Habits and Maintenance of Pilea Serpyllacea Globosa: The green branches of Pilea Serpyllacea Globosa are fleshy and mostly slender, with small leaves scattered along the branches, generally forming clusters at the top of the branches. The main attraction of Pilea Serpyllacea Globosa lies in its unique leaves. The elliptical leaves have a green spherical surface on the upper side and a hemispherical transparent window surface on the lower side, resembling sparkling and translucent dewdrops. Under strong sunlight, the stems and leaves will turn into beautiful shades of purple-red, with a shiny luster. Maintaining Pilea Serpyllacea Globosa is quite challenging. On the one hand, it prefers a high humidity environment and is known for its love of water, even to the extent of being semi-aquatic. On the other hand, it cannot tolerate hot and humid weather, so it requires a well-lit and well-ventilated environment in the summer. Propagation is generally done by cuttings.
Pilea Serpyllacea Globosa plants are dioecious, with female flowers being very small, with a 3-lobed purple-red corolla, while male flowers are slightly larger at 3.5mm, with a 4-lobed white corolla. Therefore, if you want to collect seeds by pollination, you need at least two plants of different genders.
The leaves of Pilea Serpyllacea Globosa are the product of natural selection. It's important to note that ultraviolet radiation is very strong in high-altitude areas. The purple upper epidermis and the calcium carbonate crystals in the leaf tissue can protect the leaves from strong ultraviolet radiation, while the semi-transparent lower surface helps absorb some of the light reflected from the ground.
Routine maintenance (for reference only):
Soil Mix: Soil Mix 1: Red jade soil, sphagnum moss, peat (ratio 5:4:1)
Soil Mix 2: Volcanic rock, perlite, peat (ratio 7:1:2)
Ensure that the particles are not too large.
Watering and Light: Pilea Serpyllacea Globosa likes water and can withstand drought. It is heat-tolerant but dislikes cold. Be careful not to overwater, as it's not like raising fish. Shade should be provided in the summer, or it may suffer from sunburn.
Propagation: According to some sources, Pilea Serpyllacea Globosa is dioecious (having different flowers for male and female plants), and pollination requires cross-pollination. However, there are also claims that male and female flowers can be found on the same plant. The most practical method of propagation is by stem cuttings. Take cuttings from relatively robust mother plants, trim them, and insert them for propagation. The survival rate is quite high.