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Species library › Pilea › Pilea fairchildiana
Terrarium Little published: much of this is inferred from related species

Pilea fairchildiana

A small succulent Pilea described only recently, endemic to the Constanza mountains of the Dominican Republic, with thick, fleshy, tapering leaves in rosettes at the stem tips and tiny pink flowers. It grows on well-drained cliffs above streams in Hispaniolan pine forest, so it wants bright light, sharp drainage and moving air rather than the soggy, stagnant conditions of a closed terrarium. It is listed as endangered and is rare in cultivation.

At home, aim for
Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry
Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
No rest periodGrows on rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

Crevices and ledges of well-drained cliffs above streams in Hispaniolan pine forest, on lateritic soils over limestone. The fleshy leaves store water, which points to a site that dries out between rains even though the stream keeps the air locally humid.

Reported from about 500–1500 m in the Constanza area of the Cordillera Central. None of the five wild GBIF records carries an elevation.

Dominican Republic (Cordillera Central, Constanza area)

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.