Peperomia (Radiator Plants) Indoor Care and Common Problems with Remedies
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Peperomia (Radiator Plants) require medium to bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with regular feeding in the growing season.
Peperomia are easy-care plants which come in a variety of beautiful foliage, texture and growth habits which qualify them for any houseplant collection.
Peperomia is one of the two genera in the Piperaceae famliy (the Pepper family) which comprises of about 3600 species. The genus name Peperomia was coined by Spanish botanists Ruiz López and Pavón Jiménez in 1794 after their travels in Peru and Chile.
The common name, 'Radiator Plants', is thought be have been coined by L.H. Bailey because many of these plants enjoy bright and dry environments similar to a windowsill above a radiator.
There exists numerous varieties of Peperomia; trailing, bushy and upright ones are available. The foliage may be fleshy, quilted, corrugated, smooth or hairy, green or variegated or even striped like a watermelon.
Some of the common Peperomia for indoors include Watermelon Peperomia, Emerald Ripple Peperomia, Baby Rubber Plant, Beetle Peperomia, Red Log Peperomia among others. Check out these popular Peperomia varieties for indoor growing.
Origin
Peperomia are found occurring in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world but being concentrated in northern South America and Central America, but are also found in Africa, southern Asia, and Oceania. They are some of the best tropical foliage plants ideal for the home, office and other spaces.
Flower
Peperomia flowers are usually unnoticeable, rat-tail flower-heads made up of greeninsh flowers on an upright spike. Most peperomia flowers may be odorless to humans but some carry a musty or even unpleasant odor.
Are Radiator Plants (Peperomia) toxic?
Peperomia are non-toxic to humans and pets. They are among the pet-safe plants that you may grow indoors.
Where to Buy
If you are looking to acquire Radiator Plants for your collection, you may obtain these plants online from Amazon (Link to Amazon).
Peperomia Care Indoors
Peperomia (Radiator Plants) flourish in medium to bright indirect light, average warmth of 15-260C, humidity of 60-80% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with regular feeding in the growing season. Keep reading for a detailed account on the best growing conditions for these plants.
Watering
Peperomia require moderately moist soil during the growing season and barely moist soil in the cold season. To achieve this, water your plant liberally during the growing season and allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
Reduce watering in the cold season to keep the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead in root-rot. Read more on how to water houseplants the right way.
Light Requirements
Peperomia grow best in medium to bright indirect light (filtered light). Keep it away from direct sunshine as it can cause scorching of the leaves.
Make sure that the plant gets adequate light as too little light will result in leggy plants and loss of leaf color. If the natural lighting is not enough, consider using grow lights to supplement it. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth as well as prevent leggy growth.
Temperature and Humidity
Peperomia grow best in average warmth of 15-260C. 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 it away from drafts as they may cause brown leaf tips and leaf drop.
Most Peperomia will grow in moderate room humidity but may need a humidity of 60-80% to thrive. To raise humidity, set pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. The moisture-loving Radiator Plants may be grown in a closed terrarium as high humidity can be maintained inside a terrarium. Read more on how to elevate humidity for houseplants.
Occasionally clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and also discourage pest and disease infestations. In addition, ensure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
Peperomia are not heavy feeders therefore, a monthly feeding during the growing season with a balanced, liquid fertilizer is adequate. Do not feed in the cold season as growth is reduced at this time and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn and eventual death of the plant.
Potting Soil
The best soil for Peperomia should be rich in organic matter and well-drained to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Cactus and succulents soils are ideal for the succulent Peperomia while all purpose potting mixes are great for non-succulent Peperomia.
Repotting
Peperomia are slow-growing plants which may not require regular repotting. Repot these plants during the growing season only when the plant has become pot-bound.
Use a pot one size larger than the current one to avoid over potting the plant. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can result in root-rot.
The succulent Peperomia require that the soil should drain out faster. Therefore, terracoat pots are preferable for these succulents. Take a look at these terracotta pots with saucer on Amazon.
Pruning
Pruning Peperomia involves regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat as well as minimize pest and disease infestations. To encourage a bushy, compact growth, regularly pinch off the growing tips. As the plant ages, it becomes straggly therefore, cutback the stems during the growing season to rejuvenate growth
Propagation
Peperomia is easily propagated in 4 ways; from seeds, from leaf cuttings, from stem-tip cuttings or by plant division.
Read more on How to Propagate Radiator Plants (4 Easy Methods of Peperomia Propagation)
Peperomia Problems and Solutions
Peperomia problems are caused by cultural faults in watering, humidity, quality of soil, lighting, feeding among others. Below are the common Radiator Plants problems and how to fix them.
Dropping leaves
Dropping leaves (leaf fall) in Radiator Plants is caused by many and varied reasons like overwatering, insufficient lighting, overfeeding among others.
Here are 12 reasons why Peperomia is dropping leaves with solutions
Drooping leaves
Peperomia leaves may wilt and begin to droop due to a number of reasons like underwatering, humidity issues, quality of soil among others.
Check out our post on 14 reasons for Peperomia drooping leaves and how to fix them.
Pests
Peperomia pests are prone to spider mites, whiteflies, scale insects and mealybugs. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants. Treat it with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's instructions.
Diseases
Peperomia are prone to leaf spot and root-rot. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants. Treat the plant appropriately for the diseases.
Leggy stems
Leggy stems in Peperomia are due to low light (insufficient). Cutback the stems to rejuvenate growth and move the plant to a brighter spot. Ensure that the plant receives medium to bright indirect light or invest in a grow light if the natural light is inadequate. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Brown leaf tips and edges
Brown leaf tips and edges in Peperomia are due to two possible reasons. Remove the damaged leaves or trim the brown tips and edges to keep the plant neat.
1. Cold drafts: They cause the temperature to drop drastically below the optimum range of which Radiator Plants cannot tolerate. As such the plant begins to die which starts from the tips and edges thus they turn brown.
Keep the plant away from cold drafts like cold window sills, air conditioners, windy doors e.t.c and maintain an average temperature of 15-260C. A room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for these plants. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
2. Dry air (too low humidity): The moisture-loving Peperomia require humid conditions to thrive. In low humidity, the tips and edges begin to die and turn brown and crispy.
Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity. You may also grow the plants in a terrarium or in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen, laundry area and other humid areas in the home.
Brown, curled leaves
Peperomia brown, curled leaves are caused by too little humidity. To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier or grow the plants in a terrarium.
You may also grow the plants in a bathroom, laundry area and other humid areas in the home but ensure that the lighting is adequate for these plants.
Dry, crispy leaves
Peperomia dry, crispy leaves are due to excess soluble salts in the soil from the water or excess feeding. Regularly flush out the salts from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes and repeat the process several times.
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