Peperomia: how an indoor flower blooms, propagation and care at home, as well as diseases, benefits and harms, photo

The indoor flower peperomia has captured the interest and favor of many amateur gardeners. This is all thanks to the compact size of the shrub and the highly decorative qualities of the foliage, the distinctive feature of which is the lacy edge and pronounced veins.

By its origin, the plant comes from Central and South America. Some wild species can be found in Africa. The representatives of the flora differ radically - there are both bush plants and specimens creeping along the ground. However, not all can be grown at home.

Benefits and harms

In addition to the aesthetic contribution to the surroundings of the home, peperomia also brings more significant benefits. Indoor flowers are capable of actively absorbing harmful and toxic substances from the atmosphere, which evaporate the finishing materials of the room, all kinds of detergents and even tap water. The same exhaust gases entering the apartment through an open window during ventilation have a far from favorable effect on human life.

In addition, this bush-like flower can prevent infectious diseases, ARVI and colds. Peperomia also helps to cope with many other diseases. It will be useful to have an ornamental plant for people with cancer. In this case, it is recommended to place the flowerpot in the bedroom, not far from the bed.

If we consider the benefits of the flower from a medical point of view more deeply, it is worth noting its beneficial effect on the digestive system and gall bladder. Additionally, the plant promotes the regeneration of the body during the healing of wounds and postoperative sutures.

According to many signs, peperomia brings peace, tranquility and a friendly atmosphere to the house. This is due to the fact that the plant is able to “radiate” positive energy, and as a result, act as a barrier to depression.

The presence of peperomia in offices would also be useful. Considering the shrub’s ability to “absorb negativity,” most work moments will not cause much passion, and the atmosphere in the team will become more friendly and united.

However, it is always worth taking into account the fact of the individuality of each person - what is beneficial for one may have a completely opposite effect on another.

Is it possible to keep peperomia at home: folk signs about the flower

It is immediately worth noting the beneficial properties of the plant. While wiping the fleshy leaves from dust, did you notice an interesting aroma? This smell will help relieve headaches. Peperomia also cleanses the air in the house from toxins and destroys pathogenic microbes. It is not surprising that the plant is recommended to be placed in the room of those who have recently suffered from an illness. It helps the body recover faster.

Peperomia leaves are endowed with one more property (already from the realm of the supernatural). They absorb negative energy, transform it into positive energy, and generously give it to their owners. Moreover, varieties with round or oval leaves, as well as those with a pointed leaf blade, are endowed with such abilities.

Peperomia is popularly called the “flower of love” for its benevolent nature. And the teachings of Feng Shui endow it with only positive qualities. So, cute bushes:

help to improve relationships, avoiding scandals and quarrels;
make household members more tolerant and gentle towards each other;
stimulate decision-making and change of life situation.

Thus, there is no doubt that peperomia is an ideal plant for the home, especially for the family. She will bring only joy, love and peace to personal relationships.

Kinds

There are more than 1000 varieties of this plant of the Pepper family. Each one differs from each other in color and leaf structure, but there are still common characteristics. The flower can be represented either by a compact shrub, an epiphyte growing on the bark of trees, or by a “waxy” succulent or a plant creeping along the ground.

Not all types of peperomia have taken root in indoor conditions. Among the most common are:

P. Climbing. It is distinguished by its variegated, cream-colored color with greenish splashes. It has rounded leaf plates that elongate as they grow.
P. Creeping. It also belongs to epiphytes, but has a slightly different leaf shape, reminiscent of an egg with a pointed tip. The color of the plates is bright green, the edges are beige.
P. Golovataya. A creeping plant with oval leaves of rich green color. The stems can be either light or bright red, the palette varies depending on the lighting of the room.
P. Round-leaved. A miniature small-leaved peperomia, the bush of which looks like a hat with descending vines. Often used in compact floral arrangements and for arranging terrariums.
P. Watermelon. It got its name due to its color, which is reminiscent of the characteristic color of this beloved berry. The leaf shape is ovoid, the plates themselves are quite impressive in size for this plant (8-10 cm in length).
P. Velvety. A shrub variety whose leaves are distinguished by their velvety texture. This type of peperomia blooms, as a rule, in the summer, producing spikelets like plantain inflorescences.
Read also: Indoor coniferous plants: photos with names, care at home
P. Wrinkled. A low-growing representative of the family with characteristic wrinkled leaves. Reaches a maximum height of 30 cm. There are several subspecies, differing in the color of the leaf blades, which can have either a burgundy tint or an intense green color.
P. Magnolifolia. It has fleshy, actively branching stems. The main color of the plates is green, the border can be cream or pinkish.
P. Multicarpal. It has long, elongated stems on which are attached water-lily-shaped leaves.
P. Sedaya. A characteristic feature of this species is heart-shaped leaf plates with a “gray” tint. The stems of the plant are covered with small fibers.
P. Tulipolia (Peperomia obtusifolia). It has fleshy green leaves, attached in pairs along a dense, erect stem. There are several subspecies, differing in the shade of color of the edging of the plates. It is unlikely that you can find a photo of the elegant and lush flowering of Peperomia obtufolia - it occurs almost unnoticed, since the plant produces inconspicuous and small inflorescences.
P. Dolotovitaya. It is classified as a succulent. It has the shape of a leaf plate, visually resembling a circle folded in half.
P. Graveolens. Another type of succulent. Characterized by an interesting color of the leaves, which have a burgundy color underneath.
P. Clusielifolia or Peperomia Variegate. It is distinguished by the variegated color of its wedge-shaped fleshy leaves - from green to cream with a burgundy edge. The maximum height of the plant does not exceed half a meter.

