The Pilea houseplant, commonly known as the “Chinese money plant” or “flying saucer plant”, is known for its round, green leaves. Pilea can be picky about their watering schedule and sunlight needs. Common causes of a dying Pilea houseplant include:
- Over watering
- Bright sunlight
- Pest infestation
- Bacterial or fungal disease
Find out how to save a dying Pilea or an over watered Pilea with this article, and learn how to best care for your plant to keep it happy.
Check out this complete guide to Pilea care for more information about this houseplant.
What does a dying Pilea look like?
Some signs of a dying Pilea are:
- Many yellow or brown leaves
- A drooping/limp plant
- Many leaves are dropping off
- Curling or disfigured growth
If only a few of the older leaves turn brown or yellow, that is normal. However if the majority of the plant looks unhealthy, that is a sign it is not doing well and something needs to be fixed.
Saving an over watered Pilea
One of the most common reasons for a dying Pilea plant is over watering. Often plant owners are so worried about under watering their plants that they provide too much water, resulting in root rot and a dying plant.
While saving an over watered Pilea is difficult, it can be done if you intervene early enough.
Signs of an over watered Pilea include:
- Brown, wilting stems
- Mushy leaves
- Yellow leaves that easily fall off
- Soaking wet soil
- Mold or algae at the base of the plant
- A musty smell in the soil
If you notice any of these signs, it is important to act quickly to give your Pilea the best chance of survival.
If plants are over watered, they cannot absorb the oxygen needed to support the plant. The roots then die because they drown. Instead of a healthy light tan, the roots turn black and slimy as the rot progresses.
In the beginning, signs of root rot are only seen underground, making it difficult to catch. As the rot progresses, the leaves change color and the stems start wilting.
To save an over watered plant, follow these steps:
- Remove the plant from its pot and clean the soil off its roots so that you can examine it clearly. It is important to be very gentle because over watered Pilea are already very weak.
- If there are rotten roots, cut them off with a clean pair of scissors. Clean the scissors in between each cut with rubbing alcohol to avoid spreading the rot.
- Cut off any dead or dying leaves. These leaves do not come back to life, so cutting them off saves the plant’s energy and allows it to focus on producing new growth.
- Let the roots dry in fresh air for a few hours.
- Clean the inside and outside of the pot with soap and warm water. If the pot does not have a drainage hole, get another pot that does. Consider planting in a terracotta pot since these help wick away extra moisture.
- Fill the pot with new, fresh soil. Add perlite to increase drainage (about 1/3 of the soil).
- Place the plant in a well-ventilated room with medium, indirect light. Avoid watering for 2 weeks. Avoid fertilizing the roots for a month to give them time to recover. Do not mist the plant during this time because the extra humidity worsens rot.
Note: if the roots are extensively damaged, you may not be able to save the whole plant. Instead, you can cut off the healthy growth and propagate that (see the last section for more information).
For more information about how to water your plant, check out this Pilea Watering Guide.
Preventing root rot
To avoid over watering, water the plant only when the soil is dry. Stick a finger in the top 2 inches of soil to check the moisture. If you are not sure if it is the right time to water your Pilea, it is better the wait another day or two because under watering is easier to fix than over watering.
Pileas require more or less frequent watering depending on their climate and sunlight conditions. The same plant could need to be watered more often during the summer than in the winter- always test the soil before watering.
When watering, pour water at the base of the plant and water until the soil is damp, but before it is soaking. Discard any water that collected in the saucer so that the plant does not sit in it for too long.
Soil choice
In addition to watering at the appropriate frequency, a well-draining soil mix and pot with a drainage hole are also important to prevent over watering. Plant your Pilea in a well-draining soil mix with a few cups of perlite or orchid bark mixed in.
Plant the Pilea in a pot that is the right size for the plant- if the pot is too large, it stores excess water and drowns the roots. On the other hand, a pot that is too small stunts growth. A pot with a drainage hole also helps excess water seep out.
Bright sunlight
Pilea leaves burn if exposed to direct bright light. This is especially likely if the plant was suddenly moved from the shade to bright sun, or kept outdoors on a bright day.
Sunburn causes brown spots on the leaves. Once this occurs, the plant will not turn green again, even if it is moved away from the light source, so it’s best to avoid exposing the plant to bright light in the first place.
Move the plant away from the window, or draw a sheer curtain so that it receives indirect light to prevent further damage. If the plant was outdoors, move it into the shade or bring it back indoors.
Prune damaged leaves from the plant.
