Pilea peperomioides (also known as the Chinese money plant) is known for it’s round, green leaves. If your Pilea is dropping leaves, it could be due to several environmental reasons involving light, temperature, sunlight or pests. While some leaf drop is normal as the plant ages, significant leaf drop signals an underlying problem.
Continue reading to learn what to do when you notice your Pilea dropping leaves and how to fix it.
Check out this Pilea Care Guide for more information about general Pilea care.
Pilea dropping leaves due to natural growth
If your Pilea is only losing a few older leaves, this a part of the normal growing process and not due to a care problem. As the older leaves on the bottom fall, they make way for new growth on top. There is nothing to be done in this case.
On the other hand, if the plant is losing a lot healthy green leaves at once, this is not normal and should be investigated further.
Pilea dropping leaves due to over watering
Allow the Pilea’s soil to dry out before watering again. If the plant is watered too frequently, it leads to root rot. Other signs of over watering include: yellow, droopy leaves and wet soil. Check the moisture by sticking a finger in the top two inches of soil- water only if it feels dry.
If you over watered your Pilea, remove it gently from the pot and clean the soil off it’s roots. Cut off any rotten roots, which are black and slimy. Wash the pot with soap, then replant in new, fresh soil. Add a few cups of orchid bark or perlite to the soil to increase drainage.
Place the plant in a well-ventilated room with medium light to help it dry.
Pick up your Pilea before and after watering to get a feel for the plant’s weight when it needs water compared to after it has had a drink.
Keep in mind that Pilea require less water during the winter or when they are receiving less sunlight.
Learn more about how to properly water your houseplant in more detail with this Pilea watering guide
Pilea dropping leaves due to cold temperatures
Pilea are happiest in temperatures from 65 to 75 °F (18 to 24 °C). If kept next to a drafty window or exposed to cold temperatures, leaf drop may occur.
Move the Pilea to a warmer location and keep away from vents or open windows. Do not keep the plant outside during the winter.
Pilea dropping leaves due to low humidity
As a tropical plant, Pilea are fond of humidity. The excessively dry air often found in homes causes leaf drop.
Increase the humidity by placing a humidifier nearby. If you do not have a humidifier, fill a tray with pebbles and water, then place the pot inside (make sure the water is not high enough to directly touch the pot).
Do not keep the plant near vents or heaters because the surrounding air is especially dry.
Also read: Pilea Leaves Curling? 7 Easy Fixes!
Pilea dropping leaves due to plant shock
Pileas can drop leaves when they are stressed or experiencing plant shock. Your plant could be stressed for several reasons, including: it recently moved locations, it was repotted, or it was just brought home from the nursery.
Pilea that recently moved locations
Leaf drop could occur if the plant was moved from indoors to outdoors (or vice versa), or to a different room. The plant is stressed due to environmental changes in temperature, light, and humidity.
Ideally, you want to keep your Pilea in one place and avoid moving it. Houseplants do not like to be moved once acclimated. If you do need to adjust the location, slowly transition the plant to the new spot for a couple of hours at a time, over a week so the change is less startling.
Pilea that was recently repotted
To minimize shock, keep the plant in the same location it was prior to repotting and give it time to adjust to it’s new container.
Pilea that was brought home from the nursery
The Pilea will drop leaves as it adjusts from the ideal conditions of a greenhouse to your home. Give the plant time to adapt to it’s surroundings.
What to do about shock
Whatever the reason, plant shock is minimized by not frequently moving the Pilea and only repotting when necessary. If it occurs, care for the plant as usual and give it time to adapt.
Find out more about plant shock with this guide.
Pilea dropping leaves due to low sunlight
Pilea are fond of medium to bright indirect light. Direct sunlight causes leaf burn, while low light leads to dropping leaves as the plant tries to conserve energy.
If your Pilea is not receiving enough sun, move it closer to the window. A good spot would be right next to an east facing window if you have room available.
Rotate the plant every few weeks for equal growth.
Related article: How to Save a Dying Pilea: Complete Guide
Pilea dropping leaves because it is root bound
Pileas should be repotted about once every two years. If it has been a while since you last repotted your Pilea, it may be dropping leaves because it’s pot is too small. If the plant is rootbound, it does not have enough roots to support the leaves or absorb the necessary water and nutrients. You may notice the plant’s growth has slowed down or roots peeking out of the soil.
Repot the Pilea once every two years to encourage growth. Wait for the soil to dry before repotting. Move up to a pot that is one size larger than the current one- choosing too large of a pot causes root rot because the excess soil drowns the roots when watered.
Loosen the roots gently with your fingers to separate them slightly before potting. If you notice any black and rotting roots, cut those off with a clean pair of gardening shears. Plant in a well-draining houseplant soil and mix in perlite to increase drainage.
Pilea dropping leaves due to pests
Houseplant pests, such as mealy bugs, aphids, or spider mites, cause leaf drop as they feed on the sap of the plant, weakening it’s integrity.
Carefully check the entire plant for any signs of pests, including the undersides of the leaves and the soil. If you spot any bugs, quarantine the plant to prevent further spread (inspect any neighboring plants as well).
Dab any insects you see with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol. Spray the plant with insecticidal soap, diluted neem oil, or rubbing alcohol. Repeat every three to four days until the infestation is gone, which may take a few weeks.
Pilea Care Summary
Keep your Pilea happy with the following conditions:
| Sunlight | Medium to bright filtered sunlight |
| Water | When the top two inches of soil are dry- about once a week |
| Soil | Well-draining, porous soil |
| Temperature | Room temperature (65 to 75 °F or 18 to 24 °C) |
In summary for Pilea dropping leaves…
Pileas drop leaves for several reasons, including:
- Natural growth: old leaves falling off is no cause for alarm. On the other hand, if many healthy leaves are falling off, there is an underlying problem.
- Over watering: water Pilea only when the top layer of soil is dry. Planting in a well-draining soil mix and a pot with a drainage hole help decrease water retention. If you notice the plant is showing signs of over watering, follow the above steps to try and revive the plant.
- Cold temperatures: as tropical plants, Pilea are not fond of cold temperatures. Keep the plant in temperatures from 65 to 75 °F and away from cold drafts.
- Low humidity: increase the surrounding humidity with a humidifier or pebble tray.
- Plant shock: this is especially likely if the plant recently changed locations or was repotted. Give the plant time to adapt.
- Root bound: if it has been over two years since you last repotted your Pilea, move it to a pot the next size up.
- Pests: inspect the plant carefully for any signs of pests, and follow the above steps to remove them. Be careful as it can take a while!
While Pilea can be a bit fussy with their environments, if the underlying problem is fixed the plant can bounce back.
Have any other questions about Pilea dropping leaves that I did not answer? Leave them down below!
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