Pilea Glauca is a rare and pretty indoor plant. The glaucous green leaves are attached to delicate pinkish-red stems. The delicate pinkish-red stems bear numerous tiny green leaves. A closer look at this will reveal the silvery powder nothing lesser than the fairy dust, sprinkled on the leaves. This dust gives a magical silvery appearance to the glaucous green leaves. The Brazilian native is an evergreen plant and surprisingly blooms throughout the year. This low-growing plant forms mats or ground covers in terrariums and bottle gardens In addition; this trailing plant is a great choice to decorate a hanging basket for your house. Let’s learn some important facts regarding the Pilea Glauca care along with its classification.
Pilea glauca Classification
It is important to mention here, that this plant is an under-researched plant. It has not been given a formal botanical name following the typical procedures. However, the lesser-known scientific classification of the plant is as under:
Family: Urticaceae.
Genus: Pilea.
Species: Glauca.
Urticaceae Family:
This is a family of flowering succulent plants. Unlike the members of the genus Pilea, the majority of the Urticaceaens have hairy structures. These were popular in ancient medicinal history.
Genus Pilea
To get good knowledge about the Pilea glauca care, it is important to have an idea about its genus. Pileas are evergreen perennial plants with beautiful and peltate leaves, usually 4 inches wide. The dandy indoor plants can grow up to a maximum height of 12 inches. These have generally got extinct from their natural native habitat in Chinese mountains. However, you can find them commonly though out the world as indoor decorative plants.
Common Names of The Pilea Glauca
This plant has numerous common names due to its popularity and typical appearance. Some of the names are as under;
- Glauca libensis is a synonym of the botanical name.
- ‘Silvery Sparkle Pilea’ or ‘Silver Sparkles’ due to the beautiful and unique silvery dust on its leaves.
- ‘Grey baby tears’ or ‘Grey artillery plant’ due to the tiny silvery-grey leaves.
- ‘Red stem Pilea’ due to the unique reddish shade of the stems.
- ‘Pilea glauca ‘Aquamarine’’, is also another name for this plant. However, we see mixed opinions and some people consider the Pilea Aquamarine as a cultivar or variety of the Glauca Plant.
Plant Structure
Important facts about the plant structure are as under;
- The plant in its juvenile form or in terrariums remains around 10 cm tall and 5 cm Wide. However, if allowed to grow freely, it may reach as tall as 100 cm and 50 cm wide.
- The evergreen flowering plant blooms in all four seasons.
Pilea Glauca Care
The Pilea libensis care is slightly different than other plants. In this section, we will share the basic facts about the Pilea Aquamarine plant care and requirements.
Water Requirements
Watering is an important part of the Pilea glauca aquamarine care. In summer, keep the upper 3 inches of the soil moist. However, it is important to avoid the water stagnating at the base as it will lead to plant issues like root rot and fungus.
In winter, make sure that the upper layer of the soil is dry before you water it again.
Sunlight Requirement
Pilea glauca care includes plenty of bright indirect sunlight. Experts recommend providing at least 4 hours of indirect sunlight. However, direct and long exposure to sunlight is harmful and many burn the delicate foliage of the plant.
Temperature Requirements
The optimal temperature range in the Pilea libenensis care is 15 to 23°C (60 -70 °F). The plant can bear short time exposure to different temperature ranges. However, long exposure to intense temperatures may harm the plant.
Pot Requirements
The plant needs well-drained soil. Thus, the pot base should have drainage holes.
Substrate/Soil Requirements
Explaining the Pilea glauca care, it is important to mention the soil for the plant. Sandy soils show great results for this plant. If you are making a substrate mixture, combine perlite(or sand)and peat n a ratio of 1:2.
Fertilizer Requirements
Like any other plant, fertilizer is an important part of Pilea glauca care. Use a mild house plant fertilizer in low quantities or according to the directions on the pack.
Humidity Requirements
Glauca plant prefers a humid environment but can bear a range of humidity levels. A part of Pilea glauca aquamarine care is slight misting in hot and dry weather. This will ensure the lush foliage of the plant.
Repotting Requirements
You may check for the root density of the plant. If it forms a thick root ball inside the soil, you may re-pot it. An ideal frequency is to repot the plant after at least one year.
Pruning Requirement
In a hanging basket or pot, you can prune the lower branches if the plant is expanding uncontrollably. This is important for the Pilea glauca care and will result in a neat and well-grown plant appearance.
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Conclusion
The beautiful evergreen Pilea glauca are exotic indoor plants belonging to the family Urticaceae. The tiny leaves are green in color with silvery fairy dust sprinkled on the leaves, giving them a magical appearance. Like all other plants, Pilea glauca care is important to get a healthy-looking plant. Frequent watering in summer, less watering in winter keeping the upper soil dry are important for Pilea libensis care. In addition, mild exposure to indirect sunlight, average humidity, and mild fertilizer are important to keep the plant happy.
