Peperomia

The genus Peperomia (Peperomia) is extensive, unites more than 1000 species of herbaceous plants, some of them are grown as indoor plants. Their decorative properties are due to dense, often leathery, and sometimes variegated leaves of various shapes. Flowers, white or yellow, are collected in inflorescences-characteristic spikes that look like rat tails. Some species - epiphytes-use other plants as support, while others-terrestrial - have a root system, although not very developed. Peperomia argyreia is one of the most beautiful species with variegated thyroid leaves (10 cm long) with silver-gray stripes collected in a basal rosette; petioles are red-speckled. Peperomia shriveled (P. caperata)-with a dense rosette of small (up to 3 cm) dark green rounded heart-shaped rough leaves on pinkish-red petioles. Inflorescences are white, spike-shaped. Peperomia hederaefolia is distinguished by a strongly shortened stem and olive-green heart-shaped rounded leaves collected in a rosette 7 cm long, with wrinkles along the silver veins; petioles are pink. Peperomia magnoliifolia (P. magnoliaefolia) is a species 20-25 cm tall with oval shiny dark green leaves 5 cm long and 3 cm wide, with a cream pattern and pink edge; fleshy stems are covered with red or brown spots. The Green Gold variety is especially beautiful because of the size of the glossy green leaves with an extensive creamy-white pattern. Peperomia tenacious (P. scandens) - ampelny plant with drooping shoots 1 m long and more. The variety 'Variegated' branches reach 1.5 m. The leaves are small pointed with a creamy-white edge. Petioles are pinkish.

The genus Peperomia (Peperomia) is extensive, unites more than 1000 species of herbaceous plants, some of them are grown as indoor plants. Their decorative properties are due to dense, often leathery, and sometimes variegated leaves of various shapes. Flowers, white or yellow, are collected in inflorescences-characteristic spikes that look like rat tails. Some species - epiphytes-use other plants as support, while others-terrestrial - have a root system, although not very developed.

Peperomia argyreia is one of the most beautiful species with variegated thyroid leaves (10 cm long) with silver-gray stripes collected in a basal rosette; petioles are red-speckled.

Peperomia shriveled (P. caperata)-with a dense rosette of small (up to 3 cm) dark green rounded heart-shaped rough leaves on pinkish-red petioles. Inflorescences are white, spike-shaped.

Peperomia hederaefolia is distinguished by a strongly shortened stem and olive-green heart-shaped rounded leaves collected in a rosette 7 cm long, with wrinkles along the silver veins; petioles are pink.

Peperomia magnoliifolia (P. magnoliaefolia) is a species 20-25 cm tall with oval shiny dark green leaves 5 cm long and 3 cm wide, with a cream pattern and pink edge; fleshy stems are covered with red or brown spots. The Green Gold variety is especially beautiful because of the size of the glossy green leaves with an extensive creamy-white pattern.

Peperomia tenacious (P. scandens) - ampelny plant with drooping shoots 1 m long and more. The variety 'Variegated' branches reach 1.5 m. The leaves are small pointed with a creamy-white edge. Petioles are pinkish.

Cultivation

Peperomias are grown as indoor plants. In the warm season, they can be exposed to the open air, protected from wind and direct sunlight, but in September they must be moved back to the house. Use soil from sterilized garden land (50%), mixed with neutral peat, beech foliage and sand, taken in equal parts. 20-30 g of slow-acting complex fertilizer is added to the bucket of substrate. In the warm season, every 15-20 days, plants are fed liquid fertilizer for indoor flowers, diluting it with 15 ml per bucket of water.

Location

In the warm season, peperomia is installed in partial shade, and in winter, plants need intense but diffused lighting.

Temperature

In winter, peperomia are kept at a temperature of 10 °C; for magnoliiferous and tenacious peperomia, the temperature is allowed to be several degrees higher.

Watering

The fleshy stems and leaves store some moisture for the plants, and they are quite resistant to drought. In spring and summer, peperomia should be watered regularly, but the soil should dry out between two watering. In the warm season, the leaves are often sprayed with water. In winter, do not spray, water much less often.

Transplant

Types and varieties of peperomia are transplanted into a larger pot once every 1-2 years, if the roots do not have enough space. The best time is early spring; use the same soil as for growing.

Reproduction

Peperomia is very easy to propagate with apical or leaf cuttings. The rooting process is accelerated by keeping the cut in a growth stimulator solution (20-30 days). Then the cuttings are planted in a box or pot and covered with plastic wrap to maintain high humidity. Peperomia shriveled and ivy-leaved propagate rooting petiole with a leaf, the variety peperomia shriveled 'Tricolor' leaf cuttings are not propagated, because the daughter plant loses variegated leaves. Silvery peperomia is propagated by parts of the leaf plate (the leaf is cut into squares). Any cuttings are rooted in a mixture of peat and sand (1:1). The temperature should be maintained at 20-22 °C. After the roots are formed, the seedlings are planted in separate pots.

Peperomia is very easy to propagate with apical or leaf cuttings. The rooting process is accelerated by keeping the cut in a growth stimulator solution (20-30 days). Then the cuttings are planted in a box or pot and covered with plastic wrap to maintain high humidity. Peperomia shriveled and ivy-leaved propagate rooting petiole with a leaf, the variety peperomia shriveled 'Tricolor' leaf cuttings are not propagated, because the daughter plant loses variegated leaves.

Silvery peperomia is propagated by parts of the leaf plate (the leaf is cut into squares). Any cuttings are rooted in a mixture of peat and sand (1:1). The temperature should be maintained at 20-22 °C. After the roots are formed, the seedlings are planted in separate pots.

Diseases

Root and root neck rot is the result of various fungal infections that occur when the soil is excessively compacted or over-moistened. Transplant the plant to new ground and reduce watering. Mealybug often settles on peperomia, in cases of damage, the leaves are wiped with cotton wool soaked in alcohol. Peperomia is also susceptible to a virus that causes dwarfism. Remove such plants to avoid infection of healthy specimens with the virus.