a terrarium.
Pests and Diseases:
Creeping Charlie has no serious pest or disease problems. Look for mealybugs and spider mites. Pilea nummulariifolia is also susceptible to stem rot and bacterial leaf spot.
