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Pilea 'Black Mystery'

About Pilea 'Black Mystery'

Pilea plants are native to regions worldwide, and often have succulent, water-storing leaves. A handful of them are grown as houseplants, but the rest of the 600+ species are wild plants. Their name comes from the Latin for 'felt cap' which refers to the unique way that their fruits are protected. Fossils of Pilea species have been found dating back over 5 million years ago!

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Pilea hitchcockii 'Black Mystery'

Genus

Pilea

Family

Urticaceae

Order

Rosales

How to care for Pilea 'Black Mystery'

💦 Water

How often to water your Pilea 'Black Mystery'

Pilea 'Black Mystery' needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

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Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Pilea 'Black Mystery' in your home

Pilea 'Black Mystery' may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Pilea 'Black Mystery' in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Pilea 'Black Mystery'

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Pilea 'Black Mystery': repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Pilea 'Black Mystery' after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Pilea

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Pilea 'Black Mystery' prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Pilea 'Black Mystery' Water Frequency →

Pilea 'Black Mystery' Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Pilea 'Black Mystery' may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Pilea 'Black Mystery' Light Requirements →

Pilea 'Black Mystery' Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Pilea 'Black Mystery' is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

💨 Humidity

Pilea 'Black Mystery' doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Pilea 'Black Mystery' Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Pilea 'Black Mystery' does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Pilea 'Black Mystery' →

When and How to Successfully Repot Pilea 'Black Mystery' →

💩 Fertilizer

Pilea 'Black Mystery' should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Pilea 'Black Mystery' →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Pilea 'Black Mystery' to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Pilea 'Black Mystery' is native to Worldwide.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Pilea 'Black Mystery' can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Pilea 'Black Mystery' Temperature Tolerance →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Pilea 'Black Mystery', since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.