Pancake Plant (Pilea Peperomioidis)

In recent years, the Pancake Plant has made its lustrous comeback as the undisputed star among plant lovers! Once a rare find, it is now an indispensable showpiece in any modern home. This green friend is officially called the Pilea Peperomioides. Its flat, round leaves have earned it its nickname ‘Pancake Plant’.

Where does the Pancake Plant originally come from?

The Pilea has its origins in the mountainous regions of south-west China. Here, it grows naturally on rocky slopes and in the shade of trees. The plant was first discovered by a Swedish missionary in the 1940s during his stay in China. He brought some cuttings back to Europe, where the plant soon became popular for its unique appearance and easy care.

Is the Pancake Plant poisonous?

The Pancake Plant is known to be non-toxic to pets! That makes it the ideal companion for your furry friends. So it's certainly no problem if your cat sneaks a bite of the Pancake Plant, but be careful your cat doesn't nibble on it too much, this is obviously not so healthy.

The air-purifying qualities of the Pancake Plant

The Pancake Plant is known as an excellent air purifier! Although the plant is relatively small compared to other houseplants, this does not mean that its air-purifying power is also small. Of course, you would need several pancake plants to have a noticeable impact, but don't underestimate the power of each individual plant. Every little bit helps!

How big can a Pancake Plant grow?

The pancake plant can grow quickly when it is enjoying itself. Of course, this does vary from one individual to another and certainly also depends on care and location. Over a long period of time, the plant can grow about 30 to 40 cm tall and can also grow a sturdy stem. Of course, you can also choose to take cuttings to create small pancake plants.

Can the Pancake Plant flower?

It may surprise you, but yes, a pancake plant can also flower! After a period of overwintering, small white flowers may appear on the plant. However, this is rare. Fortunately, the flowering of a pancake plant does not affect the health or growth of the plant itself. So if you're lucky and your pancake plant starts flowering, just leave the flowers as they are.

Although the Pilea Peperomioides is known for its ease of maintenance, it too deserves some attention from time to time. Make sure you are aware of the right care tips.

Water requirements of the Pilea plant

The Pilea likes to get a small sip of water once a week. In doubt whether your pancake plant needs water? Then stick your finger in the soil and feel how dry the soil is. Is your plant already repotted? Then feeling with your fingers is not enough and it is important to use a moisture meter. Make sure the soil stays slightly moist, but avoid over-watering! To prevent rotting of the roots, it is important that no water remains at the bottom of the pot.

Feeding the Pancake plant

Pancake plants are masters at finding their own nutrients in the rich potting soil they grow in. Over time, it is good to supplement this with some plant food. Do this especially in the summer months, in winter the plant is in a dormant mode and extra nutrition can even be harmful. Use normal houseplant food for this and never use more than the recommended amount.

What is the best location for the Pilea plant?

Although the Pilea loves light, it can get a little shy of too much direct sunlight. This can even burn the leaves! A bright spot where the sunlight falls indirectly on it is ideal. That way your Pilea can enjoy vitamin D without risking burnt leaves from the intense UV rays. So remember not to put your Pancake plant right in front of the window.

Repotting the Pancake plant

Are you planning to give your Pancake Plant a new home? Fortunately, you don't need to repot the Pilea Peperomioides very often, but when it's time, we want you to do it right! We recommend repotting the Pancake Plant once every 2 years to a pot at least 20% bigger than its current one. That way, you give it just enough room to grow and flourish. The best time to repot your pancake plant is in spring. During this period, the plant recovers and grows faster.

Cutting and pruning the plant

One of the great perks of the pancake plant is its ability to be easily pricked. You've probably already seen it: cute baby pancake plants growing around the mother plant. Let these little ones grow alongside the mother plants for a while before you take cuttings.
The best way to do this is explained in detail in our blog.
Pruning the Pancake plant is not a difficult job. It may happen that some leaves of the plant become limp and turn yellow. Don't worry then, as this is the normal growth process of the little plant. You can easily prune your pancake plant by gently removing the leaves. Often, you will find that the limp and yellow leaves already let go on their own. So it is not necessary to prune your pancake plant, but of course it looks a lot nicer!

Pancake plant diseases and pests

The Pancake Plant is a tough cookie when it comes to plant diseases. Fortunately, you rarely need to worry because the only disease it can be susceptible to is mildew. With a natural pesticide, you can often deal with mildew quickly and effectively.

Looking for a retro Pancake Plant? Then Green Bubble is the place for you! When you buy a plant, of course you want only the very best. At Green Bubble we strive every day to deliver the highest quality plants. All our plants come straight from the grower, so you're always assured of fresh, green gems.
At Green Bubble it's all about happy customers and healthy plants. Don't feel like going out and carrying plants? No problem! You can easily order all your houseplants online with us. So ordering a Pilea Peperomioides is a piece of cake at Green Bubble. And the best news? If you order a Pilea Peperomioides today, you'll have it in house in no time! Ease of ordering and beautiful houseplants, that's what we stand for at Green Bubble. So, want to buy a trendy Pancake Plant? Join us at Green Bubble!