---
title: "Trying to troubleshoot my pilea- I’ve had her for about 6 months, and…"
description: "Trying to troubleshoot my pilea- I’ve had her for about 6 months, and over the last 2ish months I’ve noticed a substantial increase in the amount of leaf…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/G3zp2wF4Ro2qH0ZgkUQLvA"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Emily 🪴"
published: "2024-02-19T23:45:29.588959Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Kc4Yw76O3sSd3iacggrRvzjzbizBuy97NhTofXyYiIE/hrRuaV9QRuKDPZe2Knbzrw.webp?size=large"
---

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# Trying to troubleshoot my pilea- I’ve had her for about 6 months, and…

_Posted by Emily 🪴 on 2024-02-19_

Trying to troubleshoot my pilea- I’ve had her for about 6 months, and over the last 2ish months I’ve noticed a substantial increase in the amount of leaf dropping- left picture is a few months ago, right is now. I’ve tried adjusting lighting and sunlight… is this just a problem for these plants in the winter? Any insight would be appreciated!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Kc4Yw76O3sSd3iacggrRvzjzbizBuy97NhTofXyYiIE/hrRuaV9QRuKDPZe2Knbzrw.webp?size=large)

## 8 comments

### Tellie commented on 2024-02-20

Have you fertilized it?

#### Emily 🪴 replied on 2024-02-20

No I haven’t, I might look into it!

#### Tellie replied on 2024-02-20

I fertilize mine once a month. Even in winter. Sometimes twice a month in the growing season if I see it’s growing more than 1 leaf at a time.

#### Emily 🪴 replied on 2024-02-20

Good to know! I’ve read that plants shouldn’t be fertilized outside the growing season, but that makes sense for these guys

#### Sunny replied on 2024-02-20

Plants that go dormant like roses/lilies don’t need fertilizer in colder months. Other plants benefit from diluted fertilizer once a month and twice a month in the warmer months.

#### Tellie replied on 2024-02-20

Only plants I have to go dormant is outside. Even then only my 1 begonia and hydrangeas went dormant. I still fertilize them once a month. I use the blooming food in the growing months.

### Lindsey commented on 2024-02-20

I love pileas and have several! They do drop leaves here and there, but not usually substantially. In case it helps, my care tips are: bright light (they actually like brighter light than Planta may recommend), chunky, well-draining soil, water when 80-90% dry (this happens less often in winter), water with filtered water + diluted organic plant food every watering bc it’s always growing, gently clean leaves monthly. I hope this helps!

#### Emily 🪴 replied on 2024-02-20

I am going to get some fertilizer from my local nursery this weekend after reading some of these comments! I’m new enough to the world of houseplants that this is my first experience seeing plants through a full calendar year of the different seasons so it’s been a learning curve 😂

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