What is peperomia?

Peperomia obtufolia is most often sold as a houseplant. It belongs to the pepper family and grows as a compact bush, the height of which does not exceed 25 cm. At a young age, its shoots are erect, but droop over time. The main advantage of the plant is its leaves: large, dense, fleshy. They are round in shape, rich green and covered with a glossy sheen. With good care in the spring, the bush produces a peduncle, like a plantain, but it is not particularly decorative. However, this is far from the only type of crop and there are even more colorful plants. They can be bushy or ampelous, variegated, low-growing, and even with original wrinkled leaves. Of the other varieties of peperomia (and there are more than 1000 of them), the following are found at home:

Of the ampelous species with long hanging shoots: climbing peperomia, creeping peperomia, perestromyia.
Bush forms with short branches or dense foliage rosette: wrinkled peperomia; watermelon; Magnolifolia.
Low-growing and unpretentious succulent peperomia: Ferreira, Graveolens, oblong.

How does peperomia bloom?

During flowering, peperomia produces peculiar spikelets of a light green or brown hue, on which buds form. Such “tails” reach a length of up to 12 centimeters. Some varieties of the plant have comb-like inflorescences of a cream or white hue. This flower is usually valued not so much for its blooming buds, but for the high decorative qualities of the crown itself.

In most cases, the shrub does not have a pronounced dormant period, so some plant species tend to produce flower stalks a couple of times per season. However, as a rule, this happens once a year.

The flowering period of peperomia begins in the spring and continues throughout the summer months. The buds themselves do not have a distinct aroma.

This is interesting: by the beginning of autumn, the inflorescences transform into dryish berries, from which it is possible to sprout a new bush. However, such a task is only feasible with sufficient experience in the field of floriculture.

Indoor variety of the plant Peperomia "Tupolist"

Peperomia bluntifolia is a low-growing evergreen plant from the pepper family, which migrated to apartments and houses from the tropical forests of South America.

Florists distinguish several indoor varieties of this flower, which differ in their coloring characteristics.

Among the most popular forms of Peperomia obtufolia are Alba with monochromatic light leaf blades, Variegata with irregular cream-colored spots and Albomarginata with a silver border framing the gray-green middle of the leaf.

You can visually familiarize yourself with Peperomia “Tupolist” in the photo below:

How to care

Caring for peperomia at home does not require special skills or dexterity. This is another reason why this plant is widespread among indoor floriculture enthusiasts. Even a beginner can create the proper conditions for favorable growth of a shrub.

Lighting

Depending on the cultivated species, the environmental requirements also differ. Determining the level of required illumination is quite simple - it depends on the color of the foliage. Thus, specimens with a rich green color will feel comfortable on a northern windowsill. If floor heating radiators https://radiki.com.ua/uk/konvektor.html are used, then especially comfortable conditions are created for the growth of peperomia.

Plants with variegated leaves, on the other hand, require more light. However, it is worth positioning the pot so that direct sunlight does not fall on the crown. Insufficient illumination in this case is fraught with the loss of the decorative qualities of the leaves - they acquire a uniform green color and become smaller.

Advice: if you are growing a crop with green leaf blades, but do not have the opportunity to place the flower on a windowsill facing north, then build a barrier to prevent direct rays of the sun from penetrating. A light tulle curtain is quite suitable as it.

