Dischidia nummularia (Button)

Button-like foliage on a widespread Asian epiphyte

Button is a nursery name for compact-looking Dischidia nummularia with closely spaced round leaves. It describes the plant’s appearance and does not denote a separate named cultivar.

The species ranges from southern China through tropical Asia to northern Queensland and grows across bark and sometimes rock. Exposed roots receive regular moisture followed by rapid drainage and fresh air.

Keeping Dischidia nummularia (Button) compact and full

Light

Position ‘Button’ in strong filtered daylight close to an east-facing window or a short distance from brighter south or west glass. Mild morning direct sun can maintain close leaf spacing after gradual acclimation. Harsh midday exposure can bleach or scorch the small fleshy buttons, especially where strands touch glass. In weak light, stems stretch between leaf pairs and the compact texture opens up. Ensure the top of the pot receives light, because a shaded crown eventually produces bare trailing bases.

Watering

Let the majority of the epiphytic mix dry before watering, using pot weight and leaf firmness as cross-checks. Then wet the entire root ball and allow free drainage. Its small succulent leaves tolerate brief dryness, but a long dry root zone makes them wrinkle and drop. Continually wet mix can damage the fine roots before the leaves show distress. A compact shallow pot, warmth and strong light shorten drying time; a large plastic cachepot, cool air and decayed fine substrate lengthen it.

Substrate and roots

Plant in a fine but open blend of orchid bark or coco chips, perlite or pumice and a limited amount of coir-based potting mix. The small epiphytic root system benefits from moisture caught between particles, not a solid wet mass. A shallow pot suits it better than a deep reservoir of substrate. Do not compress the mix around the crown. Maintain clear holes and flush with low-mineral water periodically if fertiliser deposits form.

Temperature

Maintain about 19–28 °C and protect the plant below 15 °C. Cool, wet roots are particularly risky in the small crowded pot. Keep the compact crown away from cold panes and the trails clear of winter ventilation. Air conditioners and radiators can create a dry strip that puckers only the exposed buttons, so check the full length of the plant as well as the pot.

Humidity and airflow

Normal indoor humidity is generally adequate. A moderate increase can help new nodes root and keep the tiny leaves plump, provided air circulates through the dense crown. Do not press it against a wall or crowd several wet hanging plants together. Misting offers little useful moisture to the roots and can leave the compact centre wet for too long.

Fertilising

Feed with a complete balanced fertiliser at one-quarter strength every four to six weeks during active growth. Small roots and limited substrate make concentrated feeding unnecessary. Continue lightly in a bright warm winter position if new paired leaves still form; reduce or pause when extension stops. Apply to an already damp root ball and flush occasionally to prevent salts collecting in the shallow container.

Repotting

Repot when the root ball becomes tight enough to reject water, substrate fragments collapse or the mass of stems overbalances the pot. Do not move it simply because roots are visible near the drainage holes. Choose a shallow pot only 2–3 cm wider and keep most roots intact. Lift the crown as a unit, remove loose degraded material and restore the old level. A warm growth period limits leaf loss after handling.

Pruning, handling and leaf care

Let ‘Button’ trail from a shelf or hanging container and rotate it gradually for an even skirt. Tip-prune selected sparse stems above a node to stimulate side growth without shearing the whole plant. Untangle only when the stems are dry and flexible, supporting several strands at once. Rinse gently if dust collects and drain the crown well; wiping each small leaf is unnecessary. Remove dead inner strands so air can reach the base.

Keeping Button chains full

• Opposite round leaves form tight strings: Dense overlapping pairs are normal for Button. Keep the whole trailing plant open to moving air and retain its healthy overlapping leaves.
• A trailing stem becomes bare in the middle: Leaf loss after drought, chilling or root stress can leave an empty section that may not refill. Correct the cause, then trim and root a healthy tip back into the pot if a fuller basket is wanted.
• The pot stays wet and stems blacken at soil level: The fine roots have too little air. Stop watering, remove decayed tissue and use a smaller container with a loose mix; see our root-rot guide if the roots are soft and brown.
• White fluff gathers between the close leaf pairs: These are likely mealybugs. Separate the plant, clean every node and repeat treatment, since the compact chains provide many hiding places.

Dischidia nummularia (Button) and pets

The effects of the Button form of Dischidia nummularia on cats and dogs are unknown. Prevent chewing, rinse its white latex from skin or eyes with water and contact a veterinarian if ingestion or sap exposure causes symptoms.

Name and botanical background

Robert Brown established Dischidia and described Dischidia nummularia in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae in 1810. The genus name comes from Greek words for “twice” and “split,” referring to the divided floral corona. The epithet nummularia derives from the Latin nummulus, “small coin,” and means coin-like.

Button is the commercial name for the small, round leaves, while nummularia carries the same coin-like idea in the botanical name.