How to Grow Pennywort (Chinese Money Plant) So It Thrives: Cultivation Methods and Points to Note

Pennywort is a plant with very strong survival ability, and growing pennywort does not require much management; as long as it is given enough water, it can basically maintain normal survival. However, if you want pennywort to grow better or develop toward a thriving trend, watering alone is absolutely not enough; we also need to start from other aspects.

How to Grow Pennywort So It Thrives

1. Choosing soil

Choosing soil is very important. Not only pennywort grown in soil, but also pennywort grown half in soil and half in water cannot do without soil. The soil should be fertile; garden soil can be used, but it is best to ensure the soil has a certain fertility, so that the growth of pennywort will have nutrient support.

2. Choosing a flowerpot

Flowerpots are also very important for plants. When choosing a flowerpot, the size of the flowerpot determines the scale of the plant's growth. Because with a relatively large flowerpot, the plant will have relatively ample space to grow, while if the flowerpot is relatively small, the growth of the plant will also be limited.

Therefore, when growing pennywort, try to choose a large flowerpot, and choose a shallow pot, so that its growth will be more vigorous.

3. Sufficient light

When growing pennywort, sufficient light is also very important. Only under conditions of sufficient light will pennywort grow vigorously.

Pennywort Cultivation Methods and Points to Note

I. Soil

Pennywort is relatively easy to grow, and it does not have high requirements for soil; it can grow even in slightly poor soil. However, pennywort is a plant that is not drought-tolerant, and based on this point, it requires the chosen soil to be loose, breathable, and well-draining. Soil is key to growing pennywort; suitable soil is beneficial to the growth of pennywort and will not cause pennywort to rot at the roots and die.

II. Light and temperature

Pennywort can accept partial sun and is relatively shade-tolerant, but it dislikes direct sunlight, so pennywort can be placed in a semi-shaded environment for care, but it cannot be too shady. Insufficient light will cause the leaves of pennywort to rot, so ensure 4-6 hours of light per day, which is beneficial to the growth of pennywort.

Pennywort is not tolerant of high temperatures or cold, and it requires a relatively warm growing environment. Generally, it grows well between 10-25°C. In summer, the temperature should not exceed 32°C, and in winter, the overwintering temperature must not be lower than 5°C.

III. Watering and fertilizing

Pennywort has relatively high water requirements, and it likes a somewhat moist environment. In summer, the temperature is high and pennywort has many leaves, so water is very easily lost; therefore, in summer it is necessary to replenish water frequently. Spraying water on the plant regularly can increase air humidity, play a role in cooling, and also keep the leaves of pennywort clean and tidy, making photosynthesis easier. In winter, when the temperature is low, pennywort requires the potting soil to be on the dry side, preferring dry over wet. There should be no standing water in the pot; standing water will make the roots of pennywort unable to breathe properly and cause root rot.

When watering pennywort, generally during the growing period, water heavily once every half month to keep the potting soil moist. If it is water-grown pennywort, then change the water once every 7-10 days in spring and summer, and once every half month in autumn and winter. Under normal circumstances, tap water in the north needs to be left standing in sunlight or in a cool place for 1-2 days before use.

Pennywort also has relatively large fertilizer needs. During the vigorous growth period of pennywort, fertilizer can be applied once every 2-3 weeks. The amount of fertilizer can be determined according to the size of the container in which the pennywort is grown. If the container is small, the amount of fertilizer can be appropriately reduced to avoid fertilizer damage.

IV. Points to note

1. Flowerpot selection. When choosing a flowerpot for pennywort, it should be determined according to the size of the pennywort plant. Generally speaking, pennywort does not need a very large pot; a slightly larger bowl or a narcissus pot can be used for care. When planting pennywort, basically just covering the rhizome is enough; do not bury it too deep. After planting, place pennywort in a semi-shaded place, and after a period of care it can be exposed to sunlight.

2. Pruning. Pennywort rarely needs pruning, but if the leaves of pennywort are too dense, or if the leaves turn yellow, then it needs to be pruned, removing yellow leaves and excess leaves. In spring, pennywort can be repotted; when repotting, trim the roots and divide the plant for propagation. It is also possible to shape pennywort when repotting. If under strong light the pennywort plant becomes too tall and shows leggy growth, the tall stems of pennywort should be cut off to make it produce more new shoots.

Hydroponic Tips for Pennywort

1. There is no need to change the water especially frequently; if it is changed too frequently, it is not good for pennywort either. Basically, just ensure there is enough water in the basin, and changing it once a week is enough. In summer, water can be changed more frequently to avoid mosquitoes laying eggs in it.

2. Pennywort likes sunlight; with sufficient sunlight it can grow rapidly, and it does not need fertilizing. Note that it should receive more than 4 hours of sunlight per day on average.

3. As for fertilizing, there is nothing very particular; some nutrient solution can be appropriately added, such as quick-acting fertilizer——Hyponex No. 2, or slow-release fertilizer——Magamp and so on. If goldfish are kept at home, pouring the water changed from the goldfish tank into the pennywort basin can make pennywort grow better.

4. 16-24°C is the suitable temperature for pennywort. Too low suppresses growth. Too high makes it easy for small insects to hatch in the water.

5. When growing pennywort in water, yellowed leaves that fall into the water will slowly rot and spoil the water quality, so we should regularly check the water container and remove any moldy or rotten leaves as soon as they are found.

6. Vigorously growing pennywort can spread across an entire water basin in a very short time. After pennywort has spread all over the water basin, the overly dense pennywort should be divided and transplanted. The purpose of doing this is to avoid mature leaves shading the light of young leaves and affecting the normal metabolism of the plant.

Effects and Functions of Pennywort

1. Ornamental value of pennywort

Pennywort has round, shield-shaped leaves, like a copper coin, with long petioles and wavy edges. In summer and autumn it blooms small yellow-green flowers, and its leaf color is emerald green and very pleasing to look at. Most importantly, pennywort has very vigorous vitality and can grow both in water and on land. Keeping one pot grown in soil and one pot in water at home is also very simple to cultivate, and it is one of the flowers and plants deeply loved by people.

2. Greening function of pennywort

The stem nodes of pennywort are obvious, one segment after another, and each node grows one leaf, and it can extend continuously. The underground horizontal stems also have astonishing growth power; wherever they reach, they can spread. It is one of the aquatic plants that is both beautiful and easy to keep alive. Pennywort does not have high requirements for water quality and can be cultivated in freshwater with relatively low hardness. In warm regions it can be potted outdoors, suitable for water trays, aquariums, ponds, wetlands, and indoor water greening. When cultivated in an aquarium, it is often used as a foreground plant.

3. Medicinal and edible value of pennywort

The whole plant of pennywort can be used as medicine, with the effects of clearing heat and removing dampness, detoxifying, and promoting urination. It has a very good effect on treating damp-heat jaundice, heatstroke diarrhea, urolithiasis and hematuria, carbuncles, swellings, sores and toxins, and bruises from falls. Of course, the rhizomes and leaves can be used as a vegetable dish, and can also be used as a medicinal herb to dispel wind, strengthen the intestines, improve eyesight, and clear summer heat, etc.

In short, growing pennywort is not difficult, and even growing it very strong and full to overflowing is not difficult. At the same time, it is also a plant with relatively comprehensive effects and functions, and it is very suitable for most households and most types of plant growers, especially suitable for those who are bad at keeping plants.