Chinese Money plants, also known as Money Flowers, Peperomium, or Floribunda. This plant requires care and attention, especially during propagation.
Regardless of the name, these beautiful flowers do not come without problems. In this article I will talk about how to propagate Chinese money plants properly.
Know the condition of the soil
How to propagate Chinese money plants comes down to the conditions of the soil and water in which the plant grows.
Chinese peperomosets require very specific conditions to grow well and create the beautiful flowers that attract buyers. The first thing to remember is that the leaves on these plants grow in cycles.
Each cycle consists of four quadrants: a center, as the name suggests, and four sides. There are no leaves on the inside. There are two primary methods to growing Chinese peperomosets, through seedling and through propagation.
If seedlings are used, the leaves on the baby plants may be removed, allowing the parents to grow larger, hence the term “baby plants may be used.” If seedling methods are used, be sure to remove all dead leaves on the plant.
The reason for doing this is because the dead leaves may contain mildew or disease spores, which are very difficult to remove once they are established.
Once the mature plants are fully grown, be sure to prune all of the baby plants back to leaf nodes or blossoms.
The mother plant will then produce new shoots, allowing her offspring to spread further. In fact, the reproduction cycle may continue until all of the mature leaves on the plant have been replaced by new growth.
For successful reproduction, Chinese money plants should be potted and placed in an area where they will receive adequate sunlight and warmth.
This can be indoors or out; however, it is best if it is potted in a sunny window. Be sure to water the mother plant well during the time it is providing the baby plants with food.
After the weather changes and the summer heat begins to dissipate, move the pot around to a shaded area.
This will allow the mother plant to acclimate to its new environment, helping the baby plants to become established as healthy plants.
Methods of Propagating Chinese Money Plants:
- Seeds
- Spores
If the seeds are used, the mother plant will provide a continuous supply of miniature plants to provide food. The use of spores is less expensive and provides a wider range of possible plants to choose from.
If the mother plant is potted, the process is the same as with the seeds; the soil should be moistened slightly, and the pots should be filled with soil that is similar to what was present when the plant was seedlings.
How to propagate Chinese money plants can also be done by grafting. This method requires that the immature stems be tied together with a string, and the leaves and petals are removed from the stem.
This leaves a long base that can be plucked and roots can then be planted in a shallow dish of equally moist potting soil.
Many gardeners prefer to use peperomiroids for this purpose because they are easier to find in rich, shady areas where sunlight is harder to obtain.
When to propagate chinese money plant
There are a few important steps to propagate Chinese money tree. In the United States, propagating any Chinese Money Tree can be difficult, if not impossible, unless you have a very clear idea of the Chinese language.
There is also the problem of getting seeds or cutting off the already grown leaves. It takes a bit of time, and a bit of patience, but once it’s established, the Chinese money tree is extremely easy to propagate.
Of course, there are some specific tricks and tips that you should use when attempting to propagate your Chinese money tree. You won’t find all of them in any article I write, but I will show you a few of my favorites.
One of the most important steps in any propagate, whether it’s a Chinese money tree or any other kind, is water.
Watering your Chinese money tree just before you want to propagate it prevents the root balls from drying out. If the leaf on the top of the trunk has already begun to wilt, then you have enough water to go ahead and put the plant in a small plastic tub and water it, but make sure that you don’t over-water it.
When you water your plant, use cool water, not hot. Hot water causes the root ball to expand too much, and then the tiny roots won’t have room to expand.
The best way to go about it is to use a couple of bags of potting soil with about two inches of water in it. Simply moisten the soil, not water, then place the plant into the pot. Over the next couple of days, the tiny roots will expand enough to wrap around the drainage hole and stay in place.
Once you’ve watered the plant and the roots have wrapped around the drainage hole, remove the leaf that’s above the ground. This is known as ‘laying on of the leaf’.
With a pair of garden shears, cut along the leaf until it just touches the dirt. Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut along the other side of this cut and leave the tip of one leaf free so you can cut another perfectly matching leaf.
When you have two equally matched leaves, cut one more leaf and place it beneath the cut that was just made. The newly created leaf will serve as a guide for the next set of leaves to grow.
This is done again until all of the leaves on the plant are the same color and the branches have completely grown in from the original cut. When this is finished, it is now time to replant the Chinese money plant into the garden.
Conclusion
A couple of final tips before you begin trying to propagate this plant. First, make sure that you’re keeping the plant away from other pests or animals that may destroy it.
Then, if the plant becomes damaged, remove it and put it in a protective bag. Do not water the plant during this process, nor add any fertilizer.
Remember, if the roots get too wet, they will not be able to support the weight of the plant. Keep the soil moist, but do not drown the roots.