How to Grow Pilea in Water: Detailed Methods and Precautions

Pilea is surely familiar to many people, and it is currently distributed in many parts of our country. It is loved by people for its high ornamental and practical value, and is a plant very suitable for keeping at home. There are many cultivation methods for Pilea, such as water culture and soil culture. Today I will introduce its water culture technique to you.

How to Grow Pilea in Water

1. Pilea likes a moist, semi-shaded environment, and the most suitable temperature for its growth is about 18-22°C. During the growing period of Pilea, spray water frequently to ensure the leaves stay moist.

2. Be careful to avoid direct strong light. It is best to place it in a spot with bright, scattered light for cultivation. In summer, shade it appropriately, but do not put it in a completely dark place, as this will make the leaves of Pilea dull in color and cause the stems to grow leggy.

3. After the seedlings survive, promptly remove the growing tips, as this can make the overall shape of the plant fuller. Pay attention to frequent pruning to reduce the plant becoming soft and lodging, promote branching, and make the appearance more lush and beautiful. However, do not prune excessively, otherwise the leaves of Pilea will become numerous and small, reducing its ornamental value.

Water Culture Methods for Pilea

1. Pilea is generally propagated by cuttings, which can be done in spring or autumn. Simply cut off a section of stem with a terminal bud and place it directly in water for cultivation, and new roots will grow in about ten days, with a very high survival rate.

2. You can also directly wash the roots of a potted plant and then grow it in water. Choose a healthy growing Pilea, dig the plant out of the soil, gently shake off the excess soil on the roots, and then rinse the root hairs clean with water at a temperature similar to the soil. After that, use scissors to cut off all the messy residual roots, diseased roots, and rotten roots, keeping only some healthy, thick roots. Soak the trimmed roots in a diluted potassium permanganate solution for more than ten minutes, then transplant them into a water culture container.

3. For newly transplanted Pilea, be sure to change the water every day and promptly prune away any roots that are growing poorly or showing signs of rot, until about a week later when the plant begins to grow new roots. At this point, you can begin to reduce the frequency of water changes.

Precautions for Pilea

1. When Pilea has been cultivated for too long and its growth slows, it should be pruned in a timely manner, otherwise the ornamental effect will be reduced.

2. Pilea likes relatively strong scattered light. In summer, block more than 70 percent of the sunlight. If the sunlight is too strong, the leaves will be scorched. In winter, no shading is needed, or only slight shading.

3. When overwintering, the temperature for Pilea should be kept above 13°C. Long-term temperatures below 10°C will cause damage, but short periods at around 5°C will not cause damage.

4. Pilea likes a moist environment, so keep the growing medium moist and the air humidity relatively high at all times. In dry seasons, you can frequently spray water on the surrounding environment or the leaf surface.

Pest and Disease Control for Pilea

1. Common leaf spot disease is harmful, and spraying 200 times diluted Bordeaux mixture can prevent it. If the potting soil is too wet, root rot is likely to occur, and it can be watered with 1000 times diluted thiophanate solution.

2. Scarab beetles. Control method: The larvae of scarab beetles usually live in the soil, so the soil should be disinfected throughout the year before planting. When a larva is found, it should be removed promptly; once it reproduces and spreads, it is very difficult to eliminate. When there are many scarab beetles, chemical treatment can be used. Remember to choose insecticides as much as possible, not pure pesticides. Although the insecticidal effect is relatively good, it will have a certain impact on the later growth of the flowers. After spraying the chemical, irrigate the roots to avoid residual insect eggs in the soil.

3. If there is damage from scale insects, spray with 40% omethoate 1000 times diluted solution to kill them. If root-knot nematodes are found, apply 3% carbofuran for control.

The water culture method for Pilea is actually not difficult. Under high summer temperatures, Pilea grows slowly, and in winter it cannot tolerate low temperatures, so seasonal care must be strengthened. It is also very susceptible to pest damage, so pest control work cannot be neglected either. Only by doing these things well can its growth be good.