Watering

Peperomia can hardly be classified as a moisture-loving plant; the shrub-like flower most often requires a large amount of liquid only during the hot months. You should also make sure that water does not accumulate in the tray of the pot - this phenomenon can cause rotting of the root system.

The best option is to water as the substrate dries. In winter, such activities are carried out extremely rarely, especially for succulents.

Tip: water the plants exclusively with soft, settled water, which is a couple of degrees higher than room temperature.

What should the humidity be?

Peperomia grows naturally in most cases in tropical climates characterized by high humidity. However, she is not at all demanding of this indicator when indoors. The crop tolerates dry air quite well and is not afraid of drying out. This is especially true for succulents.

In the summer, to maintain the vitality of the foliage, it is recommended to periodically spray the crown of the plant with a spray bottle.

This is interesting: specimens with fleshy leaf blades are more resistant to dry climates. This is due to the plant’s ability to accumulate moisture.

Optimal temperature

Taking into account its natural habitat, this flower loves warm climates and at home. The most favorable temperature in the summer months fluctuates around 20-23 degrees; during cold weather, a maximum decrease of up to 15°C is allowed.

The container with peperomia must be positioned so that it is not exposed to drafts. When the temperature drops, the leaves of the bush fall off and turn yellow.

The soil

To ensure the life of the plant, sufficiently loose soil with a neutral or slightly acidic pH is required. The dense structure of the substrate promotes the formation of rot on the roots. The best option is to combine humus, peat, leaf soil and sand in a ratio of 1:1:2:1.

Top dressing

In the summer, apply a universal complex fertilizer with a high mineral content a couple of times a month, according to the instructions on the package. In the cold season, the frequency is reduced to one feeding.

Pest Control

In case of deviation from the recommended standards for keeping peperomia, the risk of insects increases, the vital activity of which significantly worsens the health of the flower. The most common pests are:

Spider mite. The appearance of a microscopic bug that actively sucks out the vital juices of the plant is due to the dry microclimate in the room. It can be detected by a thin whitish cobweb with which the insect envelops the inner sides of leaf blades or stems. For prevention purposes, the plant should be systematically lightly sprayed. When. if it was not possible to prevent the occurrence, it is recommended to treat the crop with an insecticide. A guaranteed result is achieved with the help of drugs such as Apollo, Flumite and Nissoran.
Thrips. You can identify the insect by the presence of brown streaks on the underside of the leaf. To combat it, it is necessary to treat not only the plant itself, but also its substrate. Recommended drugs: Aktara, Fitoverm, Karate. You can also use the traditional method - spray the bush with garlic infusion.
Mealybug. The pest is dangerous because during its life it leaves a sticky trail in which a favorable environment for the formation of fungus develops. The appearance of an insect is signaled by a white cotton-like coating and curled leaves. For the fight, drugs such as Fitoverm, Confidor or Aktara are perfect.
Shield. An insidious insect that creates conditions for the appearance of another parasite - a tick. The difficulty in removal lies in the presence of a shell on the pest that is resistant to acaricidal agents. In order to save peperomia, you should first remove the scale insects using a cotton swab dipped in a soap solution, and only then treat the crown with an insecticidal preparation.

Home care

Peperomia Rosso is an unpretentious plant. But, since the natural habitat of this flower is the tropics, caring for it requires some special features.

Temperature

Optimal temperature conditions for growing Peperomia Rosso:

in spring and summer - from 20 to 22°C;
in autumn and winter - from 18 to 22°C.

The soil temperature should not fall below 17°C.

Important! Peperomia Rosso is afraid of drafts. Therefore, it is not recommended to take it outside the premises

Watering

Like all tropical representatives of the flora, Peperomia Rosso loves moisture. The flower needs intensive watering in spring and summer. At other times of the year, it is recommended to reduce the frequency of soil moisture.

Before watering, the water must first be settled. Its temperature should be slightly higher than the ambient temperature (approximately 2 degrees).

Fleshy leaves are able to independently provide themselves with moisture reserves. But if the specimen has delicate foliage and a thin stem, dry air can harm it. Therefore, you should take care of additional hydration by placing containers of water nearby. On hot days it is recommended to spray the plant.

Overwatering can cause leaves to turn black and sometimes cause them to fall off. In this case, it is recommended to stop watering for a week, allowing the soil to dry out.

Lighting

Since in nature Peperomia Rosso grows in areas shaded from the sun, it is necessary to provide the plant with dim, diffused lighting. The best option is considered to be window sills located in the western and eastern parts of the house.

