Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) Indoor Care and Growing Problems with Solutions
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Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) grows best in bright light away from direct sunshine, average warmth and humidity, and moderately moist, fertile, succulents soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season..
Red Log Plant also called Whorled Peperomia, Red Log Peperomia or Belly Button is an evergreen, compact plant which grows to a height of about 12 inches.
Peperomia verticillata is a popular succulent plant for the home. It bears fleshy and cupped leaves with red wine-colored undersides. The upper side of the leaves is dark-green while the underside is a beautiful shade of red.
At first the stems in Whorled Peperomia appear upright but eventually it spill over due to their own weight (weight of the leaves) and begin to trail or creep on the soil surface. It is one of the Trailing Peperomia Varieties.
The stems and leaves are covered by thin hairs.The name ‘verticillata’ is derived from its fuzzy appearance arising from the thin hairs covering the stems and the leaves.
Due to its relatively small size, Red Log Plant can be used for the small spaces like on the table-top, desk-top, shelf and others.
Belly Button Peperomia has a preference for warm, humid conditions, therefore, it is perfect for a terrarium where these conditions can be achieved.
Botanical name: Peperomia verticillata
Family: Piperaceae
Common names: Red Log Plant, Whorled Peperomia, Belly Button, Red Log Peperomia
Origin
Peperomia verticillata is native to the tropical and subtropical regions including Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Bolivia.
Flower
Red Log Peperomia flower is a greenish-white, panicle-like inflorescence. The plant is grown for its spectacular foliage as the inflorescence is inconspicuous.
Toxicity
Red Log Plant like other Peperomia Plants is non-toxic to humans and pets. The plants are safe to grow indoors.
Where to Buy
If you are looking to acquire the spectacular Red Log Plant for your collection, you may obtain it online from Etsy.
Buy Peperomia verticillata online from Etsy
Peperomia verticillata Indoor Care
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) blossoms in bright light away from direct sunshine, average warmth of 15-260C, average humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, succulents potting mix coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Peperomia verticillata requires regular pruning to keep it neat, minimize pest and disease infestations as well as rejuvenate growth.
Repotting is only needed when the plant becomes pot-bound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Potting Soil
The best potting mix for Red Log Plant is Cactus and Succulents Soil as it is loose and drains easily to avoid getting soggy soil which can lead to root-rot and death of the plant. Buy Cactus and Succulents Mix online from Amazon.
Water Requirements
Water the Red Log Plant liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.
Significantly decrease watering during the cold season to keep the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time.
Make sure that the pot for Whorled Peperomia has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead in root-rot. Learn more on how to water houseplants the right way.
Light Requirements
Red Log Plant grows best in bright light away from direct sunshine as it can cause scorching of the leaves.
Too little light for Whorled Peperomia will result in a leggy plant with wide spaces between leaf nodes and loss of the charming leaf color.
Red Log Peperomia can also be grown under a grow light if the natural light in your home is not enough. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Temperature and Humidity
Red Log Plant requires an average warmth within the range of 15-260C. Usually, a room temperature that is comfortable for you is good for the plant.
Keep Peperomia verticillata away from cold drafts like windy doors and windows as they cause sudden drops in temperatures which can result in leaf drop and reduced growth.
Red Log Plant does not require a very humid environment. Average room humidity of 50-55% is adequate for this plant.
Fertilizer
Feed Red Log Plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks during the growing period for a lush growth.
Do not feed the plant during the winter months as growth is minimal and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn and death of the plant.
Repotting
Repot Red Log Plant every 1-2 years during the growing season only when the plant has become pot-bound. When the roots begin to grow through the drainage hole, it is time to repot.
Use a pot one size larger than the current one. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot.
A terracotta pot is preferable for this plant as it is porous and allows water to drain faster. This prevents the soil from holding too much water and being soggy. Take a look at these Terracotta Pots with Saucer on Amazon.
Pruning
Pruning Red Log Plant is easy as it involves regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat and tidy. It also discourages pest and disease infestations.
To encourage a bushy, compact growth for your Peperomia verticillata, regularly pinch off the growing tips.
As the plant ages, it wil become straggly therefore, cutback the stems with a sharp, clean pair of pruning scissors during the growing season to rejuvenate growth.
Propagation
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) propagation can be done from leaf-cuttings, stem-cuttings or by plant division.
Read more on How to Propagate Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata Propagation).
