You may have received a pilea as a gift or bought one for your garden, but noticed that it is not doing well. Don’t worry! We’re here to help. Pileas are hardy plants and can survive in many conditions, but they need water and light to grow properly.

If you notice the leaves on your plant are becoming leggy, don’t fret! There are steps you can take to save it before it’s too late.

How to Fix a Leggy Pilea Plant?

Pilea plants become leggy when they are not getting enough sunlight. To save your plant, simply move it to a new location where it will receive more light. Also, rotate the plant every other day to ensure that all leaves get adequate sunshine.

I’ll now go through in detail what you can do to keep your leggy pilea plant alive…

1) Provide more sunlight to your pilea

The first step is to provide more sunlight to your plant as mentioned above. Pileas become leggy when they are not getting enough sunlight. This means that you’ll need to move your plant to a new location where the sun shines more brightly for most of the day.

But that’s not all – make sure to rotate your plant every other day! This will ensure that all leaves on the plant get an equal amount of sunlight.

If you can’t provide more sunlight, then you can try using grow lights. These are special lights that help plants grow in low-light conditions. I prefer using full-spectrum grow lights that mimic the sunlight as closely as possible.

Just be sure not to position the grow light too closely to the plant, as this can cause the leaves to burn and turn brown.

2) Prune the leggy leaves from your pilea

Once you’ve provided more sunlight to your plant, the next step is to prune the leggy leaves. This will help encourage new growth and make your plant look nicer.

To do this, simply cut off any leaves that are significantly longer than the others. You can also trim back any stems that have become too long.

Use sterialized pruning shears or a sharp knife to avoid damaging the plant. Make angled cuts just above a node (the place where leaves and stems branch off).

After pruning, your plant may look a bit sad, but don’t worry – it will soon start to grow new leaves that are healthier and more compact.

Be sure to dispose of the leggy leaves and stems properly. I place them in compost far away from my house so that they don’t attract pests. Doing this also stops any disease from spreading to other plants.

Other Potential Reasons for Leggy Pilea

While a lack of sunlight is the most common reason for leggy pilea, there are a few other potential causes. Let’s take a look at these now…

1) Lack of nutrients

If your plant is not getting enough nutrients, it will become leggy as it stretches out to try and find them. The solution here is to fertilize your plant regularly using a high-quality fertilizer.

I like to use organic liquid fertilizers that are easy to apply and don’t contain any harmful chemicals. Just be sure not to over-fertilize, as this can burn the roots of your plant.

2) Pot is too small

Another potential reason for leggy pilea is that the pot is too small. When the roots of a plant are confined, it can cause the plant to become leggy as it stretches out in search of more space.

If you think this might be the case, then repot your plant into a larger pot. Be sure to use fresh potting mix and water the plant well after repotting. This will give the roots a chance to spread out and establish themselves in the new pot.

Pilea plants are generally pretty easy to care for, but they need water and light to grow properly.

If you notice the leaves on your plant are becoming leggy, don’t fret! There are steps you can take to save it before it’s too late.

Leggy Pilea FAQ

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions I get regarding leggy pilea plant problems:

Should I repot a leggy pilea?

There’s no need to repot your plant unless the pot is too small. A leggy plant can be fixed by simply providing more sunlight and pruning off the long leaves and stems.

Where should I keep my pilea?

If your plant is leggy, then it’s not getting enough sunlight. Move it to a brighter location and make sure to rotate it every other day. You can also try using grow lights if you can’t provide more sunlight.

Should I cut back my leggy pilea?

Yes, it’s a good idea to cut back leggy leaves and stems. This will help encourage new growth and make your plant look nicer. Just be sure to use sterilized pruning shears or a sharp knife so your pilea doesn’t get damaged.

Will a leggy pilea plant recover?

Yes, a leggy plant can recover if you provide it with more sunlight and water. Be sure to prune off the long leaves and stems as well. With some care, your plant will soon be healthy and thriving!

It will take a few months for your plant to completely recover. In the meantime, you can use grow lights to provide extra light if needed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, leggy pilea plants are a common problem that can be fixed by simply providing more sunlight and pruning =off the long leaves and stems. Be sure to rotate your plant every other day and use grow lights if needed. With some care, your leggy pilea will soon be healthy and thriving!

I hope this article was helpful in solving your leggy pilea problem! If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!