Pilea are herbaceous perennials originally from Mexico and Brazil. Outside of zones 11 and 12 they can be grown as annual foliage, houseplants, or fairy gardens and terrariums. Their evergreen summer toughness makes them a good choice for garden centers to have on hand through the hot part of the year. Customers will enjoy them in small pots for desks or hanging baskets for porches after their flowering plants have succumbed to the heat.
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General Growing Tips For Your Unrooted Cuttings
Your unrooted cuttings will arrive freshly cut. You will need to
plant them immediately and begin a misting cycle to root the cuttings. This will leech the soil of nutrients, so during the propagation phase use a constant feed of
1/3 the normal recommended dosage of fertilizer until well rooted.
For best results with Pilea, we recommend growing in a high-humidity environment using a constant feed program of 150-200 ppm N. Maintain a pH between 5.8 - 6.2.
To help your customers create a humid environment in their home, instruct them to place the pot on top of a saucer filled with rocks and pour water into the saucer, making sure that the water level never reaches the bottom of the pot.
Pinching
Pinching is recommended 5-10 days after transplantation. A second pinch may be necessary depending on the size and shape of the final pot.
Spacing
Space pots adequately to allow for light penetration and airflow between foliage of adjacent pots. We recommend 6-8 inches for 4” pots and 18-24 inches for 10” pots.
Height Control
Pinching is the best way to control height. An initial pinch is recommended, but additional pinching may be necessary to shape your final product.
Pests
Mealybugs and spider mites are the primary pests attracted to Pilea.
Disease
Dark Mystery are not prone to many diseases, but watch for botrytis while the days are short. This grey rot is usually associated with wet or humid conditions. You can prevent botrytis by allowing the plant to dry out between waterings, allowing for good airflow in your greenhouse, and spacing to allow the sun to penetrate to the soil level. The most common chemicals used to treat botrytis are Medallion and Banrot. Use them as a drench according to each label’s instructions.
Planting Dark Mystery Liners
- We recommend planting 4-5 starter plants per 10” basket. Use a well-drained soil in your baskets and plant your starter plants deep, allowing the ellepot to be completely covered by the soil. If you are planting 4” pots, 1 plant per pot should be sufficient if you have enough time. Plant it directly in the middle of your pot.
- Pinching is recommended 5-10 days after transplantation. A second pinch may be necessary depending on the size and shape of the final pot.
Unrooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families, but most can be described as tip cuttings (ivy are leaf-and-eye stem cuttings not tips) that stick nicely
in small plug trays such as the 105-plug tray we use (some varieties are better suited for a 50 cell tray, i.e. Angelwing Begonia, Bougainvillea, Setcrecea, etc.). Please do not order unrooted cuttings unless you are an experienced propagator with mist systems and proper temperature control.
Pilea Dark Mystery Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 9-11 Weeks |
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| Habit | Trailing |
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| Height | 6in |
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| Light | Partial/Full Shade |
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| Minimum Temp | 55 |
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| Perennial Zone | 11-12 |
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| Water Needs | Moderate |
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