Pellionia Repens - The Trailing Watermelon Vine
Meet one of the most underrated trailing plants in the houseplant world: Pellionia repens, commonly known as the Trailing Watermelon Begonia. And yes, before you ask, it's neither a watermelon nor a begonia! This Southeast Asian beauty belongs to the Urticaceae family (making it a cousin of Pilea plants), but those common names stuck because of its stunning watermelon-rind patterned leaves and begonia-like asymmetrical growth.
The foliage is where Pellionia repens truly shines. Each elongated leaf features a gorgeous grey-green to silvery centre surrounded by darker green margins, creating that distinctive watermelon rind effect. Turn the leaves over and you'll discover warm burgundy-purple undersides that add another layer of visual interest. The fleshy, pinkish-green stems trail gracefully, rooting readily at each node as they spread, creating a lush cascade of patterned foliage.
Native to the forest floors of Southeast Asia, from Vietnam and Thailand to Malaysia and the Philippines, Pellionia repens is accustomed to warm, humid, shaded conditions. This makes it an absolute star in terrariums, where it can spread as a living carpet or cascade beautifully over ledges and decorative elements. It's earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit for good reason!
Light Requirements
Pellionia repens thrives in bright indirect light but is remarkably adaptable to lower light conditions. In its natural habitat, it grows on the forest floor beneath the canopy, so it's well suited to the filtered light found in most homes. An east-facing window or a position a metre or two back from a brighter window works perfectly.
Too much direct sunlight can scorch the delicate leaves, causing them to fade or develop brown patches. Too little light and the plant may become leggy as it stretches toward the light source. Interestingly, the leaf colouration can vary depending on light intensity, ranging from dark purple to green to almost red, giving you slightly different looks depending on placement.
Watering
Here's where Pellionia repens differs from many other houseplants: it likes to stay consistently moist. Think of its forest floor origins where humidity is high and the substrate rarely dries out completely. Allow just the top centimetre or so of soil to dry between waterings, then water thoroughly.
That said, "moist" doesn't mean "soggy". Despite its love of moisture, Pellionia repens can still develop root rot if left sitting in waterlogged soil. Good drainage is essential. Use a pot with drainage holes and never let it sit in a saucer of water for extended periods. In winter when growth slows, reduce watering somewhat, but don't let it dry out completely.
Humidity and Temperature
This is where Pellionia repens shows its tropical nature. It absolutely thrives in high humidity, ideally 50-70% or higher. This makes it a perfect candidate for terrariums, bathrooms, kitchens or anywhere humidity naturally stays elevated. In a sealed or semi-sealed terrarium, it will grow like a dream!
If growing as a regular houseplant, boost humidity by grouping plants together, using a pebble tray, positioning near a humidifier, or placing in naturally humid rooms. You can mist occasionally, but ensure leaves don't stay wet for prolonged periods to avoid fungal issues.
Temperature-wise, keep things warm between 18-27°C. This plant is not frost-hardy and will suffer quickly if temperatures drop below 10°C. Keep away from cold drafts, air conditioning vents and cold windowsills in winter.
Potting Medium
Pellionia repens isn't fussy about substrate as long as it drains well while retaining some moisture. A quality tropical potting mix works well, or create your own blend using potting mix, perlite and coco coir. For terrariums, a standard tropical substrate with good drainage will keep it happy.
Choose a pot with drainage holes. Shallow, wide containers work well given this plant's spreading habit. Repot when the plant outgrows its container, typically every 1-2 years in spring.
Feeding Your Pellionia Repens
During the growing season (spring and summer), feed every 4-6 weeks with Growth Technology Foliage Focus at half strength, around 1.5-2.5ml per litre, to support healthy foliage growth. Add Growth Technology Rootzone at 0.5ml per litre every 4-6 weeks to encourage strong root development, particularly important for a plant that roots so readily.
Reduce or stop feeding in autumn and winter when growth naturally slows. Avoid over-fertilising as this can damage the delicate root system.
Growth Habits and What to Expect
Pellionia repens is a fast grower when happy, spreading horizontally rather than climbing vertically. The trailing stems will cascade beautifully from hanging baskets or shelves, or spread as groundcover in terrariums. Expect to trim it back periodically to keep it in check!
In terrariums: This is where Pellionia repens truly excels. It stays more compact in enclosed environments, forming dense mats of foliage with smaller leaves (typically 2-5cm). It will creep over substrate, up glass walls, and over decorative elements, creating a lush tropical carpet.
As a houseplant: Given space to trail from a hanging basket or shelf, Pellionia repens can spread quite dramatically. Regular pinching or trimming encourages bushier growth and prevents legginess.
Propagation: Incredibly easy! The stems root at every node. Simply take a cutting, lay it on moist substrate, and it will establish readily. You can also propagate in water or divide established plants. High humidity speeds up the process.
Those quirky flowers: Occasionally you may notice small, inconspicuous greenish flowers hidden among the foliage. The fun part? They release tiny puffs of pollen, earning this plant the nickname "gunpowder plant" in some circles!
Pet Safe
Great news for pet owners! Pellionia repens is non-toxic to cats, dogs, horses and humans, making it a wonderful choice for households with curious furry friends or young children. You can display this beauty anywhere without worry.
Perfect For
- Terrarium Builders: An absolute star performer in enclosed environments!
- Pet Owners: Completely safe for curious cats and dogs!
- Hanging Basket Enthusiasts: Those trailing stems are made for cascading!
- Bathroom Gardeners: Loves the naturally humid environment!
- Pattern Lovers: That watermelon rind effect is irresistible!
- Easy Care Seekers: Fast growing and forgiving once humidity is sorted!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Pellionia becoming leggy with sparse growth?
