Often called “Pennywort” or “Money Plant” for its round, coin-like leaves, this incredibly fast-growing plant is a favorite for adding a splash of vibrant green to any space. While it’s often thought of as a low-light plant, understanding its true preferences is the key to turning a sparse specimen into a lush, overflowing pot. Here’s your complete guide.
1. Light: The Secret to Lush, Green Leaves
Pennywort is a full sun to partial sun plant. The common issue of leggy, thin growth with small leaves is almost always due to insufficient light.
- Ideal Location: For the best results, place your plant outdoors in a spot that gets several hours of direct sun, or on a south-facing windowsill indoors. Ample sunlight ensures fast growth, thick, emerald-green leaves, and can even encourage cute white flowers.
- What to Avoid: A dark corner will lead to disappointing, weak growth. Give it as much light as possible for a truly spectacular display.
2. The Best Way to Grow: Soil, Water, and Repotting
This plant is incredibly adaptable and can be grown in three ways, but one method is by far the easiest.
- Recommended Method: The “Bog” Setup. Grow it in a pot without a drainage hole, using a small amount of potting soil covered with a layer of water (about 1-2 inches above the soil). This “semi-aquatic” method provides nutrients from the soil and constant moisture, making it virtually foolproof.
- Watering & Changing Water:
- New Plants: When you first bring it home and the root system is small, change the water every few days to keep it fresh, especially in hot weather.
- Established Plants: Once the plant is full and thriving, you never need to fully change the water. Simply top it off with regular tap water as it evaporates. For faster growth, rainwater or distilled water is ideal.
- Repotting: This plant is a vigorous grower! When the pot becomes completely packed with roots and leaves, it’s time to move it to a larger container. It will quickly fill the new space in a matter of weeks.
3. Feeding and Airflow
- Fertilizing: If your plant gets plenty of light, it may not need any extra food. If you want to supercharge its growth, use a balanced, all-purpose water-soluble fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer. Simply add it to the water according to the package directions.
- Ventilation: Pennywort is not fussy about air circulation and grows perfectly well in still air, making it a great plant for enclosed porches or bathrooms.
4. Overwintering, Pruning, and Propagation
- Winter Care: In warmer climates (USDA Zones 9-11), it can often survive outdoors. The top may die back after a frost but will return in spring. In colder climates, bring the pot indoors before the first frost and place it in a sunny window.
- Pruning: Don’t Be Shy! This plant loves to be cut back. Regularly trim off any yellow or dead leaves. If it becomes leggy, you can give it a “haircut,” trimming the stems back to the base. This encourages the plant to grow back even thicker and bushier.
- Propagation: It Couldn’t Be Easier. To make new plants, simply snip off a section of stem with a few leaves and place it in a new container of water or its recommended soil-water setup. It will develop roots incredibly quickly with no special effort.
By providing your Pennywort with abundant light and constant moisture, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful, rapidly growing plant that’s perfect for beginners and experts alike.
