Wax Privet Peperomia (Peperomia glabella) Care Indoors, Propagation, Problems and Soluitions

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Peperomia glabella also called Wax Privet Peperomia or Cypress Peperomia is one of the favorite Peperomia varieties and features beautiful, oval leaves and red stems where the foliage is fleshy and often has variegation.

The oval leaves can be a darker or a lighter green, depending on the amount of light the plant receives. Likewise, the petioles and stems vary from pink to red depending on the amount of light. The flowers are small and insignificant.

Wax Privet Peperomia is a small, hardy, fast-growing, low-light plant whose stems will spread or trail with ease. It is ideal for a desktop, hanging basket or a pedestal on account of its compact size and trailing stems.

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

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?

Peperomia glabella like other Peperomia Plants is non-toxic to humans and pets. They are among the pet-safe plants ideal for indoors.

How to Care for Peperomia glabella Indoors

To care for Wax Privet Peperomia indoors, provide medium to bright indirect light, warmth of 15-26⁰C, humidity of 60-70% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained potting soils coupled with monthly feeding in 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 extremely pot-bound as it does well when the roots are confined. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.

Peperomia glabella Variegata

Watering

Water Peperomia glabella liberally in spring and summer while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil moderately moist and avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing and leaf drop.

Significantly reduce watering in fall and winter to keep the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time. However, do not let the soil dry out completely as underwatering can result in wilting, drooping, yellowing and leaf loss.

Use room temperature (tepid) water to prevent cold shock which can cause stunted growth and leaf fall. Only use chlorine-free water like rainwater to prevent staining and browning of leaf edges.

Make sure that the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole to prevent waterlogging which can result in root-rot. Avoid wetting the foliage to reduce fungal diseases.

Light Requirements

Wax Privet Peperomia thrives in medium to bright indirect light (dappled light). Keep it away from direct sunshine or use a light curtain to diffuse the sunrays as it can cause scorching of the leaves.

Too little light for Cypress Peperomia will result in a leggy plant, yellowing and loss of leaf color. If the natural lighting is insufficient, use a full spectrum grow light to add onto it.

Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth and also prevent leggy growth.

Temperature & Humidity

Wax Privet Peperomia prefers a warmth of 15-26⁰C; a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for these plants.

Keep Cypress Peperomia away from sources of drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units, heat sources and others to prevent reduced growth, wilting and drooping, yellowing and leaf drop.

Peperomia glabella flourishes in a humidity of 60-70%. Low humidity will result in brown leaf tips and edges. Set pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to step-up the humidity. Do not mist the leaves and maintain good air circulation to discourage fungal diseases.

You may also grow the plant in a closed terrarium or in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen, laundry area and other humid areas in the home.

Fertilizer

Feed Wax Privet Peperomia with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer once a month in spring and summer to promote a lush growth. Stop feeding in fall and winter as growth is minimal and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn.

Occasionally, flush out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it drains through the drainage holes. Repeat the process several times to get rid of as much salt as possible.

Potting Soil

The best potting mix for Peperomia glabella should be rich and free-draining to prevent sogginess while providing the required nutrients. A blend of 2 parts of organic potting mix and 1 part perlite is good for this plant.

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 that has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot. Take a look at these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.

Pruning & Grooming

Pruning Peperomia glabella 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, regularly pinch off the growing tips. The plant becomes straggly as it ages, therefore, cutback the stems during the growing season to rejuvenate growth.

Occasionally clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and also discourage pest and disease infestations.

Peperomia glabella Propagation

Wax Privet Peperomia propagation is best done from leaf cuttings or by plant division at the beginning of the growing season.

1. Propagating Wax Privet Peperomia from leaf cuttings in water

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

1. Take leaf cuttings from a healthy plant and ensure each leaf cutting has a petiole.


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


3. Submerge the leaf petiole in a jar of clean plain water and change the water every 5-7 days to prevent fungal growth.


4. Place the set up in warm, well-lit place until growth begins at the base of the cuttings leaf petiole.


5. Allow enough time for substantial growth of the roots and new leaves.


6. Transfer the new plants to individual pots. For a fuller plant, transfer several plants into one pot.


7. Position the pots in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.


8. Maintain the soil moist until the new plants are well established after which you can begin routine care.

2. Propagating Wax Privet Peperomia by plant division

1. Water the plant thoroughly at least one day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment.


2. Remove the plant from its pot and divide it into several sections.


3. Pot these sections in individual pots and place in a warm, well-lit spot.


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


5. Allow the new plant to be well established before transplanting after which you can begin routine care.

Related Content: How to Propagate Radiator Plants (Peperomia) by 4 Easy Methods.

Peperomia glabella Problems & Solutions

Wax Privet Peperomia problems are dropping leaves, drooping, curling leaves, pests and diseases among others. Keep on reading for more on these problems and their remedies.

Dropping leaves

Peperomia glabella is dropping its leaves due to too little light, drafts, dry air, inconsistent watering, soggy soil among other reasons.

How to fix it

Too little light: Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home.

Drafts: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts to maintain a constantly warm environment.

Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a cool mist humidifier or group the plants together to raise humidity.

Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule; water the plant when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Soggy soil: Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil.

Check out these 12 reasons why Peperomia is dropping leaves and their solutions.

Drooping

Wax Privet Peperomia is drooping due to inconsistent watering, soggy soil, temperature stress, exposure to direct sunlight, pests infestations among other reasons.

How to fix it

Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Soggy soil: Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, hot air vents, open doors, drafty windows among others to prevent sudden temperature changes.

Exposure to direct sunlight: Move the plant to a more shaded spot or use a light curtain to filter out the sunlight. Thoroughly wet the soil immediately and the plant should perk up.

Pests infestations: Inspect the plant regularly for these pests and carry out timely control measures.

Learn more on these 14 Reasons for Peperomia Drooping Leaves and How to Fix Them.

Curling leaves

Wax Privet Peperomia leaves are curling due to underwatering or dry air.

How to fix it

Underwatering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry to the touch but do not allow the soil to dry completely.

Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to heighten humidity. You may also grow the plant in a closed terrarium.

Pests

Common pests of Peperomia glabella are spider mites, whiteflies, scale insects and mealybugs which are more common in dry air conditions.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the infested plant to reduce spread to the rest of the plants.


2. Treat the plant with neem oil or an insecticidal soap as recommended by the manufacturers'.


3. Keep the plant well pruned to discourage the pests.


4. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or group the plants together to minimize the pests infestations.

Diseases

Wax Privet Peperomia is prone to the following diseases:

1. Leaf spot disease which is characterized by brown, moist leaf spots. It is prevalent in warm, humid conditions.

How to fix it

1. Remove and burn the affected parts to reduce spread to the other plants.


2. Spray the affected plant with Neem oil and ensure to cover all the parts.


3. Keep the plant on the dry side and do not mist it.


4. Maintain a good air flow to discourage the disease.

2. Root-rot disease which is prevalent in soggy soil. It presents as yellowing and browning which is accompanied by rotting followed by sudden death of the plant.

How to fix it

1. Slip the plant out of its pot, wash off the soil and inspect the roots.


2. Brown-black, mushy roots indicate root-rot; cut them away. In addition, cut away any stems showing any signs of rot.


3. Disinfect the healthy roots and the entire plant with a copper-based fungicidal solution as recommended by the manufacturer.


4. Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh potting soil.


5. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent waterlogging.


6. Water the plant with the fungicidal solution and place it in a warm, well-lit spot.


7. Do not water the plant again until new growth emerges and avoid overwatering and soggy soil thereafter.

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