How to Grow and Care for Beetle Peperomia Plant (Peperomia angulata) Indoors
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Botanical name: Peperomia angulata
Synonym: Peperomia quadrangularis
Family: Piperaceae
Common names: Beetle Peperomia, Beetle Radiator Plant
Beetle Peperomia Description
Beetle Peperomia Plant (Peperomia angulata) also called Beetle Raditor Plant is a slow-growing tropical herbaceous plant which bears fragile reddish stems and has a trailing or a hanging habit.
Peperomia angulata is also called Peperomia quadrangularis and it belongs to the family Piperaceae, the pepper family in which are about 3 600 species.
The leaves in Beetle Peperomia are fleshy, oval-shaped, glossy, dark-green with light green lines and look like small Beetles, hence, the common name, 'Beetle Peperomia'.
Beetle Peperomia Flower
Beetle Peperomia bears a whitish erect inflorescences that are not very decorative and it is advisable to pinch them off once they appear so that the plant can direct its energy to foliage growth.
Beetle Peperomia Size
Beetle Peperomia Plant grows to a height of about 1 ft and bears trailing stems which make it ideal for a hanging basket.
Beetle Peperomia Origin
Beetle Peperomia (Peperomia angulata) is native to Central and South America where it grows in the shady tropical and subtropical conditions.
Buy beautiful and healthy Beetle Peperomia (Peperomia angulata) from Etsy.
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Beetle Peperomia Plant (Peperomia angulata) Care Indoors
Beetle Peperomia Light Requirements
Beetle Peperomia Plant grows best in bright to semi-shade (partial shade). It can also grow under a grow light.
Too little light for your Beetle Peperomia will result in a leggy plant while direct sunshine as it can lead to scorching of the leaves.
Regularly turn the pot to ensure your plant receives light on all sides for uniform grwoth. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Beetle Peperomia Watering
Watering Beetle Peperomia Plant involves completely drenching the soil during the growing season while allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Significantly reduce watering during the cold season to keep the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Ensure the pot for your Beetle Peperomia Plant has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead in root-rot disease and eventual death of the plant.
Temperature for Beetle Peperomia
Beetle Peperomia Plant requires an average warmth within the range of 15-260C. Temperatures outside this range will affect the plant negatively.
Protect Beetle Peperomia from draughts (cold and hot) as they can cause leaf drop. Read more on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Humidity for Beetle Peperomia
Beetle Peperomia Plant thrives in a humid environment. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity for your Beetle Peperomia Plant. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
You can also grow your Beetle Peperomia in a terrarium as high humidity can be maintained. Read more on how to make a terrarium for houseplants.
Fertilizer (Feeding) for Beetle Peperomia
Feed Beetle Peperomia Plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing period.
Withhold feeding for Beetle Peperomia during the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
How to Repot Beetle Peperomia
Repot Beetle Peperomia Plant during the growing season only when the plant has become pot-bound. Use a rich, free-draining soil and a pot one size larger.
Ensure the pot for your Beetle Peperomia has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot disease.
Beetle Peperomia Soil
The best soil for Beetle Peperomia should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients.
Most multi-purpose potting mixes are ideal for Beetle Peperomia. Buy quality Potting Mix for your Beetle Peperomia from Etsy.
How to Prune Beetle Peperomia
Pruning Beetle Peperomia Plant involves regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat and tidy.
To encourage a bushy, compact growth for your Beetle Peperomia Plant, regularly pinch off the growing tips.
As Beetle Peperomia ages, it wil become straggly therefore, cut back the stems during the growing season to rejuvenate growth. Read more on how to prune houseplants.
How to propagate Beetle Peperomia Plant (Peperomia angulata)
Beetle Peperomia propagation can be done at the beginning of the growing season from leaf-cuttings, stem-cuttings or by plant division. We have herebelow outlined three methods of Beetle Peperomia propagation. Continue reading.
How to propagate Beetle Peperomia Plant from leaf cuttings in water
Beetle Peperomia Plant leaf cuttings root easily, therefore there is no need for a rooting hormone. Take leaf cuttings from a healthy Beetle Peperomia Plant and ensure each leaf cutting has a petiole.
Allow some time for the formation of a protective callus tissue over the cuts of your Beetle Peperomia Plant leaf cuttings to prevent rotting.
Place the leaf Beetle Peperomia Plant cuttings in a jar of clean plain water and change the water every 7-10 days.
Place in warm shaded place until growth begins at the base of the cuttings leaf petiole.
Allow enough time for substantial growth of the roots and new leaves.
