Plant Profile: Pilea cadierei

A tropical plant thrives indoors when placed in a warm, humid environment with bright, indirect light, steering clear of direct sunlight. It prefers a potting mix that is rich in peat. This plant flourishes in high humidity, so it benefits from being in humidified spaces or sitting on a tray filled with wet pebbles. During the growing season, water it moderately, but reduce the frequency of watering from fall through late winter. To maintain a compact shape, pinch the tips of the stems. Since the most vibrant foliage is found on younger plants, many choose to propagate new plants each year by taking cuttings in early spring.

The aluminum plant, named for its foliage that resembles a splash of aluminum paint, is an upright, herbaceous perennial recognized for its textured green and silver leaves. It typically grows in a bushy clump, reaching heights of up to 12 inches. The leaves are elliptic to obovate in shape, dark green with serrated edges, and each leaf features four distinct rows of raised silver patches. This unique leaf pattern has also earned it the nickname "watermelon pilea."