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Pilea depressa is a creeping plant known for its full growth made up of hundreds of dainty leaves. This plant is lovely grown either indoors or outdoors. Today, I’ll review how to care for Pilea depressa as a houseplant and how to propagate it as well.
Pilea depressa is commonly referred to as baby tears, although I’ve read that Soleirolia soleirolii, a very similar looking plant, is the REAL baby tears plant (but I mean, should we really argue over the tears of an infant?).
Pilea depressa is of the genus Pilea. Yes—the same as the popular Pilea peperomiodes. But don’t be fooled. Their care requirements are similar but not exactly the same.
If you’re a terrarium enthusiast, this Pilea also makes a great terrarium plant because of its tiny foliage and high humidity requirements.
Where can I buy a Pilea depressa?
You can easily buy a Pilea depressa on Etsy. Check out this gorgeous Pilea depressa from one of my favorite Etsy shops!
How to care for Pilea depressa
Light
Pilea depressa likes bright, indirect light and can take a small amount of direct light, but not too much or else its foliage can burn.
If you don’t have enough natural light in your home, no worries! Grow lights are a real lifesaver. Check out my post on grow lights for indoor plants for more help. And, if you’re in a hurry, my two favorite grow lights are below:
You can also read my easy guide to natural light for indoor plants for more help on finding the perfect spot in your home for your Pilea depressa.
Watering
Pilea depressa likes to remain somewhat moist, but not wet. Do not let it fully dry out or it won’t be happy.
Water it when you feel the potting mix is getting dry about an inch or so down. This will probably be every few days to a week depending on what kind of light you have it in.
And with all plants, always make sure to stick your finger down into the potting mix to feel for moisture to determine whether it needs to be watered.
Should you mist Pilea?
Pilea depressa is native to the Caribbean (a humid area!) and will therefore thrive in high humidity. You can provide humidity using a few easy methods, including a humidifier or a pebble tray.
Check out my post on creating humidity for houseplants for easy methods and step-by-step guides.
Potting Mix
Pilea depressa will be happy in peat moss with some perlite added in, about a 2:1 ratio. However, it should also be fine in a general indoor plant potting mix with some perlite if you do not have peat moss.
Fertilizing
Fertilize your Pilea depressa once a month during the growing season (spring and summer), using a liquid houseplant fertilizer.
Repotting
This plant doesn’t like to be rootbound, so you might have to repot it every year or two.
To check whether it’s rootbound, gently slip the plant out of the pot and look to see if the roots are heavily coiled around the outside of the soil. The plant may also have stunted growth or roots coming out of the drainage holes.
Repot in a pot one size up that has good drainage, and try to only repot in the spring or summer, if possible.
Pruning
Pruning isn’t necessary unless you want to control the size of your plant. In this case, use a pair of clean scissors to cut it to your desired length.
Try to do this in the spring and summer only and don’t cut too much at once. A good general rule of thumb is no more than a quarter of the plant at once.
Aside from this, remove any occasional dying leaves once they can be gently plucked away.
Why is my Pilea depressa dying?
Common issues with this plant include:
- You let it dry out too much or for too long – Letting it dry out once for a short period of time is usually fine, but making that a consistent thing is not good.
- If your plant looks unhappy, stick your finger down into the potting mix and feel the moisture level in order to determine the cause of the problem.
- You’ve overwatered it – On the other hand, it can be easy to overwater plants that like to remain moist, right? Keeping your plant consistently soggy and wet could put it at risk of root rot.
- If you suspect this is the problem, do the same thing and stick your finger down into the potting mix and feel the moisture level in order to determine the cause of the problem.
- Too much light – This can be a problem because oftentimes we confuse “bright, indirect light” with “as much light as possible.” No! Too much direct light can hurt most plants.
- If you see the sun’s rays shining directly on the plant, that is direct light. Try moving it somewhere else, or put up something like a sheer curtain if you can.
- Pests – While this plant is not prone to pests, check it thoroughly regularly so you can catch any problems early.
Pilea depressa propagation
Pilea depressa propagation is very easy, but propagation can take a few weeks to a few months, so patience is key! Here’s how to propagate Pilea depressa in both water and potting mix:
Pilea depressa propagation in water
Using a clean pair of scissors, take a cutting that is a few inches long with a few nodes and some leaves. The node is where leaves and roots grow out of the main stem and where new roots will sprout from when you propagate a plant.
Put your Pilea depressa cutting in a jar of tepid water, making sure at least one node is under the surface, but a few if possible. If any leaves are submerged in water, gently remove those.
Put the jar in bright, indirect light. Top off the water level when needed and replace the water totally when it gets grimy, once a week or so.
Once the roots are a few inches long, you can transfer the cutting to a permanent pot. I usually like to wait until the roots are two to three inches long.
Once you transfer it to its pot, give it a good watering and treat it like a normal plant. Note that it may need some time to adjust to its new situation.
You can also leave the plant in water permanently, but it will not grow as fast.
Pilea depressa propagation in potting mix
Propagation in potting mix follows the same general process. To start, repeat the same first step as above. Here it is again:
Using a clean pair of scissors, take a cutting that is a few inches long with a few nodes and some leaves. The node is where leaves and roots grow out of the main stem and where new roots will sprout from when you propagate a plant.
Put your Pilea depressa cutting in a pot with moistened potting mix, making sure at least one node is buried, but a few if possible. Don’t bury any of the leaves.
Put the cutting in bright, indirect light and keep the potting mix moist, but not wet, as the roots develop.
You can also place a clear plastic bag over the top to help lock in beneficial humidity. Just remove it for a little each day to let in fresh air.
After about a month, you can try testing your cutting by giving it a very gentle tug. If you feel some resistance, roots have developed and you can start treating it like a normal plant. If not, don’t worry, just continue what you’re doing until a root system has developed.
Additional Information
Is Pilea depressa toxic to cats and dogs?
Pilea depressa is nontoxic to cats and dogs, however, it’s best practice to keep all plants out of your furry friends’ reach regardless.
Pradnya Churi says
Thank u for the nice info. I am confused between 2 plants – Tangled Heart and Pilea Depressa. Are they the same ?
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi Pradnya – They are not the same plant, but I do see how they look somewhat similar!
Mary Pullen says
My Pilea Depressa occasionally gives off what looks like little puffs of smoke. What is this?