How to Handle Yellow/Brown Leaves on a Chinese Money Plant

Chinese money plant, also known as Pilea peperomioides, is a famous indoor plant. It is popular as it is easy to grow and doesn’t require much care. Another reason for its popularity among people is the belief that growing this plant brings luck and prosperity. Since the leaves of the plant have a similar appearance to coins, it is known as a money plant, and as it is native to the Chinese region, it is commonly known as a Chinese money plant.

Many people grow this plant in their house, but our responsibility doesn’t end by just growing the plant and then letting it die. Growing a plant means taking responsibility and looking after it like one of our kind.

Plants are also living organisms, and just like us, they also grow and can contract diseases. Hence we have to take care of the plants and ensure that they are free from any diseases.

What Do the Chinese Money Plant’s Yellow Leaves Indicate?

Generally, we can easily identify the problem with any plant by seeing its leaves. Similar is the case with the Chinese money plant.

When the leaves of the Chinese money plant change their colour, it indicates that they might be infected by a pest or a disease or that something is wrong with the steps that are taken by us while caring for the plants.

When the leaves change from green to yellow, it indicates either a lack of water or the plant is exposed to too much sunlight for a longer duration.

As per the detailed observations, Chinese money plant yellow leaves either one of the following or the combination of two or more two factors have taken place.

Following are a few reasons behind the Chinese money plant yellow leaves:

1. Lack of Proper Sunlight Reaching the Plants

This can be the reason Chinese money plants yellow leaves if the leaves have turned yellow from the base. We all know the importance of sunlight in our lives. Just like humans, plants also need sunlight for their survival. Plants require sunlight to carry out the process of photosynthesis. When enough sunlight is not provided to the plants, the leaves start turning yellow as the leaves are unable to make their food.

2. Exposed to Excess Sunlight

It might be a little confusing, but when exposed to excess sunlight, then, also the leaves can turn yellow. Sunlight is both a boon and a curse for plants. If exposed to excess sunlight, all the leaves of the plant turn yellow. You should carefully examine your Chinese money plant’s yellow leaves and then come up to a particular conclusion.

3. Moisture

When a plant is given more water than required, and that water is not drained out due to any reason, then that water accumulates in the pot and harms the plant in return. So, before watering your plant check the soil moisture content. The plant must be watered with the exact amount of water it requires.

If you observe that the soil is moist, do not water your plant. You can skip a day or two if the soil is damp. This won’t cause any harm to the plant. Rather watering the plant has the potential to damage the poor plant in various ways.

Not only that, it can be a reason behind the Chinese money plant yellow leaves, but it can also cause another grave issue, root rot, which can kill the plant.

4. Pests

Chinese money plants’ yellow leaves are an indication that they might have been attacked by a pest or insect. Chinese money plant’s yellow leaves should be plucked from the plant as soon as possible to stop these leaves from affecting the healthy leaves else it will damage the whole plant.

5. An Insufficient Fertilizer Supply

Chinese money plants’ yellow leaves can be caused by improper feeding. When plants are not fed with enough fertilizers, their leaves can also turn yellow. To overcome this condition, use a potash-rich fertilizer.

6. Temperature Fluctuation

Another reason for the Chinese money plant’s yellow leaves is temperature fluctuations. If the plant is subjected to temperature fluctuations, the leaves turn yellow. They bloom in the temperature range of 13-30C.

7. Aging of The Leaves

Sometimes the reason behind Chinese money plant yellow leaves is their ageing. With age, the leaves turn yellow and subsequently fall off the plant. If this is the reason behind your Chinese plant’s yellow leaves, then you need not worry, as this is a natural process.

What Do the Brown Leaves Indicate

It is important not to be careless when watering Chinese money plants. It is found that moisture is both a friend and a foe for plants. When provided in lesser amounts, it can make the plant die of thirst, and in excess, it can attract infections and pests.

If the leaves of your Chinese money plant turn yellow, that means the plant is overwatered. Brown spots on the leaf’s surface show that the plant has a higher water level than required.

2. Sunlight

Sunlight is required for the existence of everyone on this earth. But when provided in excess, it can be harmful. Excessive sunlight is not only responsible for the Chinese money plant’s yellow leaves but also for the leaves turning brown.

Hence we should ensure that the Chinese money plant receives an optimum amount of sunlight so that its survival is ensured. Do not keep it in such a place that it is exposed to sunlight for longer periods.

3. Attack of Pests

When the Chinese money plant is attacked by pests, the leaves turn brown. Thus, the colour of the leaf is a significant indication of pest infestation. The pests that infest the Chinese money plant’s leaf are Mealy bugs, aphids, etc. To prevent your plant from being attacked by pests, you need to take the necessary measures, which include spraying the pest repellents.

Salt spray is one of the easiest ways to kill pests. Another common pest repellent is neem oil. A few other repellents include onion and garlic spray, pepper spray, and soap spray. These sprays can be easily prepared at home with the least effort.

4. Over Fertilization

If a deficiency of fertilizers can cause Chinese money to plant yellow leaves, then the excess fertilizer can turn the leaves brown. Therefore do not overfeed your plants. Fertilizing your Chinese money plant once a month is more than enough to provide it with the necessary nutrients it requires to grow and nurture.

How to Take Care of a Chinese Money Plant

Here are a few precautions that can be taken by the plant owners to ensure that the plant is healthy and safe from any diseases:

1. Water the Plant Only When Necessary

This can be done with the help of any instrument or by checking the moisture level by touching the soil. If you feel that the soil is still moist, you can skip a day and water the plant the next day or when you feel that the soil has dried.

This will keep the plant safe from any damage and even safe from pests and insects.

2. Provision of Drainage Path

Make sure your pot has a drainage path. Accumulation of water can cause leaf rotting. Providing holes at the bottom of the pot will help in removing the excess water from the plant.

3. Do Not Directly Expose the Plant to Sunlight

Though the plant requires sunlight for proper growth, still do not place the plant directly in the sunlight.

When the plant is placed at a spot where it is exposed to excess sunlight, it can be harmful to the plant. Therefore, it is advisable to place the plant in a place where it receives sunlight indirectly and for a longer duration.

4. Remove the Yellow and Dead Leaves

Yellow leaves indicate that leaves are infected. If these leaves are not removed from the plant, then it can affect the other leaves too and kill the plant. You can either remove these leaves manually or with a trimmer or scissors.

These dead and infected leaves should be removed on a regular basis to avoid the mottling of fresh and healthy leaves.

5. Keep a Check on The Fertilizer Amount

As mentioned earlier, fertilizer should also be provided in the exact amount that the plant requires. If necessary, then dilute the fertilizer to prevent overfeeding. To know the exact amount of fertilizer required, you can consult a nursery.

The best fertilizer for Chinese money plants are those which are rich in potassium and nitrogen, and it is advisable to use fertilizers that contain these in a definite proportion.

Conclusion

It is true that the Chinese money plant is one of the easier plants to grow and does not require too much maintenance.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to ensure that the plant receives all the necessary elements in order for it to survive, such as full sunlight and adequate water supply.

Furthermore, pest repellents should also be sprayed on the plants at the right time in order to prevent pest infestations.

It is only through these methods that we will be able to save and ensure that the blooms of our precious plants will last for as long as possible.