Peperomia blunt-leaved - home care
Content:
An evergreen herb from the Pepperom family - peperomia - feels great in frost-free gardens, as well as on window sills. Juicy bright greenery makes a picturesque contrast with flowering plants, for which it is appreciated by flower growers.
Peperomia blunt-leaved and caring for it at home
Peperomia got its name for the shape of the leaf plate. The short and wide fleshy leaves have a rounded tip. In indoor floriculture, the following varieties are most common:
- Alba - the leaf has a solid light green color;
- Variegata - cream-colored specks are randomly scattered on the leaves;
- Albomarginata - the leaf has a gray-green color and a silvery border around the edge.
Adult peperomia
In total, over 1100 species are known. They differ from each other in the size and color of the leaves. On average, the height of adult bushes ranges from 15-50 cm.
Peperomia variegated
There are three varieties of this type of peperomia, bred exclusively by breeding:
- dull-leaved - Obtusifolia Variegata;
- magnolia-leaved - Magnoliaefolia Variegata;
- clusielist - Сlusiifolia Variegata.
All have variegated leaves, which are somewhat thinner than that of other species, and the color is darker at the central vein and lighter towards the edges. In care, variegated varieties have no features that distinguish them from others. It is quite possible to plant in the same pot with other succulents, especially those that like spraying.
Peperomia bloom
With the onset of summer, an adult plant tends to throw out as many peduncles as possible. They do not represent decorativeness and practically do not smell. Outwardly, they look like smooth, leafless spike-shaped shoots of a lighter color than the leaves.
Blooming peperomia
It is not recommended to leave all peduncles. Many owners choose to break them all off. The thing is that the bush spends a lot of energy on flowering to the detriment of the development of foliage, and may even wither.
Home care
The flower grows fairly quickly when handled correctly. The most active vegetation occurs in the warm season, and in winter, peperomia almost freezes, and it is watered no more than 2 times a month. Placed on the east, south and west windows, as she loves bright light. However, you should not place the pot near the glass itself, since reflected or diffused light is preferable. It is best to place the flower behind larger neighbors, as it happens in natural conditions. In South America, peperomia is easy to find in hot and sunny but shady forests.
Care after purchase
When choosing a plant, you should pay attention to its appearance. Healthy does not have dark spots on the shoots and leaves, and the leaves themselves are juicy, elastic with a slight matte or glossy sheen.Lethargy, like dry areas, is a sign of disease or improper care. It is highly likely that such an instance will not be able to return to life. The best time to shop is spring.
Peperomia Variegata
Since flowers in stores are sold only in transport pots, you need to transplant immediately at home. To do this, they choose a new pot, fill it with fresh soil, and the already transplanted bush is kept for several days away from other indoor plants in quarantine in order to avoid infection. If no warning signs do not appear, then the newcomer is put up in a permanent habitat and begins to look after him.
Preparation: choosing a flower pot and compiling the soil
The new pot should be 3-4 cm larger in diameter than the previous one, and only 1-2 cm in height. Ideally, this is a wide and shallow bowl. The root system of the flower extends more in breadth than in depth. But you should not give it too much space, since the probability of decay of the roots is high. It is best to get rid of old soil. To do this, the plant is removed from the store container, immersed in a container of water so that the soil is soaked and washed.
Peperomia loves nutritious and loose soil. It can be bought, focusing on the designations - "for succulents" or "for decorative leafy". But you can make up the soil mixture yourself. To do this, take two parts of deciduous humus and add one part of washed river sand and peat to it.
Temperature and humidity
The decorative appearance of peperomia is maintained at optimal temperature and humidity. In spring, autumn and summer, the temperature should be kept in the range of 20-25 ° C. In winter, a decrease to 16 ° C is permissible. If the bush is too hot or cold, he will let you know by dropping the leaves.