If you notice the plant turning pale, this is an early sign it is receiving too much sun- move it farther away from the light.
Pest infestation
Insects suck on the plant sap, leading to distorted growth, discolored leaves, and leaf drop. If left unchecked, pests wreak havoc on your houseplant (as well as any neighbors), so it is important to address them quickly.
Common houseplant pests include:
- Aphids are pear-shaped insects that are light-green or brown in color. They leave honeydew or sooty mold on the leaves, which stunts the plant’s growth.
- Scale bugs are tan oval-shaped bugs that are fond of warm, dry environments. Scale encourage the growth of sooty mold, which is a black fungus that affects the plant’s photosynthesis process.
- Mealy bugs are small, fuzzy, white bugs. They leave a sticky, cotton substance on the leaves and cause disfigured growth.
Both pests like to lurk under leaves and at leaf-stem joints, making them difficult to detect at first glance. Pests also spread quickly to neighboring plants, so check any houseplants next to the Pilea so you can treat them as well.
Follow the following steps to remove the infestation:
- Isolate the Pilea and any other infected plants so the pests do not spread.
- Cut off the damaged parts of the plant. Sterilize the scissors between each cut.
- Gently scrub the plant under a shower hose with insecticidal soap. The steady stream of water dislodges the insects.
- Dab any bugs that remain with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol.
- Spray the plant with diluted neem oil or rubbing alcohol. Make sure to spray under the leaves and where the leaves meet the stem.
- Repeat the application of this spray once every 4 to 5 days for several weeks.
To prevent insects from infecting your houseplants, check them regularly. Often they are not noticed until it is too late.
Be sure to check any new plants you are bringing home from the store, as well as any outdoor plant you bring back inside. Avoid over watering since the dampness promotes pest spread and weakens the plant.
Bacterial or fungal disease
Certain bacterial and fungal infections cause plant death. Irregularly-shaped black or tan lesions are a sign of bacterial disease. As the infection progresses, the lesion fades away, leaving a hole in the leaf. Stunted growth or wilting stems may also occur.
Plant disease is promoted by excessively misting leaves and poor air circulation. Avoid overhead watering because when small puddles of water remain on the leaves after misting, it promotes damage.
Cut off the unhealthy leaves with gardening shears, cleaning the shears between each cut. It is important to discard all infected segments since the bacteria can be easily transmitted.
Use a plant fungicide as directed. As a home remedy, mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of mineral oil in a spray bottle of water. Spray this over the infected areas.
It is very important to make efforts to prevent infection because treatments have limited efficacy. Avoid frequently misting the leaves or overhead watering. Keep your plant in a room with good air circulation. If you do splash water on the Pilea’s leaves, wipe it off with a tissue.
Last effort to save a Pilea
If your Pilea is too far gone and has very little healthy growth, you can cut the stems off, root them, and replant.
You will not be able to save the entire plant but you can grow a new one from the cuttings. This is especially helpful if the root damage is extensive.
Follow these steps:
- Take a stem cutting several inches long of healthy green tissue. Use a clean knife and make a straight cut.
- Fill a vase with room temperature water. Place the new cutting in the vase and let it sit.
- Keep the vase in a warm, humid area with indirect light to promote new growth. Replace the water frequently.
- Once the roots have grown 1 to 2 inches long, transfer the cutting to a pot filled with new, well-draining soil and care for the plant as usual.
While you will not save the entire Pilea, you will still have a portion to try again.
Pilea Care Tips
Provide your Pilea with the following conditions to keep it happy
| Sunlight | Medium, filtered sunlight |
| Water | Once a week |
| Soil | Well-draining, porous soil |
| Temperature | Room temperature (65 to 75 °F or 18 to 24 °C) |
| Humidity | Medium to high humidity |
In summary for how to save a dying Pilea plant…
Signs of a dying Pilea include: pale or discolored leaves, wilting stems, curled leaves, leaf drop, and a musty smell in the soil.
Causes of dying Pilea houseplants include: over watering, bright sunlight, unchecked pest infestation, or bacterial disease.
To save a dying Pilea, first determine the underlying problem, then take steps to correct it. Don’t give up hope if your plant looks unwell- it can still bounce back.
If the damage is extensive, cut off the healthy portions and propagate them. While you cannot save the entire plant, you can grow a new one from the cutting and try again.
Provide the Pilea with medium, indirect sun, water only when the soil is dry, plant in well-draining soil, and check frequently for pests. This allows the plant to thrive and keeps it happy.
Have any additional questions about how to save a dying Pilea that I did not answer? Let me know down below!
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