Peperomia verticillata Problems
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) growing problems include dropping leaves, brown and crispy leaves, dry and crispy leaves, disease and pests among others. Read on for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Dropping (losing) leaves
Red Log Plant is easy to grow indoors but may lose its leaves due to many varied reasons which have to do with the growing conditions.
Leaf loss in Red Log Peperomia may be due to overwatering, underwatering, wrong temperature, low humidity, poor lighting among others.
Read more on these 12 Reasons Why Red Log Plant is Losing Leaves (Dropping Leaves).
Pests
Red Log Plant pests is prone to scale insects, whiteflies, mealybugs and spidermites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.
Treat the Red Log Plant with appropriate products like neem oil and insecticidal soap to get rid of the pests. Ensure to cover the entire plant with the chemical solution.
Leggy stems and falling over
Leggy stems with wide spaces between the leaf nodes and plant falling over are due to too little light. Red Log Plant grows best in bright light away from direct sunlight.
Cutback the leggy stems to rejuvenate growth and move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright, indirect light or instal grow lights if the natural lighting is not adequate. Take a look at these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Wilted, discolored leaves
Soggy soil for Red Log Plant is the cause of wilted and discolored leaves and corky swellings under the leaves is an indication of root-rot disease.
Carefully slip the Red Log Peperomia from its pot and inspect the roots. Brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot, trim them off and treat the healthy roots with a fungicidal solution.
Disinfect the pot or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh free-draining soil. Do not water the plant and keep it dry for some time before resuming watering.
To prevent the disease in the future, ensure that the soil is free-draining and that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
Leaf spot disease
Red Log Plant is also prone to leaf spot disease which is characterized by brown, moist spots on the foliage. In a serious attack the spots can enlarge and merge, killing the whole leaf.
Remove and burn the affected parts to reduce the risk of spread to the rest of the plants.
Spray the affected plant with a systemic fungicide and ensure that all the parts are completely covered with the fungicidal solution.
Keep the plant on the dry side, do not water it for some time and do not wet the foliage during watering.
Brown leaf tips and edges
Brown leaf tips and edges in Red Log Plant are due to sudden drop in temperature from cold drafts.
Remove all the damaged leaves and keep the plant away from cold drafts like windy doors and windows to maintain average room temperature within the range of 15-260C.
Dry, crispy leaves
Excess soluble salts in the soil from the water or excess feeding will cause dry, crispy leaves in Red Log Plant.
To get rid of accumulated salts from the soil, regularly flush out the salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes and repeat the process several times.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you to care of a Red Log Plant?
- Position your Red Log Plant infront of a brightly-lit window where it will receive bright light away from direct sunlight.
- Provide your Red Log Plant with average warmth of 15-260C and keep it away from cold drafts.
- Grow the plant in neutral to acidic, fertile, moderately moist, succulents soil and keep the soil slightly moist in the cold season.
- Feed your Red Log Plant monthly with a balanced, liquid fertilizer during the growing season but do feed in the cold season.
- Maintain an average room humidity as the plant has no need for extra humidity.
- Repot your Red Log Plant every 1-2 years during the growing season only when it is pot-bound.
- Regularly remove dead foliage to maintain the plant neat and also discourage pest and disease infestations.
- Regularly pinch off the growing tips to encourage a bushy, compact growth.
- Cutback the overgrown stems to rejuvenate growth and control growth of your Red Log Plant.
- Regularly inspect your plant for any pests and diseases and take timely control measures.
2. How big does Red Log Plant get?
Under the right growing conditions, a Red Log Plant with grow to a height of 1 ft and approximately the same width.
3. What is the best soil for Red Log Plant?
The best soil for Red Log Plant should be neutral to acidic, well-drained and rich in organic matter. Most cactus and succulents potting mixes are perfect for this plant.
4. How do you propagate Red Log Plants?
Red Log Plant is easily propagated at the beginning of the growing season (spring) from leaf-cuttings, stem-cuttings or by plant division.
5. Where does Red Log Plant come from?
Red Log Plant is native to the tropical and subtropical regions including Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Bolivia.
6. Why is my Red Log Plant falling over?
A healthy Red Log Plant will fall over the sides of the pot due the weight of the leaves. If the plant falling over and has thin stems and wide space between the leaf nodes (legginess), then the cause is too little light.
Trim the leggy stems and move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright light or instal a grow light is the lighting is not adequate.
7. Why is my Red Log Plant dropping leaves?
Red Log Plant may drop its leaves due to various reasons which include incorrect watering, wrong temperature, too low humidity, poor lighting, poor feeding among others.
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