How to Grow and Care for Wax Privet Peperomia (Peperomia glabella) Indoors

Some links in this post may be affiliate links

Botanical name: Peperomia glabella
Family: Piperaceae
Common names: Wax Privet Peperomia, Cypress Peperomia

Description

Wax Privet Peperomia (Peperomia glabella) also called Cypress Peperomia is a small plant with beautiful oval leaves and red stems where the foliage is fleshy and often has variegation.

The oval leaves in Wax Privet Peperomia can be a darker or a lighter green, depending on the amount of light the plant receives.

Likewise, the petioles and stems in Cypress Peperomia vary from pink to red depending on the amount of light. The flowers are small and insignificant.

Cypress Peperomia is hardy, and fast growing, and will spread or trail. It makes an ideal desk top plant on account of its small size.

Origin

Peperomia glabella is native to the West Indies and a large part of South America, where it can be found growing epiphytically on trees or terrestrially creeping on the ground.

Is Wax Privet Peperomia toxic?

Wax Privet Peperomia (Peperomia glabella) like other Peperomia Plants is non-toxic to humans and pets. The plants are safe to grow indoors.

Peperomia glabella Variegata

Peperomia glabella Care Indoors

Wax Privet Peperomia (Peperomia glabella) blossoms in medium to bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soils coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Peperomia glabella requires regular pruning to keep it neat, to encourage a bushy compact growth as well as minimize pest and disease infestations.

Repotting is only needed when the plant becomes extremely pot-bound as it grows best when the roots are confined. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.

Watering

Water Wax Privet Peperomia liberally during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.

Significantly reduce watering during the cold season to keep the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time.

Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead in root-rot disease.

Light Requirements

Wax Privet Peperomia grows best in medium to bright, indirect light away from direct sunshine as it can lead to scorching of the leaves.

Too little light for Cypress Peperomia will result in leggy plants and loss of leaf color.

Peperomia glabella can also be grown under a grow light where the natural light is not adequate.

Temperature and Humidity

Average warmth between 15-26⁰C is ideal for Wax Privet Peperomia. A room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for these plants.

If the temperatures are outside this range, they impact the growth of the plant negatively. Keep the Cypress Peperomia away from cold draughts as they can cause leaf drop.

Wax Privet Peperomia thrives in a high humidity environment. Set pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity for the plant.

You can also grow Cypress Peperomia Plant in a terrarium as high humidity can be maintained.

Feeding

Feed Wax Privet Peperomia with a balanced, liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing period. Stop feeding during the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn.

Potting Soil

The best potting soil for Wax Privet Peperomia should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients like these Potting Mixes available at Etsy.

Repotting

Repot Wax Privet Peperomia during the growing season only when the plant has become extremely pot-bound as it grows best when the roots are confined.

Use a pot one size larger than the current one and ensure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot disease.

Pruning

Pruning Wax Privet Peperomia involves regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat and tidy as well as minimize pest and disease infestations.

To encourage a bushy, compact growth for Cypress Peperomia, regularly pinch off the growing tips.

The plant becomes straggly as it ages, therefore, cut back the stems during the growing season to rejuvenate growth.

Propagation

Wax Privet Peperomia (Peperomia glabella) propagation can be done from leaf cuttings or by plant division.

How to propagate Wax Privet Peperomia from leaf cuttings in water

The leaf cuttings root easily, therefore there is no need for a rooting hormone.

Take leaf cuttings from a healthy Wax Privet Peperomia and ensure each leaf cutting has a petiole.

Allow sometime for the formation of a protective callus tissue over the cuts of the leaf cuttings to prevent rotting.

Place the leaf cuttings in a jar of clean plain water and change the water every 5-7 days.

Place the set up in warm, well-lit 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 cuttings to individual pots and place in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.

Maintain the soil moist until the new Wax Privet Peperomia plants are well established after which you can begin routine care. For a fuller plant, transfer several plants into one pot.

How to propagate Wax Privet Peperomia by plant division

Water the Wax Privet Peperomia thoroughly at least one day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment. A well hydrated plant suffers less shock and takes a shorter time to take root.

Take out the Wax Privet Peperomia from its pot and divide it into several sections.

Pot these sections in individual pots and place in a cool shaded place.

Maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges on the sections.

Allow the new Wax Privet Peperomia to be well established before transplanting after which you can begin routine care.

Peperomia glabella Problems

Wax Privet Peperomia (Peperomia glabella) problems include dropping leaves, brown leaf tips and edges, shrivelled leaves, leggy growth, pests and diseases among others. Keep on reading for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.

Dropping leaves

There are many and varied causes of dropping leaves in Wax Privet Peperomia. One possible cause of dropping leaves is the temperature is too low.

Move the plant to a warmer spot away from cold draughts and maintain an average room temperature.

The second possible cause of dropping leaves in Cypress Peperomia is that the plant has been underwatered causing the foliage to wilt.

Water the plant liberally during the growing season and allow the soil to dry out between waterings but reduce watering during the cold season.

Here is an outline on 12 reasons why Peperomia is dropping leaves (with solutions).

Leggy stems (growth)

Leggy stems in Wax Privet Peperomia are due to low light as it grows best in bright light to semi-shade (partial shade). It will also thrive under flourescent light.

Cut back the stems to rejuvenate growth and move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive medium to bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural light is not adequate.

Diseases

The other common disease in Wax Privet Peperomia is leaf spot disease. Isolate the affected plant and treat it with Neem oil.

Pests

Wax Privet Peperomia is prone to pests like spider mites, whiteflies, scale insects and mealy bugs. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the pests. Read more on how to identify and control houseplants pests.

Brown, shrivelled leaves

The cause of brown and shrivelled leaves in Wax Privet Peperomia is too dry air. The plant prefers a humid environment to thrive.

To raise humidity for the plant, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom and other moist areas in the home.

You can also grow the plant in a terrarium as high humidity can be maintained inside a terrarium.

Dry and shrivelled leaves

Dry and shrivelled leaves in Wax Privet Peperomia are due to excess soluble salts in the soil from the water or excess feeding.

Flush out the salts from the soil regularly by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes and repeat the process several times.

Brown leaf tips and edges

Brown leaf tips and edges in Wax Privet Peperomia are due to sudden drop in temperature from cold draughts. Remove all the damaged leaves and keep the plant away from cold draughts to maintain average warmth.

Wilted and discolored leaves and corky swellings under the leaves

Wilted and discolored leaves and corky swellings under the leaves in Wax Privet Peperomia is due to soggy soil.

This is an indication of root-rot disease. Isolate the affected plant and treat it appropriately for the disease. Read on how to treat root-rot disease in houseplants.