What is Friendship Plant?
The friendship plant (Pilea involucrata) is a tropical plant native to Central and South America. They grow on the edges of tropical forests, so these plants need as much moisture as in their native habitat. They are often grown in terrariums that mimic their very humid home.
These plants are hardy in zones 11 and 12, so you will only see them growing as houseplants here in the United States. The plants are not large, 6-12 inches high and 6-12 inches wide, but they tend to spread. Regular pruning keeps it bushy and attractive.
The most interesting thing about the friendship plant is its heavy leaves. They are small, 1-3 inches in size, and are bronze with green edges. It feels solid but is surprisingly soft to the touch.
The flowers are small and green or pink. Friendship plants are grown for their interesting leaves rather than their flowers.
How to Grow Friendship Plant
Friendship plants grow in their native habitat in partial shade along forest edges. Keep your plant away from sunny windows. If you have a room with north-facing windows, this will give it the right amount of light.
Moisture is key to keeping your plant happy and healthy. Our homes are too dry for them so you will have to provide humidity. The easiest way to do this is to put it in a terrarium. Terrariums are collections of plants grown in closed containers. The idea is to water the plants and then seal the container. It then becomes a self-sufficient little world where water is constantly recycled between plants and soil, creating a very humid environment, perfect for your friendly plants. Terrariums are usually planted with small plants and decorative elements to make them look like miniature gardens.
Another alternative is to mist your plant every day. Every day the fog covers the leaves with fine water droplets that provide moisture as they evaporate.
Or you can create humidity trays to provide constant humidity such as a pet terrarium. To make a humidity tray, take a shallow pan such as a jelly roll tray and fill it with decorative gravel or aquarium gravel. Fill the tray with water and place your plant on top of the pebbles. Do not put it in gravel. It should stay on top of the gravel. The water in the pot will evaporate and create moisture around your plant. Check the tray frequently and add water when it is nearly dry.
Even though you are providing a moist environment, you will need to water it if your plant is not growing in a planting bed. Water just enough to keep the soil moist but not saturated. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Your plant may die because it needs water and a humid environment.
If your plant is growing outside of a plant bed, you will need to fertilize it every time you water it to replenish the nutrients released from the soil. Fertilize monthly with a 10-10-10 fertilizer diluted to half strength. Do this during the spring and summer when the plant is actively growing. Stop fertilizing during the fall and winter when the plant is at rest.
How to Grow Friendship Plant From Cuttings
Friendship plants are grown indoors because houseplants do not have insects to pollinate their flowers, so they do not produce seeds. If you want to propagate your plant, you have to do so via stem cuttings. Fortunately, these plants grow very easily from stem cuttings.
Cutting the stem should be done in the spring when the plant is actively growing. To cut the stem, using a sharp knife or pruning shears, cut a 3- to 6-inch piece of healthy stem. Remove leaves 1 to 3 inches from the bottom of the cutting, depending on size. If you want to speed up the root formation process, dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Rooting hormone is not necessary so it’s okay if you don’t have any. Gently push the bottom 1 to 3 inches of the cutting into the moist soil in the container. Place the container and cuttings inside a plastic bag to create a moist environment and then place them in a north-facing window.
It may take up to a month for your cuttings to develop roots. You’ll know your cutting has taken root when it begins to grow new leaves. Plants that have no roots cannot form new leaves.
