DIY: Dividing Pilea Peperomioides

There are so many reasons to love Trader Joe's and as a plant fanatic, their selection of leafy friends is much appreciated. Two months ago, I was delighted to discover that they were carrying pots of pilea peperomioides and could not resist. Pilea peperomioides, commonly known as the friendship plant or the Chinese money plant, received its name for its exceptional propagation qualities. As someone who constantly experiments with propagating any stray cuttings or succulent leaves, this is a real winner. Pilea peperomioides thrive in well draining soil, lots of indirect light, and household temperatures, rounding out this bad boy as a great addition to any indoor plant collection.

Decapitation Propagation

As I mentioned previously, dividing plants is not a foreign concept for me. It all started with my independent research project in AP Bio which encompassed growth hormones extraction from willow trees and rooting new succulent leaf cuttings with it. This is how I affectionately coined the term, decapitation propagation. I was ready to divide up all the babies of various heights from my pilea, but you can feel free to start after just 2 inches of new growth.

 First, I gently removed the whole plant from the pot. This was difficult because the leaves were so dense and intertwined (hence the need to divide), but I managed by grasping the base where it was leafless. I loosened the ball of soil and with a plastic spoon, I dug between the mother plant and the baby until I located the main root that fed into it. Take care to not disrupt the delicate new roots of the baby! I like to find the base of the connection so that I can maximize the amount of root that the baby takes with it.

With a sharp knife or gardening scissors, slice the main root while maintaining the baby's roots. I took the chunk of soil that clings on since the roots are intertwined. That's it! Some people take cutting and try to root them in water, but I send them right back into a new jar of soil. Thank god for all the pots of yogurt and sauces that I saved because I was able to divide my one plant into eight. Incredible. Enjoy your pilea pals, pass them along to your loved ones, or prepare yourself for even more to come.