Leggy growth usually indicates insufficient light. Move your plant to a brighter location with more indirect light. Regular pinching or trimming will also encourage bushier, denser growth.
Can I grow Pellionia repens in a closed terrarium?
Absolutely! This is actually where it thrives best. The high humidity and consistent moisture of a closed terrarium perfectly mimic its native forest floor habitat. Just watch that it doesn't take over entirely!
Why are the leaves losing their pattern or colour?
Leaf colour can vary based on light levels. If patterns are fading, try adjusting the light, either brighter for more contrast or slightly lower for different colour variations. Also ensure the plant isn't drying out too much between waterings.
Please Keep in Mind
Every Pellionia repens is unique! Leaf colouration can vary significantly based on growing conditions, ranging from grey-green to dark green to purple tones. The intensity of the watermelon pattern and burgundy undersides may also vary from plant to plant. The photos shown are representative examples of the quality and appearance you can expect.
Please note: The foliage and stems of Pellionia repens are quite delicate. We pack with care, but some minor leaf damage may occasionally occur in transit.
If you are from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase this plant, we recommend using Paradise Distributors concierge service. Make sure to contact them prior to purchasing: info@rareplants.net.au
Shipping & Greenhouse Collection
Let's Talk About How Your Plants Get to You!
Alright, so here's the deal with shipping - we try our best to send all our plants potted and ready to go, but sometimes due to larger orders or when we're moving through some big changes, we'll send some plants semi-bare rooted. If you haven't come across this before, it basically means we carefully remove a bunch of the soil before packing them up. I know that might sound a bit scary if you've never ordered plants online before, but trust me, this is actually a really smart way to do it! The main reason we do this is because it creates so much more room in the box, which means we can fit way more plants in one shipment for you. More plants in one box = more green goodness arriving at your door at once! The plants honestly handle the journey better without all that heavy, wet soil sloshing around too. Just make sure you've got some fresh potting mix ready to go when your green babies arrive, because they'll want to get tucked into their new home pretty quickly!
Now, let's chat about what actually fits in our boxes. We can safely fit about 4-6 plants in one box, or if you're stocking up on supplies, one box can hold 3 bags of medium plus 1L of Growth Technology. We really don't recommend adding heavy items with your plants though - it just puts extra stress on your precious plants during transit and limits how many we can fit. If your order ends up being heavier than our standard box can handle, we'll reach out to you about additional postage fees. We're always transparent about costs, no sneaky surprises!
When Does Everything Ship Out?
Here's how our timeline works - we process and ship orders the week after you place them. So if you order on a Tuesday, your plants will get packed and sent out sometime the following week. We ship Monday through Friday (because let's be real, we all need weekends to recharge!), and we're aiming to get your order out within 4-6 business days of processing. Sometimes things take a tiny bit longer because we're a small but mighty team, and we take absolute care in making sure every single plant is packed perfectly. Like, we're talking individual attention for each plant here. We don't rush this stuff!
Once your order ships, you'll get an email with your tracking number. If you haven't received that tracking email, it just means we're still working on your order - it hasn't left us yet. Please be patient with us! We promise we're working as fast as we can while still making sure everything is done right. We pack orders in chronological order to keep things fair for everyone, so no one's getting special treatment or jumping the queue. First come, first served, that's how we roll!
The Journey to Your Doorstep
All our orders ship with Australia Post, and here's something cool - they operate 24/7! That means even if your order gets sent out on a Friday afternoon, it's still making its way to you over the weekend. The postal system doesn't sleep, and honestly, that's pretty amazing for getting plants to you quickly. You can generally expect your plants to arrive within 2-7 days after we ship them, depending on where you are in Australia. Metro areas tend to be quicker, regional spots might take the full week, but either way, your tracking number will keep you in the loop the whole time.
And here's the thing that always blows people's minds - our plants are absolute troopers. We've tested this extensively, and they can genuinely survive in their boxes for up to three weeks if needed. Obviously we don't want them sitting around that long, but life happens, mail gets delayed sometimes, and we want you to know that your plants are prepped and ready to handle whatever the postal system throws at them. While we do our best to avoid delays, occasional unforeseen circumstances may slightly impact delivery times, but rest assured, your plants are packed with extra care and are tougher than you think!
Quarantine States (WA, NT, TAS)
We currently only ship directly to non-quarantine states. Unfortunately, biosecurity restrictions make it pretty complicated to send plants to Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Tasmania. But don't worry, we've got a solution for you! If you're from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase plants from us, we recommend using Paradise Distributors' concierge service. They're absolute legends and can handle all the biosecurity paperwork and requirements for you. Make sure to contact them prior to purchasing so they can give you all the details and help you out: info@rareplants.net.au
Come Visit the Greenhouse! (Rockdale)
If you're local or just love the idea of picking up your order in person, we've got you covered! Greenhouse collection from our Rockdale location is available the same week you make your purchase. Our opening hours are always changing, so make sure to check booking availability on our 'Visit the Greenhouse' page before purchasing. After you've paid for your order, just head over and book a time slot that works for you. You'll get to pick up your plants AND have a wander through the greenhouse while you're here, which honestly is such a vibe. Just please wear a mask if you're feeling unwell - it's a small space and we want to keep everyone safe and healthy!
Catch Us at Markets!
We do regular markets around Sydney and would love to meet you in person! If you'd prefer to skip shipping altogether and grab your order at one of our market stalls, just email us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com and we can arrange collection at an upcoming market. It's a great way to chat plants face-to-face, see what else we've got on the day, and save on postage!
Questions? We're Here for You!
If you've got any questions about shipping, tracking, or literally anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com. We love chatting with you guys and we're always happy to help troubleshoot, answer questions, or just talk plants!
Much love from the GG's Team 🌱
