Coin-leaf Peperomia (Peperomia polybotrya) Indoor Care and Propagation Guide

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Coin-leaf Peperomia (Peperomia polybotrya) thrives in medium to bright light, moderately warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.

Peperomia polybotrya also called Raindrop Peperomia or Coin Plant is one of the popular Peperomia varieties and bears glossy, dark-green, heart-shaped leaves with pale green undersides.

The stems in Raindrop Peperomia are short and sturdy. The flowers are rat-tail like and they offer a pleasant smell.

Raindrop Peperomia is a succulent, compact plant which resembles Pilea peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant) though the plants are quite different in the shape of the leaves. Where the leaves in the former are more pointed and heart-shaped while in the latter they are rounded.

Botanical name: Peperomia polybotrya
Family: Piperaceae
Common names: Coin-leaf Peperomia, Raindrop Peperomia, Coin Plant

Origin

Peperomia polybotrya is native to South America’s tropical regions, which include parts of Peru and Colombia.

Size

Raindrop Peperomia grows to a height of about 1 foot which places it among the best plants for the limited spaces in the home, office and other places.

Is Coin-leaf Peperomia toxic?

No. Peperomia polybotrya like other Peperomia Plants is non-toxic to humans and pets. They are some of pet-friendly plants perfect for growing in the home.

Where to Buy

If you would like to acquire Coin-leaf Peperomia for your plant collection, you may obtain them online from Amazon (Link to Amazon).

Peperomia polybotrya Care Indoors

To care for Coin-leaf Peperomia indoors, provide medium to bright light, warmth of 15-26⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained succulents potting mix coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.

Peperomia polybotrya requires regular pruning to keep it neat, minimize pest and disease infestations as well as encourage a bushy growth. Repotting is only needed when the plant becomes extremely pot-bound. Keep reading for more details on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Watering

Water Coin-leaf Peperomia liberally during the growing season and allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to maintain the soil moderately moist. Avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing, drooping and leaf loss.

Decrease watering during the cold season to keep the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely as underwatering can lead to wilting, drooping, yellowing and leaf drop.

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

Confirm that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent waterlogging which can lead to root-rot and eventual death of the plant.

Light Requirements

Coin-leaf Peperomia grows best in medium to bright indirect light (filtered light). Keep it away from direct sunlight or instal a sheer curtain to filter the sunrays to avoid scorching the leaves.

Too little light will result in leggy plants, yellowing and loss of leaf color. Where the natural light is not adequate you may use full spectrum grow lights to increase it.

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

Temperature & Humidity

Peperomia polybotrya prospers in a warmth of 15-26⁰C. Keep it away from sources of drafts like hot air vents, AC units, open doors, drafty windows and others to prevent stunted growth, drooping, yellowing and leaf drop.

Coin-leaf Peperomia has no need for extra humidity: a humidity of 50-55% is adequate for this plant. Ensure that there is good air circulation to minimize fungal diseases.

Fertilizer

Feed Coin-leaf Peperomia with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks in the growing period. Stop feeding in the cold season to prevent fertilizer burn and loss of the plant since growth is reduced at this time.

Once in a while, leach out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage hole. Let it run for about 5-10 minutes to get rid of most of the salts.

Potting Mix

The best potting mix for Coin-leaf Peperomia is a rich, free-draining soil that does get soggy. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough.

Raindrop Peperomia is prone to root-rot if the soil gets soggy (retains too much water), therefore, a Cactus and succulents mix is ideal for this plant as it drains easily.

Repotting

Repot Coin-leaf Peperomia Plant in the growing season, only when the plant has become extremely pot-bound as it grows best when slightly pot-bound.

Use a pot one size larger that has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can result in root-rot. A terracotta is preferable for this plant as it is porous and allows water to drain faster. This prevents the soil from holding too much water. Check out these terracotta pots on Amazon.

Pruning

Pruning Coin-leaf Peperomia involves regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat as well as reduce 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.

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

Peperomia polybotrya Propagation

Peperomia polybotrya (Coin-leaf Peperomia) propagation is done in 2 ways; from leaf cuttings or by plant division.

1. Propagating Coin-leaf 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. Once callused, submerge the petiole of the leaf cuttings in a jar of clean plain water or in a propagation station and change the water every 5-7 days to prevent fungal growth.


4. Place 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.


5. Transfer the rooted cuttings to individual pots in moist, free-draining soil. For a fuller plant, transfer several cuttings in one pot.


6. Place the pots in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.


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

2. Propagating Coin-leaf Peperomia by plant division

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


2. Remove the plant from its pot and carefully divide it into sections by pulling apart the roots. Ensure each section has adequate roots to hasten establishment.


3. Select a 6 or 8 inches pot which has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.


4. Fill the pot with free-draining soil, moisten it lightly and make a hole in the center of the pot. Ensure that the hole is slightly wider than the root base of the section.


5. Place the section in the previously made hole and lightly firm the soil around the base. Take care not to bury it too deep; maintain the section at the same soil level it was in the previous pot.


6. Wet the soil thoroughly and place the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.


7. Maintain the soil moist until the new plant is well established after which you can begin routine care.

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

Peperomia polybotrya Problems & Remedies

Coin-leaf Peperomia (Peperomia polybotrya) problems are dropping leaves, drooping, yellow leaves, curling leaves, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Dropping leaves

Coin-leaf Peperomia is dropping leaves due to inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, temperature stress, use of cold water among others.

How to fix it

Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but never allow the soil to dry out completely. Do not water on a schedule.

Soggy soil: Pot the plant in a pot with a drainage hole and loose, well-draining soil.

Insufficient light: Place the plant in medium to bright indirect light or use a grow light if the natural light is not sufficient.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, heat sources, windy doors, drafty windows among others to maintain an average warmth.

Use of cold water: Water the plant with water that is at room temperature to prevent cold shock.

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

Drooping leaves

Coin-leaf Peperomia is drooping due to direct sunlight, dry air, extreme temperatures, incorrect watering, pests infestations among others.

How to fix it

Direct sunlight: Keep the plant away from direct sunlight or use a light curtain to filter out the sunrays.

Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a ccool mist humidifier or group the plants together to step-up humidity.

Extreme temperatures: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like hot air vents, AC units, stoves, windy doors and windows among others.

Incorrect watering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out and do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Do not water on a schedule.

Pests infestations: Regularly check underneath and between the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.

Check out this post on 14 reasons for Peperomia drooping leaves and how to fix them

Yellow leaves

Some of the causes of yellow leaves on your Peperomia polybotrya are inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, dry air and aging.

How to fix it

Inconsistent watering: Water only when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Do not water on a schedule.

Soggy soil: Use a free-draining soil and a pot that has a drainage hole.

Too little light: Position the plant in bright indirect light or use a grow light if the natural lighting is not enough.

Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a cool mist humidifier, group the plants together, or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom.

Aging: It is natural for the old leaves to turn yellow and drop as the plant matures.

Curling leaves

Coin-leaf 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 never allow the soil to dry out completely.

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

Pests

Coin-leaf Peperomia is prone to mealybugs, whiteflies, scale insects and spider mites which are common in dry air conditions.

How to fix it

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


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


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


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

Diseases

Coin-leaf Peperomia is prone to the following 2 diseases:

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

How to fix it

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


2. Treat the affected plant with neem oil as recommended by the manufacturer and ensure to cover all the parts.


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


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

2. Root-rot disease which is promoted by soggy soil due to poor drainage. It is characterized by yellowing and browning which is accompanied by rotting and followed by sudden plant death.

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 indicated 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 well-draining to prevent waterlogging.


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


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

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