The Joypowder Plant ‘Pilea Microphylla’

Family	Urticaceae
Genus	Pilea
Scientific Name	Pilea nicrophylla
Other Names	Artillery Plant, Military Fern, Gunpowder, Rockweed
Growth Season	This plant is winter-hardy and it can, therefore, grow all year round.
Preferred Temperature	70o – 80o F (21o – 27oC)
Hardiness Zone	USDA Zone 11 – 12
Average Mature Height & Width	Height: 0.5 – 1.5 Ft, Width: 1- 2 ft.
Dormancy (Optional)	This succulent doesn’t get completely dormant but its growth slows down significantly in winter,
Toxicity (Optional)	The plant is non-toxic for animals and humans.

Artillery Plant’s Physical Characteristics

This plant grows to a maximum of one and a half feet but sometimes it can grow like ground cover. It has small light-green leaves whose shape ranges from obovate to round. The leaves are succulent and they can be anything between ¼ an inch to ½ an inch long. The artillery plant’s flowers are small and green, their anthers releases pollen powerfully into the air. This explosion of pollen gives the plant the name. ‘Artillery Plant.’

Pilea Microphylla only flowers when grown outdoors, indoor plants neither fruit nor flower. The succulent has fibrous roots but it also has a short tap root. Seeds grow in pods. These pods eject them powerfully when they mature just like anthers eject pollen.

Pilea Microphylla Care

This succulent grows best in well-draining substrate. The soil should retain some moisture though. You need to water your plants sparingly to keep the soil from getting too soggy as sogginess causes root rot. You can add a house plant fertilizer once in a while with the watering to keep the plants healthy.

The plant does well where sunlight is abundant thus, whether indoors or outdoors, you should keep it under direct or indirect sunlight.

DO YOU KNOW? Caring (propagating, pruning/trimming, beheading, watering, …) is a set of skills that is applicable to almost every succulent. Read the in-depth succulent care guide right here >>

Richard from Succulent City

Pilea Microphylla Growth

You can propagate Pilea microphylla through seeds which the plant produces in considerable quantities. Also, you can propagate it using stem cuttings or by dividing root balls. This plant rarely requires trimming unless you want to confine it to a specific space. You may prune it as necessary to remove it. You can re-pot it any time it doubles in size.