The Dark Mystery Plant is a very easy to grow house plant with colorful dark green chocolate foliage. The deep green long and narrow leaves have a thick silvery metallic color running down the the full length of the blade in the center of each leaf. This lizard tail looking plant resembles something out of a mystery plant horror movie. New growth creeps out with very textured leaves that are a warm rose color and then produces clusters of small pink flowers blooming just above the foliage.
Dark Mystery Plant Care
Dark Mystery Plant care is although perhaps a bit unique still very easy. As mentioned before, this plant thrives in warmer temperatures, and over 50% humidity, but will do very well with lower light conditions. The Dark Mystery Pilea can be kept on a tray filled with slightly moistened pebbles, or they can be grown in a terrarium.
Due to the high humidity needs of the pilea plant dark mystery you may want to get familiar with mold treatment. You can use an anti-fungal solution to treat the soil if you find your getting mold. For mold or powdery mildew on plants you can use a solution of vinegar and water mixed at a rate of 2 tablespoons vinegar to to one quart of water.
Dark Mystery Plants grow very well planted in a peat moss based commercial potting mix. To give your dark mystery pilea soil a boost try adding a mix specifically for African Violets to help with the plants success.
Lighting
Do not expose Dark Mystery Pilea to direct summer sun, because this can burn the leaves. This pilea plant grows best in smaller, 5″ pots or planters where their roots will be somewhat restricted. These pilea plants do very well with warm bright natural or filtered light and will grow quite well on windowsills with medium light intensity. Try to rotate the pot a couple times a week, because the plant will stretch toward the sun and begin to grow lopsided if you don’t.
Watering a Dark Mystery Plant
Watering is an important part of Dark Mystery Pilea Care, especially since these pants like so much moisture getting that balance between moist and too wet is key. Allow the soil to dry slightly between watering, and mist the plant regularly. Adjust the frequency of watering enough so that the top inch of the soil dry between the watering’s.
Just like most houseplants, it is better to keep the soil a bit more dry than a bit too wet. Try to group it with other houseplants, this will increase the humidity.
Growing in a terrarium can help create the moisture in the air this plant enjoys. With minimal attention towards watering, they will generally thrive and continuously put out new foliage through the summer months. During the winter months reduce the water given to the plant, and always protect your Dark Mystery from the winter frost.
Propagating a Dark Mystery Plant
Propagating this cool plant is pretty easy using the stem tip cuttings method and they make great starter plants for inexperienced growers.Take the tip cuttings in the springtime for the best results.
Place cuttings in moist peat, and keep them warm until they root. Place the pot in a sealed plastic bag to hold in humidity. If kept at 75° your new plants should be rooted and growing in 3-5 weeks.
Looking for some other cool plants to join your terrarium try Dragon Tail Plant | Rhaphidophora Decursiva or maybe you will like String of Turtles or String of Hearts in your awesome plant collection!
Where did Dark Mystery Plant come from?
The Dark Mystery Plant is thought to originate from Ecuador, and therefor thrives best in humid high temperatures ranging around 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and about 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Dark Mystery Plant belongs to the Nettle family, and is merely one type of plant in a long list of Pilea plant species. It typically grows around 8-12 inches tall.
Are Pilea Dark Mystery Plants Toxic To Cats?
The Pilea Dark Mystery Plant is toxic to cats, and is not meant for human or animal consumption.
Is Pilea Plant Toxic To Dogs?
The Pilea Plant is toxic for dogs and is not meant for consumption, so do not let your furry friends chew on it.
How Big Does Dark Mystery Plant Get?
This lizard tail looking pilea plant should grow to a mature height of approximately 8 inches and be roughly 6 inches wide. It does have a clumping growth habit so you can utilize that in order to let it take over larger areas in this way.
Should I Mist my Pilea?
Brown patchs on the leaf tips and edges can be the result of low humidity, misting the plant frequently can help with this. If this is a persistent problem or you live in a very dry climate you can keep the plant on a tray with soaked clay pebbles or other slow release moisture media.