Chinese Money Plant
Pilea peperomioides
Perfectly round, coin-shaped leaves on long stems that reach toward the light - literally. A plant that tells you exactly where your brightest spot is.
Photo: feey / Unsplash What this plant actually wants.
Best window: East or bright north, close enough to see a shadow on the leaf.
This is the general recommendation. When you map your actual windows in Planterra, the app compares each one against this plant's lux range and tells you which of your specific spots are best - accounting for depth from the glass, obstructions, and how the light shifts by season.
What usually goes wrong.
Leaves drooping like an umbrella
Usually thirst. Water thoroughly and the leaves typically perk back up within a few hours - a useful, visible signal this plant gives before real damage happens.
All growth leaning one direction
Completely normal - Pilea grows toward its light source. Rotate the pot a quarter turn each week to keep it growing evenly.
Yellow lower leaves
Older leaves naturally yellow and drop as the plant matures. If it's more than one or two at a time, check for overwatering first.
No baby plantlets ("pups")
Needs to be a bit more mature and getting good light before it sends up pups from the base or soil. Be patient - established plants produce them reliably.
Pilea is one of the few plants that visibly tells you it's thirsty before real damage sets in - the drooping is a request, not a crisis. I always ask about the lean too; it's the plant's own compass pointing at your light source.
Add this plant to Planterra.
Free to try. No signup. Your plant, tracked from the first photo.