Humidity must be above 60%. In too dry air, the leaves will wrinkle and dry out at the tips, which will dramatically worsen the appearance of the entire plant. That is why in the heating season or dry hot summer, it is worth installing an open container with clean water next to the pot.
Watering and spraying peperomia
Peperomia is very hygrophilous, but does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. It is watered regularly up to 3 times a week in summer, preventing the topsoil from drying out. Particular attention is paid to the presence of a thick layer of drainage at the bottom of the pot and wide openings for the drain of excess water. For watering, take boiled water at room temperature.
Peperomia Albomarginata
Spraying is a favorite bush procedure. It is carried out every morning, trying to get water droplets on all the leaves. Due to its shape, the leaves are easily cleaned in this way, since dust with droplets of moisture simply flows down the veins and shoots.
Common methods of reproduction of blunt-leaved peperomia
On sale occasionally you can find seeds. They are sown on the surface of the soil, sprayed abundantly with water and covered with transparent film or glass for a greenhouse effect. If the seed is fresh, seedlings will appear within 2 weeks. The ideal time for sowing is April.
But it is much easier to get a young bush from a cut shoot. To do this, take a freshly cut twig with 3-4 leaves and immediately stick it into a pot with wet soil, deepening it by 2-3 cm. In the future, the soil is regularly moistened.
In rare cases, individual leaves can be used for propagation. A leaf with a petiole, just carefully cut, will do. It is left to dry for 1-2 hours, and then stuck into the ground. It is recommended to cover the top with a glass jar. Such rooting is slower, but generally takes no more than 3 weeks. An unsuccessful result can be seen immediately - the leaf will simply wither.
Table: diseases and pests typical for peperomia
| Name | Manifestation | Control methods |
| Rot of roots and root collar | The roots are affected first, followed by the leaves. The bush withers quickly, the root collar becomes watery, the roots turn black. | At the earliest stage, all damaged parts are cut off, the whole plant with roots is dipped in a solution of the fungicide Switch 62.5 WG and planted in new soil. |
| Viral dwarfism | All parts of peperomia are smaller than normal size and deformed. | No. |
| Spider mite | Multiple bleached and dried specks on the leaves. | Treatment with acaricides at intervals of two weeks until a positive effect. Nisoran, Apollo fit. |
| Thrips | Visible to the naked eye - small (up to 2 mm in length) black insects on the leaves, which become sticky, turn yellow and dry out. | Double treatment with insecticides: Aktara, Fitoverm, Mospilan, Karate. |
| Mealybug | A white and fluffy, mildew-like plaque appears on the leaves. | Twice, with an interval of two weeks, treatment with insecticides fitoverm, aktara. |
| Nematode | The first to suffer are the roots, which first thicken and then die off. They are replaced by thin and sluggish ones. | Treatment with drugs nematofagin and BI-58 helps. |
Peperomia: pruning
Overgrown bushes need formative pruning. This procedure is recommended in the spring, but if necessary, you can use the summer or autumn months. Shoots that are longer than 30 cm in length are subjected to shortening. A segment with 3-4 leaves is left, and the rest is cut with sharp scissors or pruning shears.
After a short time, buds will appear at the cut, from which lateral shoots will grow. If you want to admire a beautiful bush for many years, then you need to take pruning seriously.
Peperomia Obtusifolia (Obtusifolia)
A common type of blunt-leaved peperomia has a yellowish border along the edge. The leaves are shiny due to the wax coating on their surface. Venation is pronounced, has an arcuate shape. Flowering is the same as in all other varieties - nondescript, spike-shaped.
Peperomia Obtusifolia
The shoots are erect at first, and then bend down under their own weight. The greatest decorativeness is achieved by hanging the pots on the wall or in the window opening, allowing the branches to hang freely down. Loves partial shade and daily spraying with warm boiled water.
For a beginner, the content of peperomia is difficult only because it cannot be neglected. Every morning it is necessary to check the moisture content of the soil and perform traditional spraying. But bright greens will be the best reward for your daily attention.
