Tiny-leaved trailers for a basket or terrarium: Pilea depressa ‘Baby Tears’ in bright green and P. glauca ‘Silver Sparkle’ in blue-gray. Not succulents — they want even moisture, humidity and light without sun.
The trailing pileas are the plants you use to soften an edge: a cascade of leaves the size of lentils that spills over a basket rim, fills the gaps in a terrarium, or drapes from a shelf. ‘Baby Tears’ is a fresh apple green; ‘Silver Sparkle’ is a dusty blue-gray with red stems that reads almost metallic. Both root wherever a stem touches soil, so they fill in fast and are easy to restart from cuttings.
The mistake people make is treating them like succulents because of the small, fleshy-looking leaves. They are not; they wilt within a day of drying out and want the humidity of a bathroom or terrarium in our climate. The rest of the bench is on our Houseplants page.
These are the trailing pilea varieties we commonly carry. Availability changes week to week and season to season, so call (480) 987-3308 or stop in to see what’s on the bench today.
Bright green, round leaves a quarter-inch across on fine trailing stems that root as they go. Fills a basket or covers terrarium soil in a season. Even moisture, bright indirect light, no direct sun.
Tiny blue-gray leaves dusted silver on wine-red stems — the more striking of the two, especially against dark pottery. Same care; a touch more light keeps the color.
Looking for one that isn’t listed? Ask — we can usually suggest a close match or tell you when it tends to come around.
The care tag was written somewhere else. This is the Queen Creek version.
Bright indirect light near an east window, or filtered light from a south one. In a dim room the stems stretch and the leaves space out; in direct sun through glass the tiny leaves crisp in an afternoon. A bright bathroom window is often the best spot in an Arizona house because it solves humidity too.
This is the make-or-break in our climate. At 15–25 percent indoor humidity the leaf edges brown and stems die back; at 50 percent they thrive. Use a pebble tray, group them with other plants, keep them in a terrarium or cloche, or give them a bathroom or kitchen window. Keep them well away from AC and heater vents.
A balanced liquid fertilizer at quarter strength every three to four weeks from March through October. They are shallow-rooted and rarely need a bigger pot; refresh the top inch of mix once a year instead.
Keep the mix evenly moist: water when the surface starts to dry, every three to five days in summer indoors and every week in winter. Baskets dry fast in air-conditioned air. A wilted pilea recovers within hours of watering, but each episode costs leaves. Use a light, well-draining mix so “moist” never becomes “sodden”, and water gently — a hard stream flattens the stems.
Pinch the trailing tips every couple of weeks to keep the basket dense. When a plant gets thin at the crown, cut the long stems back, lay the cuttings on the soil surface and press them in; they root in days. A basket restarted this way each spring looks new.
Pileas are non-toxic to cats and dogs. Fungus gnats appear when the mix stays too wet; let the surface dry slightly and use a sticky trap. Outdoors, deep shade on a covered patio in the mild months only — they cannot take sun, dry wind, summer heat or frost.
Yellowing, spots, no new growth — snap a photo of the plant and its window and we’ll diagnose it at the bench. Advice is free.
We stock indoor potting mix, orchid bark and perlite for the chunky blends aroids and epiphytes want, balanced houseplant fertilizers, insecticidal soap and neem for the usual mealybug and mite visits, and moss poles, hoops and saucers. The pottery yard has terracotta, glazed and lightweight pots from 4-inch up, plus hanging baskets and cache pots.
No, despite the small fleshy-looking leaves. It wants even moisture and humidity, and wilts fast when dry. Treat it like a fern, not a sedum.
Dry air or a missed watering, usually both. Water more consistently, raise humidity with a pebble tray or terrarium, and move it away from vents.
When the surface of the mix starts to dry — every three to five days in summer indoors and weekly in winter. Baskets dry quickly with the air conditioning running.
Yes, all pileas are non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Pinch the tips regularly and press cuttings back into the top of the pot; they root wherever a stem touches soil.
It is one of the best plants for one — the humidity suits it perfectly. Keep the terrarium out of direct sun and open it occasionally for airflow.
Trailing Pilea live on the houseplant bench; any staff member can point you to them. Locally owned, and a short drive from San Tan Valley, Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa.