The Easy-To-Grow Houseplant That Will Add A Splash Of Silver To Any Room
Aluminum plants (Pilea cadierei) are one of the prettiest houseplants that will ever grace your home and one of the easiest to grow. Splashed with silver, the leaves catch the light and brighten up darker spots in interior spaces. They grow an average height of 12 inches, which is perfect for sitting on the living room table or even tucking into a bookshelf. Often used by interior designers because of its gorgeous color, this plant adds a fun bit of flash to any room.
Also called the watermelon plant because of its thick textured leaves, the aluminum plant is versatile, beautiful, and low maintenance. If you are looking for a no-fail houseplant, this is probably as close as you are going to get. Because it comes from a part of the world with warm temperatures, this plant also adapts quite well to indoor heating, making it a perfect potential indoor plant.
Basic care for an aluminum plant
Even if you've had a brown thumb in the past, the aluminum plant is an easy houseplant to grow. They love a bright, indirect light in most rooms. But the aluminum plant is one of the few that will also grow in low light. So, if you have that darker corner that needs some life, look no further. Now, no houseplant can live with no light. If the nearest window is more than 10 feet away, you might want to look for a brighter spot. But this little plant gem is a perfect problem solver.
The most important thing to remember when caring for this plant is that its natural habitat is a moist, tropical environment. That means when watering, you will want to keep the soil evenly moist during the spring and summer. According to the NC State Extension office, as the weather cools, you should let the surface of the soil dry out before watering. The aluminum plant also benefits from daily misting with water. If that's too much work, set the pot on a tray of pebbles filled with water. As the water evaporates, it will raise the humidity level around the plant.
Other ways to grow and propagate
Aluminum plants don't even need soil and a pot to grow. You can grow these plants in just water. If you have a glass container, all you need is water from the tap to keep this plant healthy and happy. Remove the plant from its nursery pot and shake off most of the soil. Then hold it under running water and gently wash the remaining soil from the roots. Now just place it in any glass container that it fits in, with room for roots to grow. Fill with water to just below where the leaves of the plant begin. You don't want leaves under water, they will rot and add destructive bacteria to the container.
You can also take fresh stem cuttings from the plant in the spring and propagate new plants for yourself or give them as gifts. Simply cut a 4-inch length of stem and strip off the bottom leaves. Place just the lower half of the stem into a small vase or glass container and add water to just below the leaves. Within a few weeks, you should see fresh roots growing, and your new aluminum plant is ready to go. You can keep growing it in water indefinitely, or pot it up in a good quality potting mix.