Pilea ‘Silver Sparkles’

Pilea 'Silver Sparkles' (Pilea glauca 'Silver Sparkles') is the trailing indoor plant for a shelf that needs softening. It stays under 20cm tall and spreads to about 40cm, with thin wiry stems carrying hundreds of tiny blue green leaves that catch the light like grains of silver. It is also non toxic to cats and dogs, which narrows the field considerably.

Why you'll love it

• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can sit on a low shelf or a coffee table without worry.
• It spills rather than sprawls. The stems trail neatly to around 40cm, which suits a hanging pot, a bookshelf edge or the top of a cabinet.
• Fine texture indoors. Most indoor plants read as big glossy leaves. This one is all detail, so it sits beside a larger plant rather than competing with it.
• Low maintenance. No pruning routine, no feeding schedule to speak of, and it forgives a missed watering.

Where it works best

Indoors. This is where it belongs. Bright indirect light near an east facing window, on a shelf where the stems can hang free, gives the best colour and the densest growth.

Pots and hanging planters. A 130mm to 150mm hanging pot suits it long term. It has a shallow root system, so a wide shallow pot beats a deep one.

Balconies and courtyards. In tropical and subtropical gardens it can live outdoors in a sheltered shaded spot. It is frost tender, so anywhere colder it stays inside.

Growing Pilea 'Silver Sparkles' in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light indoors, anywhere in the country. Direct sun through glass scorches the small leaves within days. Outdoors it needs tropical or subtropical conditions and full protection from frost.

Soil. A quality indoor potting mix opened up with perlite or coarse bark. The pot must have a drainage hole. The fine roots rot quickly in dense wet mix.

Water and feed. Water when the top two centimetres of mix feel dry, roughly weekly in summer and fortnightly in winter. It enjoys humidity, so a bathroom or kitchen suits it. Half strength liquid fertiliser once a month through spring and summer is plenty.

Pruning. Pinch the stem tips whenever you like to keep it full rather than stringy. The pieces you remove strike easily in water, which is the simplest way to fill out a thin pot.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as tube stock: a young plant with a small root ball and a handful of trailing stems. Expect something modest in the box rather than the full cascade you see in photographs. Potted into a 130mm hanging pot it fills out over one to two growing seasons.

Small leaved plants can look flat after transit. Water it, put it somewhere bright and indirect, and leave it alone for a fortnight. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Browse pet friendly indoor plants
• See the full indoor plant range
• Choosing the right size pot

Common questions

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Pilea species are not toxic to cats or dogs, so a nibbled stem is not a cause for alarm. It is still worth discouraging the habit, since a chewed plant looks poor for months.

Why are my leaves dropping?

Usually overwatering. The roots are fine and shallow, and they sit wet easily. Let the top of the mix dry before watering again, and check the pot is actually draining.

Can I grow it in low light?

It survives in moderate light but the stems stretch and the silvering fades. Bright indirect light gives you the compact, sparkling look you bought it for.

How do I make it fuller?

Pinch the tips regularly and pot the cuttings straight back into the same pot. Three or four rooted pieces added around the edge will thicken it up in a single season.