Peperomia - Peperomia

This plant belongs to the Pepper family. Currently, there is a very large number of species, which numbers more than 1000. All of them belong to the genus "Peperomia", most often grow in the wild in the tropics on the continent of America. The name of the plant comes from the Greek language, which translates as two words "pepper"And" like ".

Plant characteristic

Peperomia can grow as an annual herb, as an evergreen perennial, and also as a dwarf shrub. The stems of this plant are quite thick, the leaves are located opposite each other, they have a leathery structure to the touch.

This plant is grown only to add decorative effect to a site or room. In this case, it is the leaves that are of decorative value, but the plant also forms inflorescences that have a small flower size. The culture is grown as in indoor conditions, and it can also be cultivated on the site or on the balcony, while creating comfortable growing conditions.

Despite the beauty of the leaves, some species also have very beautiful flowers. The only problem is that they can bloom in conditions of short daylight hours.

Peperomia is also grown as an ampelous plant and is very often used to create bouquets, landscape design, among other flowers.

Growing rules

The leaves of this plant have a very beautiful, spectacular appearance. To perform decorative functions, the plant must be kept in a room where there is a lot of light. It is best if the light is diffused. The leaves are very variegated and bright and require more sun, in contrast to the species, which have the usual green leaf plates.

The optimum temperature for this plant will be about 22 degrees, and in winter it is best to keep the temperature level at around 18.

Peperomia is demanding for regular abundant watering throughout the growing season. In the winter months, watering is reduced, making it less abundant. However, it is necessary to control the condition of the soil in order to prevent the earthen coma from drying out.

Humidity for the plant is required only in the summer months, when the weather is too hot and there is a long absence of rainfall. At this time, you can spray the plant with a spray in the morning as well as in the evening. In general, this plant tolerates the usual humidity of the apartment well.

Fertilizers should be applied only in spring and summer, twice a month. Ready-made mineral complexes for deciduous plants are perfect as fertilizers. The dormant period of this culture is not very pronounced.

Also, at a young age, the plant needs regular transplanting annually. When the plant is more than 3 years old, you can replant the bush much less often, about once every 2 years.

For plants, it is necessary to select a suitable soil, the composition of which will consist of sand, peat, humus, and also of leafy soil.

Of the popular insect pests, spider mites, nematodes, scale insects and others are distinguished. Diseases rarely affect a given plant, if all the rules of care are followed, but if the plant is uncomfortable, then it begins to lose leaves.

Now in more detail about each item.

Lighting

To grow peperomia indoors, you should choose a place that will be very well lit by the sun. However, direct sunlight should not hit the stems and leaves of the plant. It is very good for optimal lighting, place the plant on the south side of the apartment.However, here it is necessary to create a kind of partial shade so that the sunlight is diffused, or you can simply move the flower away from the window.

If your windows face the west or east side, then the plant does not need to be shaded, there will be enough light for it. If you have only northern windows in your apartment free for growing a plant, then you should think about creating artificial lighting.

It should be borne in mind when choosing a variety of peperomia that a plant with variegated leaves will require more light, in contrast to plants with green leaf blades. Peperomia requires a lot of light not only in summer but also in winter.

Temperature

Peperomia likes an average temperature, which should be constant throughout the year. Thus, it will be in the range of 20 to 22 degrees. If the air temperature in the room where peperomia is grown is less than 16, then this will negatively affect the growth and development of the plant.

In summer, it is permissible to grow a plant in open areas or on a balcony, but not all types of plants are suitable for this. In addition, drafts have a very negative effect on the flower, so experienced florists still recommend keeping the plant at home.

Watering

Peperomia should be watered very abundantly and regularly throughout the growing season. Water for irrigation should be warm and previously settled. When the plant goes into a dormant stage, the watering regime can be changed, making it more rare. In this case, peperomia feels comfortable with a slight drought of the soil, rather than if the watering is excessive. If there is a lot of moisture, then rot may develop in the roots. Moisture deficiency will manifest itself as excessive abundant wilting and leaf fall. Humidity for peperomia is normal, which is set in an apartment. However, if you spray the aerial part of the plant from time to time with a spray bottle, the plant will thank you. Peperomia is especially responsive to spraying in the hot season.

Feeding

This plant is fed with ready-made mineral fertilizers that are suitable for plants in a room. Moreover, in the spring and summer, as well as the autumn months, plants should be fed 2 times a month. In winter, fertilizer is reduced, feeding peperomia only once a month.

