Quick Answer
Clear the topsoil around the base of the mother plant, find the underground runner connecting a pup to the parent, and slice through that runner 1/2 inch below the soil with a sterilised blade.
Lift the pup with its small attached roots. Either suspend the bare stem in a jar of water until a strong root ball forms (about 2 weeks), or plant it straight into a small pot of fast draining cactus mix if the roots already look healthy.
Pilea peperomioides pups are one of the easiest houseplants to propagate, with success rates over 90 percent when the runner is cut cleanly.
Why Pileas make pups
A happy Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides) constantly sends out underground stems called stolons. New baby plants, the pups, sprout off these stolons and pop up through the soil a few centimetres from the main stem.
You can also occasionally find pups growing directly from the main stem above soil, especially on older plants. Both types propagate the same way.
Tools
- Sharp paring knife or pruning shears.
- Rubbing alcohol or a flame to sterilise the blade.
- Small glass jar or shot glass.
- 3 inch nursery pot.
- Cactus and succulent mix with extra perlite.
Step 1: find the runner
Push your fingers gently into the topsoil around a pup until you find the thick horizontal stem connecting it to the mother plant. Soil pups have a stolon roughly 1 to 3 cm below the surface. Stem pups are obvious: a small plant sprouting directly from the main trunk.
Pulling on the leaves never works. The crown will snap off and the pup will die. The cut has to happen at the runner.
Step 2: clean cut at the runner
Wipe the blade with rubbing alcohol to prevent fungal transfer. Slide the blade into the soil and slice cleanly through the runner about 1/2 inch from the pup, away from the mother plant. The pup should lift free with a small tuft of roots attached.
For stem pups, cut as close to the mother stem as possible without nicking the main trunk. Stem pups usually have no roots yet, which is fine.
Step 3a: root in water
Water rooting is the safest method for pups with few or no roots. Fill a small jar with filtered or rested tap water. Lower the pup so only the bare stem sits in the water. The leaves must stay completely above the surface or they will rot.
Place the jar in bright indirect light. Change the water every 2 to 3 days to keep oxygen levels up. White roots usually appear within 7 to 10 days, and by week 2 you will have a fuzzy root ball ready for soil.
Move the pup into a small pot once the root system is at least 1 inch wide.
Step 3b: straight to soil
If your pup came up with a healthy cluster of roots already, skip the water step. Fill a 3 inch pot with cactus mix amended with extra perlite (about 30 percent). Poke a hole, slide the roots in, firm the soil around the base, and water lightly.
Keep the soil just barely damp for the first 2 weeks. After that, treat the new plant exactly like an adult Pilea: bright indirect light, water when the top inch dries out.
Method comparison
| Method | Best for | Time to establish | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water rooting | Pups with few or no roots | 2 to 3 weeks | Low |
| Direct to soil | Pups with established roots | 3 to 4 weeks | Low to moderate |
| Stem cutting in water | Beheading a leggy plant | 4 to 6 weeks | Moderate |
Care for the new plant
- Light. Bright indirect. Direct sun bleaches the coin shaped leaves.
- Water. When the top inch dries. Yellowing usually means too much, not too little.
- Pot. Plastic or glazed ceramic with drainage. Terracotta dries too fast for young pups.
- Feed. Half strength balanced fertiliser once a month from spring through early autumn.
- Rotate. Quarter turn every week, otherwise the plant leans hard toward the light.
Common propagation mistakes
- Pulling pups instead of cutting the runner. Snaps the crown off.
- Submerging the leaves in water. Causes rot at the base.
- Overwatering newly potted pups. Wait until you see new growth before treating them as adults.
- Using cold tap water straight from the faucet. Let it sit 24 hours so the chlorine evaporates and it reaches room temperature.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to root a Pilea pup?
In water, 7 to 14 days. In soil, 3 to 4 weeks before you see new top growth.
Why does my Pilea not produce pups?
Usually not enough light. Move the plant closer to a bright window and pups typically appear within a few months.
Can I propagate a Pilea from a single leaf?
Single leaf cuttings will sometimes grow roots but rarely produce a full new plant. Stem or pup cuttings are the reliable methods.
How big should a pup be before I cut it?
Wait until the pup has at least 3 to 4 leaves and stands 2 inches tall. Smaller pups have a much lower survival rate.