Transfer the rooted Beetle Peperomia Plant cuttings to individual pots and place in a warm, well-lit place. For a fuller Beetle Peperomia Plant, plant several plants in one pot
Maintain the soil moist until the new Beetle Peperomia Plants are well established after which you can begin routine care.
How to propagate Beetle Peperomia Plant from stem cuttings
Beetle Peperomia Plant stem-tip cuttings root easily, therefore, there is no need for a rooting hormone. Take stem cuttings of about 4-5 in. length from a healthy Beetle Peperomia Plant and ensure each cutting has at least 2 sets of leaves.
Insert the Beetle Peperomia Plant cuttings in moist rooting soil and place in warm well-lit place and maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges.
Allow for substantial growth before transferring the rooted Beetle Peperomia Plant stem cuttings to individual pots after which you can begin routine care. For a fuller Beetle Peperomia Plant, plant several cuttings in one pot.
How to propagate Beetle Peperomia by plant division
Take out your Beetle Peperomia Plant from its pot and divide it into several sections.
Pot these sections in individual pots and place in a warm, well-lit place.
Maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges on your Beetle Peperomia Plant sections.
Allow the new Beetle Peperomia Plants to be well established before transplanting after which you can begin routine care
Photo Credit: Crocus
Beetle Peperomia (Peperomia angulata) Problems Indoors
Beetle Peperomia (Peperomia angulata) problems indoors brought about by cultural faults include dropping leaves, brown leaf tips and edges, leggy stems, brown and crispy leaves, root-rot among others. Continue reading for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Beetle Peperomia dropping leaves
Beetle Peperomia dropping leaves (leaves falling) is due to many and varied reasons. One possible reason for Beetle Peperomia dropping leaves is too low temperature.
Move your Beetle Peperomia Plant to a warmer spot away from cold draughts and maintain an average room temperature.
The second possible reason for Beetle Peperomia dropping leaves (leaves falling) is that the plant has been underwatered causing the foliage to wilt and drop.
Water your Beetle Peperomia Plant liberally during the growing season and allow the soil to dry out between waterings but reduce watering during the cold season.
Read more on 12 reasons why Peperomia is dropping leaves (leaves falling).
Beetle Peperomia brown leaf tips and edges
Brown leaf tips and edges in Beetle Peperomia Plant are caused by two possible reasons. Remove all the damaged leaves to keep the plant neat and tidy.
One possible reason for Beetle Peperomia brown leaf tips and edges is sudden changes in temperature due to draughts (drafts).
Keep your Beetle Peperomia away from draughts like drafty windos, windy doors, hot vents, air conditioners and others.
Maintain warm temperatures for the plant within the range of 18-250C.
The second possible reason for Beetle Peperomia brown leaf tips and edges is too low humidity.
To raise humidity for your Beetle Peperomia, set pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
You can also grow your Beetle Peperomia in a terrarium as high humidity can be maintained in a terrarium. Read more on how to make a terrarium for houseplants.
Beetle Peperomia brown, crispy leaves
Brown and crispy leaves in Beetle Peperomia Plant are due to too dry air. Beetle Peperomia Plant prefers a humid environment.
Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity for your Beetle Peperomia Plant. read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
You can also grow your Beetle Peperomia Plant in a terrarium as high humidity can be maintained. Read more on how to make a terrarium for houseplants.
Beetle Peperomia dry, crisp leaves
Excess soluble salts in the soil from the water or excess feeding will cause dry, crispy leaves in Beetle Peperomia Plant.
Regularly flush out the salts from the soil for your Beetle Pepperomia Plant by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes and repeat the process several times.
Beetle Peperomia leggy stems
Leggy stems in Beetle Peperomia Plant are due to too low light. In attempt to reach the light source the plant grows weal elonagted stems.
Cut back the stems to rejuvenate growth and move your Beetle Peperomia Plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright, indirect light or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate lighting in the home.
Beetle Peperomia wilted, discolored leaves, corky swellings under the leaves
Soggy soil for Beetle Peperomia Plant is the cause of wilted and discolored leaves and corky swellings under the leaves.
This is an indication of root-rot disease. Isolate the affected plant and treat it appropriately for the disease.
Beetle Peperomia diseases
Beetle Peperomia diseases; Leaf Spot disease and Leaf Viral Diseases. Isolate the affected Beetle Peperomia Plants and treat it appropriately for the disease.
Beetle Peperomia pests
Beetle Peperomia pests; Aphids and Mealy Bugs. Isolate the affected Beetle Peperomia Plants and treat it appropriately for the pests.
Is Beetle Peperomia (Peperomia angulata) toxic?
Beetle Peperomia (Peperomia angulata) like other Peperomia Plants is non-toxic to humans and pets. The plants are safe to grow indoors.