Pruning

To create a more spectacular look, you need to regularly trim and pinch the tips of the shoots to make the plant more lush.

Transfer

As mentioned above, a young plant needs an annual transplant. The pot for this plant should not have high sides. However, it must be large enough for the plant's root system.

At the bottom, it is imperative to lay out a thick layer of drainage, which is perfect for chipped brick or expanded clay. From above, soil is poured onto the drainage, which will consist of humus, leafy earth, peat and sand. When the plant is old enough, and this will be in about three years, they will need to be transplanted much less often.

Reproduction

For peperomia, both seed propagation and vegetative propagation are used.

In order to grow a plant from seeds, you should wait until the beginning or middle of spring. Pre-prepared containers, which are filled with soil, consisting of sand and leafy earth in equal proportions. After sowing, the soil is properly watered. It is best to do this from a spray bottle or with a spray bottle. Then the crops must be covered with glass or film and placed in a room whose air temperature will be about 25 degrees. From time to time, it is necessary to remove glass or film in order to water and ventilate the crops. After the emergence of seedlings, when two true leaves have already grown on them, the seedlings should be dived into another box, which is also filled with the necessary soil.In this case, a distance between plants of about 2 centimeters should be observed. The box is transferred to an open, sunny place, while it is necessary to create a shade from direct sunlight. Thus, the light should be on the plants for most of the day. If you see that the seedlings have already become strong and strong enough, they can already be planted in separate containers, which will be about 7 cm in diameter.Each container must also be filled with a layer of drainage and a suitable soil, the composition of which was described above. Then, each individual plant is treated in the same way as an adult plant.

Cutting propagation. Cuttings from the tops are suitable as a cutting, and stem cuttings can also be used. This planting material is placed in suitable soil, which will also contain peat, sand and humus. It is important to choose a stalk so that it has at least 1 node. Better if there are 3. You can place the cutting in a glass of water, or you can immediately place it in the soil substrate. Next, the cuttings should also be covered with glass or a bag and placed in a fairly warm room, where the air temperature will be at least 25. After about a month, the cuttings have already taken root properly, then the plant is transplanted into a separate container and taken care of as usual.

Peperomia can also be propagated using a leaf. To do this, you need to select a healthy leaf without any signs of damage and cut it off with a sharp knife. The stalk is left very short here and the rooting leaf is placed in sphagnum or can be placed in a mixture of sand and peat. You can just use plain water, and you should change it regularly. In order for the leaf to take root faster, you can place it in an artificially created mini - greenhouse. Thus, after a month, roots will grow from the leaves, then it will need to be placed in a separate container, reaching 7 cm in diameter. After the plant is strong enough, the same care is taken for it.

Peperomia is also propagated by dividing the bush. For this, an already grown overgrown plant is taken. The breeding procedure must be carried out in the spring. Thus, the bush is divided into several parts. During the division procedure, special care should be taken so as not to damage the roots of this plant. The separated part is planted in the soil composition, which was described above. However, the capacity here must correspond to the size of the root system. Also, do not forget about creating a drainage layer.

If the rules of care that were described above are not followed, peperomia may not look so impressive, and various unpleasant phenomena may also occur.

So, if a large number of leaves fly around from a plant, this indicates a lack of moisture and that the earthen lump is very dry or the plant is in low temperature conditions. If the tips of the leaves dry up and turn brown, this indicates that there are sharp changes in temperature in the room. This can also happen in the presence of drafts.

If there was too much moisture, and the liquid began to stagnate in the roots, then rot on the leaves and stems may occur. Also, these signs appear when the peperomia is kept in too cold temperature conditions.

If the leaves on the plants shriveled and wilted, it means that too bright rays of the sun fall on it. Also, if you do not create an artificial shade, then sunburn may occur on the leaves.

In addition, if proper care is not followed, various insects can infect the plant. These are scale insects, nematodes, spider mites and others.

Plant species

Peperomia velvety... The homeland of this plant is Ecuador. This is usually a perennial herbaceous crop. The stem has a dark red color, while fluffy villi are observed on it. The leaves are arranged on long petioles, which are about 1 cm in size.The arrangement of the leaves here is regular, the shape of the leaves is round, has a bright saturated color. Decorative and give bright veins on the surface of the sheet, which create a pattern. In addition, some varieties are distinguished by a shiny leaf surface and fluffy small hairs. When the plant blooms, flowers grow at the top of the stem, forming an ear. The length of the inflorescences is about 7 cm.