Priming

Attention! Light and loose soil is considered the most suitable for peperomia. Air permeability of the soil is important for this plant.

Optimal soil composition:

leaf soil (2 parts);
peat (1 part);
coarse sand or perlite (2 parts).

Be sure to use drainage as the bottom layer.

Trimming

Peperomia Rosso does not require pruning, but to preserve the decorative appearance of the flower, it is recommended to remove dry leaves. The procedure consists of the following steps:

Inspect the plant for dried areas.
Remove marked leaves and shoots using garden shears.

It is recommended to prune starting from the top of the plant.

Feeding

In winter, peperomia does not need feeding. During other seasons, complex fertilizers are used once every 2-3 weeks.

Pot

Peperomia Rosso prefers tight spaces, so you should choose a small pot. If you plant it in a container that is too large, the flower may slow down the growth of its above-ground part.

For each transplant, it is recommended to use a container 2 cm larger in diameter than the previous one.

Transfer

Reference. In the first 3 years, the flower should be replanted annually in the spring. If it was purchased in winter, it is recommended to postpone the procedure to March. In the future, one transplant every 2-3 years is sufficient.

Procedure:

Pour drainage into the pot. The optimal layer thickness is 2 cm.
Fill the container with soil, leaving some free space.
Carefully remove the plant with a lump of earth from the pot.
Place the flower in a new container and add soil.
Water the soil.
Fill the remaining free space with soil.

It is forbidden to compact the soil by pressing it down. There is a danger of damaging the delicate roots of the flower.

Wintering

In winter, spraying the plant is not recommended. Given the short day, a source of additional lighting should be used

It is very important to control the soil temperature in winter. For insulation, you can lay a felt napkin under the pot

Fertilizing should be excluded or used no more than once every 6 weeks.

Reproduction of peperomia

Peperomia can be propagated in several ways, but the most common are cuttings and the single leaf method. The process should be carried out in the spring-summer period during active growth of the crop.

Using a sheet

It is recommended to use a leaf on which only nascent or pronounced aerial roots are present. The material should not be placed in water. The formation of the root system in this case will occur extremely slowly, in contrast to the processes of decay.

The best option is to treat the cut with crushed activated carbon and leave it in this state for at least eight hours. Afterwards, the leaf should be placed in a loose soil mixture, the composition of which meets the requirements, and then slightly moistened. The container with the future plant must be placed in a well-lit place. With this propagation method, the main stem will appear only after six months.

Cuttings

Cuttings of any type are used as seed material - both apical and intermediate shoots are quite suitable. You can root them in several ways:

in sphagnum;
in a moistened substrate;
in water.

The effectiveness of how peperomia will reproduce is determined by the presence of nodes in the shoots. However, it is worth giving preference to those branches that have at least three of them.

Important: it is recommended to place the cuttings in partial shade for several weeks, and only then move them to a permanent place of residence with the recommended lighting parameters.

Diseases and pests of Peperomia

These woodland plants are fairly disease resistant, but there are a few bacterial and fungal diseases to watch out for.

The most common disease affecting domestic Peperomia is Pythium root rot, which can very quickly cause the death of a previously healthy plant. This is a fungal infection that thrives in constantly moist soil conditions. It is very important to avoid overwatering your Peperomia. You may notice black or swollen spots forming on the plant's stems, but at this stage it is often too late to do anything about it. The first sign of trouble is usually drooping, wilting, or simply unhealthy looking Peperomia.

Aggressive pruning of affected parts of roots and plants, as well as replanting in a new pot and fresh soil mixture is the best hope for saving the plant.

Indoor Peperomia can be affected by fungus gnats, mites and mealybugs.

Fungus gnats are small midges that can be seen in the soil. The damage is caused by larvae that feed on the roots of the plant. Adults do not damage the flower directly. Reducing the frequency of watering and adding sand to the soil should help get rid of these pests. Alternatively, adding a small amount of cinnamon powder to the top of the soil is a great option.
Mealybugs can be found as white masses on the undersides of leaves and on roots. Along with mealybugs, mold is also present. Infected Peperomia will be stunted in growth. Treatment should be with insecticidal soap or spray.
Mites are typically very tiny and can go undetected for long periods of time, often until significant damage has been done to your plant. These insects can create necrotic areas on leaves and cause stunted growth. Control should consist of completely covering the plant with insecticidal soap or spray.

Rest period

Peperomia does not have a specific rest period. In the cold months, the flower should be provided with the necessary conditions, which mainly consist of observing the temperature regime - the indicators should not fall below 15 degrees Celsius.

