Aluminum Plant Is the Low-Maintenance Houseplant You Should've Bought Yesterday

For a low-maintenance houseplant with striking foliage, consider the aluminum plant. Its green foliage with iridescent silver markings looks like it has been splashed with metal paint, hence the name. The plant is native to China and Vietnam, where it grows in the understory of tropical forests. This preference for shady conditions makes it an excellent houseplant for rooms without bright, direct sunlight.

Though the aluminum plant is a fast grower, it has a clumping form and tops out around 12 inches tall. Its main attractive feature is the foliage; the flowers, which rarely appear indoors, are tiny.

Common Name	Aluminum plant, watermelon pilea
Botanical Name	Pilea cadierei
Family	Urticaceae
Plant Type	Perennial
Mature Size	6-12 in. tall, 6-9 in. wide
Sun Exposure	Partial
Soil Type	Moist but well-drained
Soil pH	Acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0)
Bloom Time	Summer
Flower Color	Green, pink, white
Hardiness Zones	11-12 (USDA)
Native Area	Asia

Aluminum Plant Care

Aluminum plants are extremely low maintenance and forgiving with missteps, but here's the right way to care for yours.

Light

Place your aluminum plant in a spot with bright, indirect light. A position farther back in a room is fine, as the plant tolerates low to medium light. If stems are leggy, the plant is not getting sufficient light and you should move it to a brighter spot.

Avoid direct, full sun, as too much sun causes the leaf colors to fade.

Soil

In their native habitat, aluminum plants grow in moist, nutrient-rich soil; any growing medium that mimics these conditions works.

Use a high-quality potting mix that contains peat moss or mix your own by combining potting mix with peat moss and perlite in equal parts.The soil should have good moisture-retention capability (hence the perlite) without becoming waterlogged, which leads to root rot.

In terms of pH, the plant is adaptable to slightly acidic and neutral soil.

Water

Water whenever the top of the soil feels dry. During the growing season from spring to fall, this may require watering it every three to five days depending on the surrounding temperature and the water retention of the soil.

In fall and winter when the plant is dormant, reduce the watering schedule to weekly to every two weeks, but don’t let the soil dry out completely.

Yellowing Leaves

A common problem of aluminum plants is yellow leaves, which often point to overwatering or improper light conditions.If that’s the case, make sure the pot has proper drainage and let the soil dry out slightly between waterings.

Temperature and Humidity

Aluminum plants need a warm, humid environment to prosper. The idealtemperature rangeis between 60°F and 75°F. It can withstand temperatures below 60°F for short periods, but below 50°F or above 80°F damage the plant.

Moderate to high humidity between 50% and 70% is best. If the air in your home is dry, place the plant on a pebble tray or use a humidifier. The aluminum plant thrives in the humid conditions of a closed terrarium.

Keep the plant away from radiators, fireplaces, and other heat sources, and avoid putting it near any AC vents.

Fertilizer

During the growing season in spring and summer, apply an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strengthonce a month. Do not fertilize the plant in fall and winter.

Pruning

Because the plant grows quickly, pinch back the stem tips occasionally to keep the plant bushy and compact.

When grown as houseplants, aluminum plants rarely flower. If that happens, remove the flowers so the plant can focus its energy on growing foliage.

How to Propagate Aluminum Plant

As aluminum plants have the prettiest foliage when young and are so easy to propagate from cuttings, it is common to start fresh plants every spring. Here’s how:

1. After new growth has started, take a 3- to 4-inch cutting from a healthy stem.
2. Remove the bottom leaves and place the cutting in a glass of water, so the nodes are submerged. Change the water when it starts getting cloudy.
3. After roots have begun to grow in a few weeks, plant the rooted cuttings in pots with potting mix. Place the pots in a spot with bright, indirect light and keep the soil moist.

Potting and Repotting

If aluminum plant roots are visible through the drainage holes, repotting is in order. However, instead of repotting a plant whose foliage has lost its luster, you might be better off propagating a new plant.

If your aluminum plant still looks great, repot it to a new pot 1 to 2 inches wider than the old one and with a large drainage hole. Use fresh potting mix and water the plant thoroughly after replanting.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Aluminum plants attract mealybugs, scale insects, aphids, and spider mites. Spray off pests with a blast of water in the sink or bathtub. If the infestation is persistent, treat the plant with insecticidal soap.

Overwatering or poor drainage is a common cause of root rot. Powdery mildew may occur in high humidity or insufficient air circulation.

From: thespruce