Peperomia is clusiform. It is a perennial herb that grows wild in the tropics of Venezuela. The leaves are arranged alternately here and are very close to each other. The shade of the leaves is rich green, and they are also red at the edges. The length of one leaf plate is about 15 cm, while the width does not exceed 8 cm. The leaves are characterized by a purple edge at the base. There is also a type of peperomia, where the leaves are variegated. At the same time, you can see a light red stripe along the edge of each leaf, and dark green veins that create a pattern stand out against the background of the yellow surface of the leaves. However, this variety is found only in indoor crops.

Reddish peperomia. The plant belongs to herbaceous perennial plants and contains a large number of branches. The color of the stems is red. The leaves are in the shape of an elongated oval, located opposite each other along the entire stem. The surface of the leaves has a green tint, on the reverse side the leaf is red. This type is very popular and looks very impressive.

Peperomia multi-spotted... The homeland of this species is the mountain forests of South America. Typically, the species is a herbaceous perennial. The entire surface of the stems is covered with brown spots. The color of the stems is green. The leaves are distinguished by a glossy surface, their length can even reach 20 cm. The color of the leaves is bright, saturated, green. The veins have a white tint, which creates a pattern. The petals of this plant are brown.

Peperomia Marble... This plant is native to Brazil. It also refers to herbaceous perennials. Outwardly, this species looks like a lush bush. The leaves are shaped like hearts, light brown streaks give a special beauty, which contrast on the bright green leaf plate and form a pattern.

Peperomia creeping. This species in the wild can be most often found in swampy areas, as well as in the tropics. The stem of this plant is usually vertical, but they can also hang or lie, depending on the growing conditions of the plant. The petioles have the shape of a flattened egg, near the base you can see a notch characteristic of the heart. The color of the leaves is usually variegated and also green. This species is grown as an ampelous plant.

Peperomia is pleasant... This plant grows wild in the forests of the southern continent of America and is a perennial. The plant is distinguished by the presence of pile on the stems. The leaves are oval in shape and grow opposite each other along the entire length of the stem. The width of the leaf plate is approximately 1.5 cm, while the length can be up to 4 cm. The leaf has a double color. So, on the surface, the leaf is green, and on the reverse side, the leaf is red.

Peperomia is gray. This plant is native to Brazil and is a perennial herb. It can also be represented by a dwarf shrub. The stems of this plant reach 50 cm. Moreover, they are very heavily covered with pile. The sheet plates are also different here. They are tapered at the tip, and generally have the shape of a circle. Also, the species is characterized by strong pubescence on the surface of the leaf plate.

Peperomia silvery. This species in the wild mainly grows in the countries of Brazil and Venezuela. It grows wild, like a perennial that does not have a stem. But the leaf plates are located on long petioles, reaching 10 cm in length. Petioles immediately grow from the root, have a red tint.There is no pile on the leaves, but the leaves are juicy, fleshy, dense. Very bright streaks of dark green color, which alternate with light stripes and outwardly resemble the shade of a watermelon, give a special beauty.

Wrinkled peperomia. The homeland of this plant is Brazil. The height of the plant here does not exceed 10 cm. The petioles are very long and grow immediately from the root. The leaf plate is characterized by a ribbed surface that has a pink tint. Also, the beauty of the leaves is given by contrasting veins in large quantities, which have a very uneven structure. The color of the leaves is green, while the color of the veins is brown, so they contrast very much and create a pattern. The plant blooms, forming light inflorescences in the form of spikelets. This species is grown not only as an ornamental - deciduous plant, but also as a flowering plant.

Peperomia obtuse... The name itself characterizes this plant, since the leaves here are in the shape of an egg and are strongly tapering towards the base. The homeland of this plant is the southern continent of America. The plant is a perennial, it can be grown not only on the ground, but also grow on trees. The stem here is characterized by slight pubescence, and the leaves themselves are located opposite each other and have a rich dark green bright color. The length of the leaves is about 10 cm, while the width is no more than 5 cm. This plant is very fond of growing flower growers.

Conclusion

Peperomia is a very unusual decorative - deciduous plant that contains a large number of species. The plant is popular among flower growers, since it does not differ in its increased demands on itself.