Pilea Moon Valley (Pilea Mollis) - Teak And Terracotta

Welcome to our guide to the Pilea Moon Valley all to you need to know about care and propagation…

Pilea Moon Valley Care Summary

Light needs:	Medium to bright indirect sunlight.
Watering needs:	Check soil weekly, only water if dry all the way down.
Fertilizer:	Use a well diluted balanced feed monthly in spring and summer.
Soil:	Well draining medium to avoid root rot.
Humidity:	50%.
Temperature:	15-30°C (59-86°F).
Where to buy:	Try our list of Rare Plant Shops.
Other names:	Pilea Involucrata, Pilea Mollis.
Common issues:	Root rot / overwatering.

Introduction

The Moon Valley Pilea, (aka Pilea Involucrata or Pilea Mollis) is native to Colombia and Venezuela. Its a small bushy pilea with soft but jagged leaves and a really interesting leaf texture.

Light Needs

Medium to bright indirect sunlight is ideal.

How Often To Water Pilea Moon Valley

It is really important not to overwater a pilea as they can be sensitive to it, so make sure you check the soil weekly and only water it is the soil is totally dry.

Fertilizer

Feed them monthly in spring and summer with a very well diluted balanced feed.

Soil

A rich and well draining medium. You can add 20% perlite to a good potting compost to aid drainage.

When to Repot Pilea Moon Valley

They do not grow especially quickly, so will not need repotting each year. I check all my plants at easter time to see fi they need repotting before the growing season.

Humidity

Aim for 50% and above. They are tropical houseplants and will thrive if given decent humidity.

Tip: do not spray or mist them as the textured leaves and rot when water sits in the crevices.

Temperature

15-30°C (59-86°F) is the ideal daily temperature. Don’t let them get down to below 5°C (41°F) at night.

How to Propagate Pilea Moon Valley

You can propagate pilea moon valley by taking cuttings and rooting them in water as the root easily hat way (see below), then when established you can pot them up into a good soil mix.

For more on pilea propagation see our guide: Pilea Propagation.

Pilea Moon Valley Propagation Water

You can take a stem cutting with a couple of leaves and root it in a jar of water. It should be able to live there ongoing as long a you keep the water topped up. Change the water if it goes cloudy.

Tip: They love to be grown in water alone, you can water prop some cuttings and keep them there indefinitely.

Is It Toxic To Cats?

They are not toxic to cats and dogs

Pilea Moon Valley Brown Leaves

The most common reason for brown leaves is from lack of moisture which cod be under watering or lack of humidity. Make sure your plat is well watered (but not overwatered) and keep it humid.

Does Pilea Moon Valley Flower?

They flower with very small pink blooms. They are not very remarkable to be honest.

Why Is My Pilea Moon Valley Drooping?

They can droop from over and under watering, so make sure you are checking the soil each week, but only water if totally dry.

Pilea Moon Valley Terrarium

Pilea moon valleys are really popular as a terrarium plant as they love humidity and can grow in small, shaded places.

Pilea Involucrata Vs Pilea Mollis

Often pilea moon valleys are sold with the Latin name pilea mollis, they can also be sold under the Latin name pilea involucrata, so hat is going ion? They are both the same plant, but pilea involucrata was bread from the pilea mollis, so they are the same plant, but can be know by both Latin names.

Other Names

Pilea Involucrata, Pilea Mollis.

Where To Buy

Try our list of Rare Plant Shops.

FAQs and Common Problems

Common issues with a moon valley pilea are leaf crisping from underwatering or lack of humidity, which can also manifest itself as yellow patches on the leaves. You want to check if they need water each week, but only water if dry. They can also get root rot easily, so make sure sure you only water them when dry and tip out any excess water sat in the saucer as this can lead to sodden soil.

For more on pileas see our pilea category with all our pilea care and propagation guides.