Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' (bunny ears pilea) care

Light

In the wild pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Bright indirect light keeps the leaves a fresh lime-green and the growth compact. An east-facing window is ideal. Direct sun scorches the soft hairy foliage, while low light dulls the colour and produces sparse, leggy stems. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for when the top 2 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 5-7 days for pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears', but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Keep evenly moist during active growth, letting the surface dry slightly between waterings. The thin, textured leaves wilt fast when dry but rebound quickly. Reduce watering in winter and never leave the pot standing in water.

Soil and pot

Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' grows best in light, well-draining, peat-free mix. A coco-coir or peat-free houseplant mix with perlite or fine bark gives the fast drainage and aeration the shallow roots need. Slightly acidic to neutral pH is best. Dense, waterlogged soil quickly rots the stems. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' sits happiest at around 60-80% humidity and 18-26°C (65-79°F). Prefers high humidity and excels in terrariums and bottle gardens. Dry air browns the leaf edges and crisps the soft hairs. Keep above 60% with a humidifier or enclosed display; mist lightly rather than heavily to avoid waterlogged foliage. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' sparingly. Feed monthly through spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half strength. Suspend feeding in autumn and winter. This fast but light feeder scorches easily at full concentration. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Crispy brown leaf edges — Low humidity or dry soil crisps the soft, hairy leaves. Raise humidity above 60% and keep the mix lightly moist.
• Leggy, sparse stems — Too little light stretches growth. Move to brighter indirect light and pinch tips to thicken the plant.
• Root and stem rot — Soggy soil rots the delicate creeping stems. Use a free-draining mix and let the surface dry between waterings.
• Sudden wilting — The thin leaves collapse fast when the soil dries fully; water promptly and they usually recover within hours.

Propagation

Extremely easy from stem-tip cuttings rooted in water or moist mix in one to two weeks. Creeping stems self-root at the nodes, so layering and division are equally reliable. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' is pet-safe. Pilea mollis is part of the ASPCA non-toxic Pilea genus, with multiple Pilea species listed safe for cats and dogs and no toxic principle reported. Nibbling may cause only mild, temporary digestive upset. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' watering schedule
• Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' light requirements
• Best soil mix for pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears'
• Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' fertilizing guide
• When to repot pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears'
• How to propagate pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears'
• Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' growth rate & size
• Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' cold hardiness
• Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' temperature & humidity
• Is pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' toxic to cats?
• Is pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' qualifies for 8 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best pet-safe trailing & hanging plants — Trailing and climbing plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe for shelves and hanging pots in a pet home.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

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Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' is also commonly called bunny ears pilea or hairy coin pilea.

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