How to grow and care for Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) Indoors
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Botanical name: Peperomia verticillata
Family: Piperaceae
Common names: Red Log Plant, Whorled Peperomia, Belly Button
Red Log Plant Description
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) also called Whorled Peperomia or Belly Button is a compact plant which grows to a height of about 12 inches.
Peperomia verticillata (Red Log Plant) is an evergreen succulent plant which bears fleshy and cupped leaves with red wine-colored undersides and trailing stems.
The upper side of the leaves in Red Log Plant is dark-green while the underside is a beautiful shade of red.
At first the stems in Red Log Plant appear upright but eventually spill over due to their own weight.
The stems and leaves in Red Log Plant 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.
Due to its preference for warm, humid conditions, Red Log Plant is perfect for a terrarium where these conditions can be achieved.
Red Log Plant Flower
Red Log Plant flower is a greenish-white, panicle-like inflorescence. The plant is grown for its spectacular foliage as the inflorescence is inconspicuous.
Red Log Plant Origin
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) is native to the tropical and subtropical regions including Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Bolivia.
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) Care Indoors
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) grows best in bright light and moderately moist soil. It requires a warm, humid environment inorder to thrive.
The best soil for Red Log Plant is free-draining, cactus and succulents soil as the plant cannot tolerate soggy soil. Continue reading for a more detailed account on the best growing conditions for Red Log Plant.
Red Log Plant Light Requirements
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) grows best in bright light away from direct sunshine. It can also grow under a grow light.
Too little light for your Red Log Plant will result in leggy plants and loss of leaf color.
Keep your Red Log Plant away from direct sunshine as it can lead to scorching of the leaves. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead in root-rot disease and eventual death of the plant.
How to Water Red Log Plant
Water Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) liberally during the growing season and allow the soil to slightly dry out between waterings.
Significantly reduce watering for your Red Log Plant during the cold season to keep the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Ensure the pot for your Red Log Plant has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead in root-rot disease.
Temperature for Red Log Plant
Red Log Plant requires an average warmth within the range of 15-260C. Usually, a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for Red Log Plant.
Protect your Red Log Plant from cold draughts as they can cause leaf drop. Read more on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Humidity for Red Log Plant
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) thrives in a high humidity environment. Set pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity for your Red Log Plant. Read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
You can also grow your Red Log Plant in a terrarium as high humidity can be maintained. Read more on how to make a terrarium for houseplants.
Fertilizer (Feeding) for Red Log Plant
Feed Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks during the growing period.
Withhold feeding for your Red Log Plant during the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
How to Repot Red Log Plant
Repot Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) during the growing season only when the plant has become pot-bound. Use a rich, free-draining soil and a pot one size larger.
Ensure the pot for your Red Log Plant has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot disease.
Soil for Red Log Plant
The best soil for Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) should be rich in organic matter, loose and free-draining to avoid getting soggy soil. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough.
Cactus and Succulents soil is ideal for Red Log Plant. Buy quality Cactus and Succulents Soil for your Red Log Plant from Etsy.
How to Prune Red Log Plant
Pruning Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) involves regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat and tidy.
To encourage a bushy, compact growth for your Red Log Plant, regularly pinch off the growing tips.
As your Red Log Plant ages, it wil become straggly therefore, cut back the stems during the growing season to rejuvenate growth. Read more on how to prune houseplants.
How to propagate Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata)
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) propagation can be done from leaf-cuttings, stem-cuttings or by plant division.
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) Problems Indoors
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) problems indoors include dropping leaves, brown and crispy leaves, dry and crispy leaves, root-rot disease, pests among others. Read on for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Red Log Plant dropping leaves
Red Log Plant dropping leaves is due to five possible causes. One possible cause of dropping leaves in Red Log Plant is too low temperatures.
Move your Red Log Plant to a warmer spot away from cold draughts and maintain an average room temperature within the range of 15-260C. Usually, a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for Red Log Plant.
The second possible cause of dropping leaves in Red Log Plant is underwatering which causes the foliage to wilt and eventually drop.
Water your Red Log Plant immediately and it should recover. Thereafter, water the plant liberally during the growing season and allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering during the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
The third possible cause of dropping leaves in Red Log Plant is soggy soil (excess water in the soil). Too much water in the soil causes the roots to die.
When roots die, they cannot take up water and nutrients needed for the food making process. In a bid to save energy, the plant begins to drop its leaves.
To avoid getting soggy soil, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining. Also, reduce watering the Red Log plant during the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist.
The fourth possible cause of dropping leaves in Red Log Plant is too little light (inadequate light).
Light is needed by the plant for making food that is required for energy and growth. Insufficient light implies that the plant cannot make enough food for energy and growth.
In an attempt to save energy, the plant begins to drop leaves. This way, it saves the available energy for the vital functions inorder to keep alive.
The fifth possible cause of dropping leaves in Red Log Plant is aging. Naturally, as the plant ages, it drops the lower older leaves to spare energy for the growth of new leaves.
Red Log Peperomia may drop leaves for other reasons. Read more on 12 reasons why Peperomia is dropping leaves.
Red Log Plant brown leaf tips and edges
Brown leaf tips and edges in Red Log Plant are due to sudden drop in temperature from cold draughts. Remove all the damaged leaves and keep your Red Log Plant away from cold draughts to maintain average room temperature within the range of 15-260C.
Red Log Plant brown, crispy leaves
Brown and crispy leaves in Red Log Plant is caused by too dry air (low humidity). Red Log Plant prefers a humid environment inorder to thrive.
Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity for your Red Log Plant. read more on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
You can also grow your Red Log Plant in a terrarium as high humidity can be maintained. Read more on how to make a terrarium for houseplants.
Red Log Plant dry, crispy leaves
Excess soluble salts in the soil from the water or excess feeding will cause dry, crispy leaves in Red Log Plant.
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.
Red Log Plant leggy stems
Leggy stems in Red Log Plant are due to low light (inadequate light). Red Log Plant grows best in bright light away from direct sunlight.
Cut back the stems to rejuvenate growth and move your Red Log Plant to a brighter spot or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate lighting in your home.
Red Log Plant wilted, discolored leaves with corky swellings under the leaves
Soggy soil for Red Log Plant is the cause of wilted and discolored leaves and corky swellings under the leaves.
This is an indication of root-rot disease. Isolate the affected Red Log Plant and treat it appropriately for the disease.
To prevent the disease, ensure that the soil is free-draining and that the pot for your Red Log Plant has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
Red Log Plant diseases
Red Log Plant is prone to leaf spot disease and root-rot disease. Isolate the affected plant and treat it appropriately for the disease.
Red Log Plant pests
Red Log Plant pests; Spider Mites, Whiteflies and Mealy Bugs. Isolate the affected Red Log Plant and treat it appropriately for the pests.
Is Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) toxic?
Red Log Plant (Peperomia verticillata) like other Peperomia Plants is non-toxic to humans and pets. The plants are safe to grow indoors.
