Pilea peperomioides 'Mojito'

Origin and background of Pilea peperomioides 'Mojito'

Pilea peperomioides 'Mojito' began in a Dutch greenhouse in June 2019, when one branch developed a new marbled pattern. Growers propagated that branch, and by June 2020 a plant with a stable pattern had been selected for commercial production.

Indoor care for Pilea peperomioides 'Mojito'

• Light: Give the plant plenty of bright filtered light and rotate the pot so all sides receive light. Protect the leaves from hot direct sun.
• Watering and potting mix: Use a loose, well-draining houseplant mix. Wait until the surface has begun to dry and the pot feels lighter, then water evenly and let the excess drain away.
• Warmth and humidity: Keep Mojito in a warm, humid room away from cold draughts and strong heater air.
• Shape: Rotate the plant for even growth. A loose stake can steady an older stem if the marbled top becomes heavy.
• Feeding: Use a dilute balanced houseplant feed while new leaves are forming, then feed less often when growth slows.
• Repotting and propagation: Repot when roots fill the pot or it starts drying much faster than before. You can separate rooted pups or grow new plants from healthy stem cuttings.

Common issues with Pilea peperomioides 'Mojito'

• The pale mottling becomes greener while the plant otherwise looks healthy: Lower light can change Mojito's colour. Move it to brighter filtered light and watch how the next few leaves develop.
• A white powdery coating spreads across the foliage: Powdery mildew can develop on the leaves. Remove heavily affected foliage, improve spacing and air movement, and isolate the plant if fresh patches continue. Use a treatment labelled for powdery mildew on indoor ornamental plants when needed and repeat it as directed on the label.
• Fixed brown or tan bumps appear on stems or leaf stalks, sometimes with sticky residue: Scale insects are feeding on the plant. Isolate it after confirming the insects and use a product labelled for scale on indoor ornamental plants, repeating it as directed on the label.
• Leaves yellow while the stem base turns soft in wet mix: Root or stem rot is developing. Unpot the plant, cut away all soft brown tissue with a clean tool, discard the rot and replant healthy rooted growth in fresh, loose potting mix.

Pilea peperomioides ‘Mojito’ is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

Why is it called Pilea peperomioides?

Pilea alludes to a felt cap through Latin pileus, referring to the small cap-like flower structure over its dry fruit. Peperomioides means Peperomia-like and refers to round leaves carried on stalks fixed close to their centre.

John Lindley established the genus Pilea in 1821 in Collectanea Botanica, plate 4.

Friedrich Ludwig Emil Diels first described Pilea peperomioides in 1912 in Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, volume 5, page 292.