12 Reasons Why Peperomia Leaves are Falling Off and How to Fix It
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Peperomia is dropping leaves due to inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, low humidity, temperature stress, nutrients deficiency, aging, pests infestations, root-rot among others.
The Peperomia varieties are popular plants on account of their variety, ease of care and ability to adapt to a wide range of growing conditions.
Generally, Peperomia thrive in medium to bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with regular feeding in spring and summer. Learn how to grow and care for Peperomia (Radiator Plants).
If the growing conditions are not met, Peperomia can develop some problems. One of the common problem is leaf drop. There are many and varied reasons why the leaves may fall off.
We have discussed herebelow 12 reasons why Peperomia is dropping leaves and their solutions. Keep reading for a detailed account on these causes and how to resolve them.
12 Reasons Why Peperomia is Losing Leaves and Solutions
1. Pest Infestations
Peperomia are prone to spider mites, whiteflies, scale insects and mealybugs. These pests attack the new growth from where the suck the plant sap causing the plant to become dehydrated which results in wilting and dropping leaves.
How to fix it
Regularly inspect your Peperomia for these pests and take timely control measures.
Treat the plant for the pests with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Ensure to follow the instructions on the label.
Regularly clean the leaves by damp wiping with a soft cloth to discourage pest infestations.
Raise the humidity to reduce pest infestations by setting the pot on a wet pebble tray or by use of a cool mist humidifier.
Maintain the plant well-pruned and improve air flow to minimize infestations.
2. Low Humidity
Too low humidity will affect photosynthesis meaning the plant cannot make enough food for growth and energy. To save on energy, it begins to drop its leaves.
How to fix it
Peperomia flourish in a humidity of 50& and 80%. Use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity for the optimum growth of your plant.
To elevate humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a cool mist humidifier or group the plants together.
You may also grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen, laundry area and other moist areas in the home.
The compact varieties are perfect for a closed terrarium where a high humidity can be maintained.
3. Too Little Light
Sufficient light is needed for making food that is required for energy and growth. Low light implies that the plant cannot make enough food for energy and growth.
Therefore, in an attempt to save energy, the plant begins to drop leaves. This way, it saves the available energy for the vital functions to keep alive.
How to fix it
Cutback the leggy, bare stems to encourage new, fresh growth.
Position your Peperomia in a brighter spot where it will receive medium to bright indirect light. You may also use a full spectrum grow light if you do not have adequate lighting in your home.
Regularly clean the leaves by damp wiping with a soft cloth to increase surface area for absorption of enough light for photosynthesis.
4. Soggy Soil
Soggy soil (excess water in the soil) reduces the oxygen concentration in rootzone and this causes the roots to die. As such, they cannot take up water and nutrients needed for food making. This means the plant does not make enough food for growth and energy. In a bid to save energy, the plant begins to drop its leaves.
How to fix it
Pot your Peperomia in a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging.
Do not water on a schedule; water only when the top few inches of the soil feel dry to the touch.
5. Inconsistent Watering
Overwatering results in too much water in the soil which reduces the oxygen concentration in the rootzone causing the roots to die. Therefore, they cannot take up water to the stems and leaves causing the leaves to begin to yellow and drop.
When Peperomia is underwatered, there is little moisture in the soil. Thus, the plant cannot take up nutrients and water needed for food making causing it to drop leaves to save energy.
How to fix it
Water the plant when the top few inches of soil dry out but never allow the soil to dry out completely. Do not water on a schedule.
6. Temperature Stress
Extreme temperatures; either too high or too low will affect the normal functioning of the plant systems. Too high temperatures will cause dehydration leading to wilting and leaf drop. Too low temperatures cause the plant to stop growing resulting in falling leaves.
How to fix it
Keep your Peperomia away from drafts emanating from drafty windows, AC units, open doors, hot surfaces, hot vents and others to maintain an average warmth.
7. Nutrients Deficiency
Lack of nutrients in the actively growing tips causes nutrients to be withdrawn from the older lower leaves which results in wilting, yellowing and leaf fall.
How to fix it
Feed your Peperomia Plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer monthly in spring and summer. Ensure to follow the instructions on the label of the plant food to avoid overfeeding.
8. Salts Buildup
Excess soluble salts in the soil from the water or excess feeding will cause the Peperomia leaves to dry, shrivel and drop.
How to fix it
Occasionally, leach out the salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes. Repeat the process several times.
9. Root-rot Disease
Peperomia are prone to root-rot disease which is enhanced by soggy soil. The disease is characterized by wilted, yellowing leaves, corky swellings under the leaves and dropping leaves.
Soggy soil reduces oxygen concentration in the soil which causes the roots to die which implies they cannot take up water and nutrients to the leaves. This causes the leaves begin to wilt and eventually fall off.
How to fix it
Slip the Peperomia out of its pot and inspect the roots. Brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot, trim them off.
Treat the healthy roots with a fungicidal solution as instructed by the manufacturer.
Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh free-draining soil.
Withhold watering the plant and keep it dry for some time before resuming watering.
10. Being Pot-bound
A pot-bound plant is one whose roots have filled the pot and there is very little soil to hold water when you water your Peperomia. Therefore, there is no water for the plant to take up to the leaves. The leaves loss their turgidity and they wilt and begin to drop.
How to fix it
Check the bottom of the pot, if you spot roots growing through the drainage hole it is time to repot.
Repot your Peperomia into a pot one size larger, with a drainage hole and free-draining soil.
You may divide the large plant into several sections and pot the sections in individual pots to propagate new plants.
11. Repotting Shock
Repotting your Peperomia will cause it some shock which may lead to some leaves wilting and dropping before it can adjust to the new growing conditions.
How to fix it
To minimize repotting shock, water the Peperomia thoroughly one day before repotting. A well hydrated plant experiences less shock and is easier to divide.
Do not make too many changes at once. For instance, after repotting, maintain the plant in the same location until it is well established before moving it to a new location.
12. Aging
As the Peperomia ages, it naturally drops the lower older leaves to spare energy for the growth of new leaves.
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