How to Grow and Care for an Aluminum Plant, a Low-Maintenance Houseplant With Metallic Leaves Follow these techniques to help this stunning, aptly named plant flourish in your home. In This Article View All In This Article Planting Grow and Care Repotting Propagating Common Problems FAQ Close Credit: Bilal photos / GETTY IMAGES An aluminum plant fits the bill as a low-maintenance houseplant that (mostly) cares for itself. This houseplant, formally called Pilea cadierei, is known for its minimal upkeep: Just place the plant in a sunny area of your home, make sure its soil is evenly watered, mist its leaves (the tropical variety loves humid environments), and watch it grow. It's visually pleasing, too—aptly named, the aluminum plant boasts leaves that look like they've been stenciled with metallic paint. Our experts teach you easy care techniques and the conditions this plant needs to stay healthy and strong. Keegan Nesvacil is the co-founder of Woodland Tools, a company that makes gardening and landscaping tools. Puneet Sabharwal is the CEO and co-founder of Horti, a plant subscription service, and the author of Happy Plant: A Beginner's Guide to Cultivating Healthy Plant Care Habits. Justine Kandra is a horticulturist at Missouri Botanical Garden's Kemper Center for Home Gardening. 13 Houseplants That Thrive in Low Light How to Plant an Aluminum Plant The aluminum plant is typically grown as a houseplant (and purchased in a young or mature state), but if you want to start from seed, begin in the spring, says Keegan Nesvacil, co-founder of Woodland Tools. Ensure your container's soil is 1/3 sand and 2/3 soil or peat mix, as this acts as a plant food that encourages the variety's growth and health. Regular gardening soil can be too heavy and can cause water-logging issues, says Puneet Sabharwal, CEO and co-founder of Horti and author of Happy Plant: A Beginner's Guide to Cultivating Healthy Plant Care Habits. Plant the seeds an inch deep into the soil mix, water well, and wait for growth. The Difference Between Potting Mix and Potting Soil—and When to Use Each How to Grow and Care for an Aluminum Plant If you're bringing home a more mature aluminum plant (or want to help your seedlings thrive), consider its native climate as you determine how to care for it. This plant loves humid environments and in its native habitat, is often seen as "a ground cover or as a trailing plant on larger trees," says Sabharwal. "Remember that as you try to create an environment for it to thrive." Light Aluminum plants like bright, indirect light, says Justine Kandra, a horticulturist at Missouri Botanical Garden's Kemper Center for Home Gardening. "They can tolerate some direct sun, but too much will cause the leaves to turn pale and scorch," she says. "Plants not getting enough light will have leggy, stretched-out stems." Three hours of light a day is ideal. However, if you are growing this houseplant in a darker room, lean towards five hours of indirect sunlight, says Nesvacil. Water Watering cadence is largely dependent on the moisture levels of the soil and the season. "For example, in spring and summer, you will want to look at the top 1/4 inch of soil and make sure it is moist to the touch," says Nesvacil. "However, in fall and winter, these plants require less maintenance, and you can allow the soil to dry out a bit more than you would in warmer seasons." Just make sure to water it evenly whenever the soil feels dry. Fertilizer An all-purpose fertilizer will give an aluminum plant all the nutrients it needs to grow healthy and strong. "Fertilizing should be done during the growing season from spring through summer, and then stopped in the fall before resuming again the following spring," says Kandra. Fertilizer Is the Key to Healthy, Strong Houseplants—Here's When (and How) to Apply It Temperature Since this houseplant thrives in tropical, humid environments, try to recreate this climate in your home. "These plants prefer temperatures between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, although they can tolerate slightly cooler temperatures down to 55 degrees Fahrenheit," says Nesvacil. "However, keep in mind that aluminum plants are particularly sensitive to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so avoid temperatures that are too cool or too warm." Increase your room's moisture levels by routinely misting the plant's leaves or keeping a humidifier nearby, he says. Credit: Getty Images How to Repot an Aluminum Plant Since this plant can grow quickly, you should consider repotting it every growing season (each spring). "Look at the drainage hole of the pot, and if it is densely covered in roots, the plant needs to be repotted," says Kandra. Follow Kandra's best practices to repot the plant: Choose a new pot that has a drainage hole and is around 1 to 2 inches wider in diameter than the current pot.Carefully remove the aluminum plant from its container and place it in the new pot, backfilling around the roots with fresh, well-draining potting soil.Water the plant thoroughly. How to Propagate an Aluminum Plant The best way to propagate an aluminum plant is with stem cuttings rooted in water, says Kandra. While you can propagate at any time of year, it's best to do so in the spring or summer, when the roots grow more quickly. Follow Kandra's steps to propagate an aluminum plant: Using sharp, clean pruners or scissors, cut a few stems off of the parent plant.Remove some of the bottom leaves from the cutting and place the stems in water.Once roots form, they can be transferred to a pot with a well-draining soil mix. Common Problems When Growing an Aluminum Plant Take note of the common problems that arise when growing this houseplant. "Aluminum plants are relatively low-maintenance plants that are great for both new growers and gardening enthusiasts alike, but there are definitely some issues to keep an eye out for," says Nesvacil. Pests Pests like spider mites can infest aluminum plants, and even poke holes in the plant's leaves, the experts say. This issue can be remedied by wiping the plant's leaves with a natural soap, says Sabharwal. Houseplants That Are Resistant to Spider Mites, Aphids, and More Yellowing and Browning Leaves If you notice yellowing and browning leaves, the plant may be experiencing blight or plant disease, says Nesvacil. "You will want to prune off the yellowing or browning leaves to limit the disease's spread," he says. Flowering Keep an eye out for flowering. "While it may be unlikely for aluminum plants to flower, if that does occur, you will want to pinch the flowers off or use a snipping tool," says Nesvacil. "Although they may look great, the reason for flower removal is due to the flowers leaching energy from the rest of the plant, causing damage over time." Frequently Asked Questions Is an aluminum plant a perennial or annual? The aluminum plant is an evergreen perennial; however, it can typically only survive in USDA zones 10 and 11 (or anywhere tropical), so most of us will likely care for this plant as an indoor houseplant. How do I make my aluminum plant bushy? To make your aluminum plant look a little bushier, trim or pinch new leaf growth from the tips of the stems. This will signal the plant to make new lower growth and contribute to a more bushy look. How big do aluminum plants get? Aluminum plants can grow up to 12 inches tall, usually in a shrubby clump. What makes the aluminum plant look metallic? There's nothing metallic in the leaves of an aluminum plant. Like other plants that exhibit silvery highlights, the aluminum plant has a metallic appearance because of the way the light hits the uniquely quilted surface of the leaves. Explore more: Garden Houseplants Sources decorvow is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Silver in the Garden. Rotary Botanical Gardens.