Peperomia: plant care, growing conditions & propagation
Questioning your green thumb? Look no further than the humble peperomia for your next houseplant: easy to grow and gorgeous to look at.
While many flowering houseplants can be difficult to grow, lots of people find success growing peperomia houseplants. Peperomia species are fantastic houseplants even for the novice grower as they are easy to care for and very forgiving, while being diverse and beautiful. This article gives you simple tips on planting, caring for, and propagating peperomia.
Contents
Peperomia: origin, characteristics, and flowers
Peperomia plants are in the family Piperaceae, the same family as Piper nigum, black pepper. One of the more common peperomia species is Peperomia caperta ‘Rosso’, also known as the radiator plant. There are more than 1400 peperomia species, all of which are native to the tropics and subtropics. Peperomia are incredibly diverse, with each species possessing unique ornamental foliage, and most growing to a maximum height of 30 cm. They are compact and can grow upright, or creep and trail over the edges of pots. Due to their compact nature with thick, fleshy, and showy foliage, many are cultivated as houseplants. Peperomia have small and inconspicuous, but intricate flowers. Because of this, many peperomia flowers are overlooked, or even mistaken for vegetative growth. Look closely and you will see their floral beauty alongside their striking foliage.
Growing peperomia: soil and temperature
Different peperomia species have very different needs as far as light, humidity, and potting media go. In general, it is best to keep temperatures above 18 °C for optimal growth, but they will survive as long as temperatures don’t drop below 10 °C.
Most of the peperomia species are epiphytes: in their natural environment they grow on trees in decaying organic matter with plenty of drainage. To cultivate in pots, therefore, make sure your potting media, such as our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost, is loose and drains well. A mixture of two-thirds peat-free soil and one-third perlite or expanded clay will do the trick. Adding a medium like perlite boosts the drainage of the soil, making an excellent general potting medium for most peperomia species. Ensure that your pot has holes to allow water to drain, and don’t allow plants to sit in standing water, as waterlogging is not tolerated. A drainage layer of expanded clay in the bottom of your pot can also reduce chances of waterlogging. If repotting peperomia into a decorative pot, keep your plant at the same soil level as it was in its original container and press to slightly compact the soil around it.
- Perfect for all your house, garden & balcony plants
- For strong & healthy plants as well as an active soil life
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Tip: Peperomia can also grow on your patio or terrace in the summer. Ensure that temperatures do not drop below 18 °C; if colder temperatures are expected, bring the plants back indoors.
Peperomia care
Peperomia are ideal beginner houseplants as they require little attention and can be forgiving when you don’t give them the right care. With a little practice, you too can be an expert at peperomia plant care. Here are some simple steps to follow.
Watering
Peperomia species can vary greatly in their water requirements. Generally, they do not tolerate waterlogging. A good rule to follow would be to check up on your plants about 15 minutes after you water them to remove any water that has accumulated in their tray. Some species require regular watering and some like to dry out a bit in-between. While different species consume water at different rates, an easy way to check if your plant needs water is by sticking a finger into the soil about 1 cm down. If the soil is moist, wait to water. If it is dry, water immediately.
Fertilising
Peperomia are epiphytes, and therefore, are not heavy feeders. However, it is a good idea to fertilise occasionally as the nutrients in the soil will eventually be used up. A liquid fertiliser like our Plantura Liquid Houseplant Food is ideal to support growth of peperomia leaves and roots and keep your plants healthy and happy. Feeding the plants with a very low dosage while watering, around once a month from spring to autumn, is all that is needed. During the winter months, the plants do not grow as actively, and therefore, require less – every other month will suffice.
Pruning
Prune back any leggy growth in the spring to encourage more branching. This will help keep your plant’s compact and lush appearance. Also, prune off any discoloured leaves and clean out any dead or dried up leaves and stems.
Repotting
Most species of peperomia grow slowly, remain compact, and do not require frequent repotting. That being said, they can benefit from fresh soil every other year or so. Over time, the soil structure becomes dense and crusty, losing its ability to hold water properly. When this happens. remove your plants from their pots and gently break up the outer edge of the root system. Repot your plant in new soil with fresh nutrients to keep it healthy. You can transplant your peperomia into a larger pot when you see roots growing out the bottom of the old one.
Peperomia propagation
Want to know how to propagate peperomia? The best method for peperomia propagation is through vegetative cuttings. Leaf and stem cuttings should be taken when the plant is actively growing, usually in the spring. Also, if you are already pruning off leggy growth, these off cuts can be used as propagation material. Here are the simple steps to propagate peperomia.
- With sterile pruning shears or scissors, clip off a stem portion with at least two or more nodes of growth. A node is where the leaves grow from the stem.
- Clip off the leaves at the lower node, as this is where new roots will form. Stick these cuttings in the soil, with the lower node below the surface of the soil.
- You can also try leaf cuttings. Stick the clipped off leaves in potting media, the leaf stem first. Roots and new plants will form at the base of the leaves.
- Use a small container for your cuttings, preferably terracotta, as the clay will help wick away excess moisture. You can also use a seed starting tray if you like.
- Use very loose and fast draining potting media, such as our Plantura Organic Herb & Seedling Compost, which is primed with a small dose of nutrients to stimulate root growth. Mix the potting media with one-third perlite to enhance drainage.
- Water the soil and allow it to drain before you stick your cuttings in. A small amount of rooting hormone powder applied at the rooting end of your cutting can encourage rooting, but is not always necessary.
- After sticking your cuttings into the soil, place a plastic bag or transparent cloche over them to increase humidity. Lift covers to ventilate cuttings daily.
- Keep your cuttings in a bright location with temperatures around 18 to 21 °C. They should root in four to six weeks.
Tip: Always attempt multiple cuttings as some may not root, and even if they all do, multiple plants can be planted together in a pot for a dense and bushy appearance.
Are peperomia poisonous?
Many people ask if peperomia are cat-safe. Peperomia are non-toxic for humans and pets such as cats and dogs. While most do not have a pleasant taste, since they are in the same family as black pepper, some species do have unique and interesting flavours. Peperomia inaequalifolia, for example,has a light cinnamon aroma and flavour and Peperomia pellucida has a mild mint aroma. If you decide to be adventurous and sample some, be sure to wash them well to remove any residual plant protection products.
Tradescantia is an equally diverse genus of plants. Discover some of the most beautiful species with tips on how to grow and care for your own.
