Wondering what's wrong with your Pilea? Be sure to pay attention to some signals!
Your Pilea will always let you know if it isn’t getting the love and the care it needs.
Let's go through some problems you can get while growing a Pilea and read how to fix them!
This article contains Amazon Affiliate links. The price of the products stays the same, we receive just a little bit in return. Earnings from qualifying sales will help keep Pilea.com up and running. Thank you so much for your support!1. My Pilea’s color is fading
You can see Pilea’s dark green color fading to lighter green or yellow if your plant has not been fed during the last month. Feed your Pilea with all-purpose 20-20-20 fertilizer once a month to give it color!
2. Some of the leaves are starting to curl or to droop
Curled bottom leaves can mean too much water; curled top leaves can mean too much sun. Make sure you are not overwatering; always let the soil dry out between each watering.
Also, make sure to place your Pilea in a spot where it doesn't get direct sunlight.
You can also check for bugs.
3. Some of the bottom leaves are yellowing and falling off
Your Pilea is just aging. The bottom leaves are the oldest ones: they will yellow and eventually fall off. You can let them fall off on their own, or you can pluck them off.
If the younger leaves are turning yellow, it could mean that your Pilea is being overwatered. Let the soil dry out in between waterings and you should see the leaves regain their nice green color.
4. I’m getting brown spots on the leaves
Both over-fertilizing and overwatering can cause brown spots. Over-fertilizing could cause chemical burn: be sure you’re not overdoing it.
Brown spots could also appear because of a sunburn: probably, your Pilea got too much direct sunlight. Check very closely also for bugs.
5. My pet ate my Pilea
First of all, don’t worry about your pet: Pilea is non-toxic to both pets and people. It isn't very tasty, however!
As long as there is still one leaf attached to the main stem, your Pilea can grow back to its regular shape. However, if all that remains is the central stem, unfortunately, there is a tiny chance your plant will survive.
Don’t forget that, if there are no leaves but still some sprouts, you can always replant these babies to grow some new Pilea plants.
Remember:
All Pileas are different: they all act very distinctively. Get to know each of your plants and their peculiar needs.
Don’t overwater: this is the number one problem with most Pilea plants and will lead to root rot.
If your Pilea was shipped, it likely went through some stress. It will need some time to get comfortable in your house environment. Don’t worry and be patient: look after your plant, and it will adjust fine.
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