Attention should also be paid to the soil; it should not be allowed to become overcooled. To avoid this phenomenon, it is recommended to place a piece of linoleum or foam under the flowerpot. Feeding during the “rest” of the flower is not carried out, or is carried out extremely rarely - once every 30 days.

Conditions for growing at home

Growing peperomia does not require any special effort. Compliance with basic maintenance requirements will help maintain the attractive appearance of this plant. Let's take a closer look at how to properly care for it at home.

Lighting and ventilation

Peperomia needs moderate lighting, so it is best to place it in the northwestern or eastern part of the room. But in winter, the flower, on the contrary, needs stronger lighting, otherwise the leaves will lose color or even fall off.

The plant does not tolerate drafts and temperature changes well, so if you plan to ventilate the room in which the flowerpot is located, you need to move the peperomia to another room in advance.

Air temperature and humidity

Comfortable temperature for growing peperomia is +20…+24 °C. Heat of +30 °C and above is difficult for the plant to tolerate. In winter, the temperature can be reduced to +17...+18 °C, and if you reduce watering, the plant will be able to withstand temperatures up to +10 °C. If you need to increase or decrease the temperature in the room where the flower is kept, you should not do it suddenly.

The flower requires frequent spraying if it is in a room with low humidity. The optimal humidity level for this plant should be 60–70%.

Plant diseases

Despite its unpretentiousness, peperomia is periodically affected by diseases. In most cases, the phenomenon is associated with non-compliance with growing conditions and insufficient care.

Falling leaves. If your indoor pet begins to lose leaves, then the problem often lies in insufficient water. This symptomatology is also typical when the plant is exposed to low temperatures. Correcting the situation is quite simple - it is necessary to normalize the microclimate of the room and revise the irrigation system.
Brown edges on the foliage indicate that the shrub is systematically exposed to temperature fluctuations and drafts. To normalize the condition, it is necessary to move the pot to a warmer place away from frequently opened windows.
Spots of rot covering the surface of the flower indicate excessive watering of the plant. The deterioration of the condition is especially observed in a room with an incorrectly recreated temperature regime.
Wrinkled leaves indicate exposure to direct sunlight. When placing a pot, you should take into account the lighting recommendations of a certain type.

Peperomia is a unique flower that not only does not require particularly difficult maintenance conditions, but also makes a significant positive contribution to the atmosphere of your home. However, when growing it, you should strictly follow all the recommendations of specialists on proper care of the plant.

Peperomia needs to be protected from drafts

Antler flower (platycerium). photo, how to care for it, can it be kept in the house, signs

This tiny textured plant enjoys quiet and stable conditions. Even if it seems that the place in which the peperomia stands is far from the slightly open valves, the peperomia may suffer and wither. Sometimes the slightest drafts, rearrangement, running air conditioning, proximity to aisles (location on the edge of a tabletop or shelf that people constantly walk past) lead to strange reactions.

The plant needs to be protected from fluctuations in conditions, placed in a “calm”, protected place, so that air flows freely around the bush from all sides, but without stress and unnecessary contacts. In peperomia, drafts always manifest themselves in the falling of leaves.

It is important to control the temperature of the earthen coma. Peperomia often die from contact with a cold window sill or tabletop, wall or glass

If there is a risk of even slight hypothermia from below, you should use substrates or stands, and the plant should be at least 30 cm away from the cold walls.

Peperomia loves peace and stability of conditions.

Botanical description and history of origin

The Peperomia genus includes almost a thousand species. Peperomia obtusifolia has a Latin name - Peperomia obtusifolia. This plant came to our region from the tropical forests of Central and South America, and is sometimes found in Brazil, India, Asia and Ecuador. The plant became a domestic plant around the end of the 18th century.

External signs: description and photo of obtusifolia

The leaf blades are very fleshy, dense, and grow on petioles. They end with a blunt end.
The colors of the leaves can be very diverse: from deep green to soft cream. It all depends on the variety of Peperomia obtufolia. Sometimes there is a yellowish border along the edges.
In addition, the leaf also shines due to the fact that it is covered with a waxy coating.
The foliage has pronounced venation and has the shape of an arc.
The flower arrow is characterized by a spike-shaped inflorescence.
The beginning of shoot growth is always erect. Then these stems begin to branch and spread along the surface of the soil.

Often, gardeners use this plant in the form of an ampelous or hanging flower. Usually in the summer they are hung on balconies. These Peperomia are very fond of fresh warm air.

Below you can see a photo of Peperomia obtufolia: