Peperomia is a plant whose species are extremely diverse. By external signs, it is often impossible to determine, especially to someone who is not related to floriculture, that these several plants have a common name. The article will describe the most popular types of peperomia, home care. Photos will also be presented below.
Origin
All types and varieties of peperomia belong to the genus of the same name - Peperomia, the family Piperaceae (Pepper). According to scientific data, the genus Peperomia includes 1661 species, but in the arsenal of amateur gardeners there are no more than two dozen of them. These are decorative leaf plants. Their homeland is the tropical regions of Asia and the New World. In nature, they grow mainly in the shade, in moist forests. Soils are peaty; sometimes plants can choose rocks (the so-called lithophytes). Some species grow on trees or decaying deadwood (epiphytes), mossy forest litter.
general description
Reroma, home care for which will be described in the article, are herbaceous plants, ampelous or upright, or shrubs. Ampel species are less common than bush species. These flowers tend to grow slowly and are quite compact. This makes peperomia indispensable in cases where the area of the green corner is limited due to various circumstances. Peperomia grow well in small bowls, a "bottle" garden.
Suitable soil
Based on the fact that in nature plants often settle on tree trunks and rotting wood, loose peat mixtures are the best soil for them. Peperomia does not withstand heavy earth and can die under such conditions due to rotting of the roots.
The options are as follows:
- Sheet land, peat and sand equally.
- Humus, sand and peat - in one part, leaf land - in two parts.
The soil reaction should be neutral or slightly acidic.
Optimum air temperature
Since peperomia are tropical plants, they do not tolerate cold and dryness, drafts. The optimum temperature for them is 20-22 degrees above zero. It is highly undesirable that in the room where these plants are contained, it falls below 16-17 degrees. In winter, it is better to transfer these plants from window sills to a warm place. Peperomia grow well in the kitchens.
Watering and humidity
Most species have dense fleshy stems (and some have leaves) that store moisture well. Therefore, abundant watering of peperomia is useless; it can only harm it. Accidental drying of the soil is less dangerous for the plant than excessive moisture.
Watering is carried out with settled water, which should be a couple of degrees warmer than the air temperature in the room. Peperomia is watered sparingly, especially gently in the winter - only after the drying of the earthen coma. A sign of lack of moisture is falling of the lower leaves of the plant.
Humidity does not play a significant role. It is advisable to moisten the leaves of peperomia in the summer, but not excessively. In winter, spraying is not necessary, the dry air of the premises at this time, the plant tolerates well.
Species with folded and pubescent leaves cannot be sprayed.
Illumination
Caring for peperomia at home provides for the organization of good lighting. They grow well under artificial lighting, but better, of course, is natural sunlight, bright and diffused. These forest inhabitants, like many other tropical species, do not tolerate direct sunlight. Under these conditions, the leaves of the peperomia fade, become pale and wrinkled. Penumbra for them is quite acceptable.
Flowering and fruiting
The only thing that brings together different types of peperomia, often very different from each other, are sharp long inflorescences. They are dotted with small flowers and in some species contrast beautifully with the shade of the leaves. Fruits - round berries falling from the peduncle at the slightest touch. Inside, they contain many very small seeds.
Propagation and transplantation of plants
Reproduction using seeds is less reliable, although it makes it possible to obtain many plants at once. In addition, it is quite troublesome. To obtain seedlings, small seeds are evenly distributed on the surface of the soil, slightly pressing into it, after which they are covered with glass from above. Optimal conditions - temperature not lower than 24 degrees, regular (but not excessive!) Moistening. After seed germination, the glass is removed, but plants and soil are still sprayed. Young plants dive after they have two true leaves. Between them it is necessary to leave at least two centimeters.
It should be noted that these plants do not reproduce by seeds, since in some species they are so small that it is simply impossible to ensure their germination - it will not be possible to organize the necessary conditions.
For propagation of the peperomia flower, the care of which at home is not too complicated, cuttings are most often used: in herbaceous varieties - stem, 6-7 cm long, in bush varieties - leafy. Peperomia cuttings, as a rule, take root well and grow quickly. The soil for them should be only slightly moist. To improve rooting, you can use "Kornevin."
The plant should be transplanted as rarely as possible, only if necessary. Once every few years, you can change the pot to a more spacious one. Drain must be put on the bottom.
Pruning
These plants usually do not need pruning. It is permissible only to remove diseased or dried leaves and stems.
Fertilizer plants
For feeding peperomia, universal fertilizer is used. Diluted top dressing is applied to the soil twice a month in the spring-autumn period.
Growing problems, their causes
When growing any type of peperomia home flower, care for which does not require much trouble, gardeners can face a number of problems. Their causes can be found in insufficiently careful and careful care of the plant, as well as in the attack of pests on it or infection of the flower with pathogens.
The most common cases will be considered below:
- As mentioned above, peperomia can lose part of the leaves. The reason is insufficient watering or a temperature below +12 degrees Celsius. Water the plant should be when the ground is already dry, but do not wait until the leaves begin to fade.
- Leaves suddenly acquired a brown border. This is due to a sharp decrease in room temperature. The next stage is their subsidence. Transfer peperomia to a warm place, protect from drafts. To avoid problems, keep plants away from windows in winter.
- Spots of rot may appear on the leaves and stems of the plant, and cork-like growths on the underside of the leaves. The reason for this phenomenon is excessive watering, especially in the winter months. The plant should be removed from the ground and inspected the roots. If they are dark and soaked, it will not be possible to save him. If they are not too damaged by rot, light and elastic, it is necessary to trim them, leaving only healthy parts. The same should be done with stems and leaves. After pruning, the flower is kept for two or three days outside the pot, then planted in new soil and well spilled with a solution of carbendazim pesticide.
Pests
All types of peperomia are quite resistant to pests. Sometimes a spider mite, nematodes, mealybug are found on them. But in general, these plants rarely get sick, and the better their care, the less likely they are to suffer.
When infected with a worm, you must first remove the pests using a brush dipped in alcohol. For the subsequent processing of plants, you can use Decis, Fufanon, Inta-Vir. If you want to do without chemicals, you can try folk remedies: a soap solution with the addition of citrus peels, garlic or onions. Peperomia is sprayed every three days until the pests disappear.
To destroy the spider mite, “Aktelik”, “Karbofos” are suitable, and from folk remedies - infusion of onions or garlic (one small onion or two medium-sized heads of garlic per liter of water, leave for five days). Onion or garlic solution is used only in diluted form with water (1: 1), this should be remembered when caring.
Peperomia: photo, description of popular species
Below will be described the most popular types of peperomia. Among them - bushy, growing up to 10-15 cm in length, and grassy, erect and ampelous. Species with bicolor leaves have the term variegata in their names.
Ampelic peperomia
Climbing (Scandens)
This species can be grown as a vine, if you provide the plant with the necessary support. The stems are able to grow up to 1.3 m in length.
Petioles of leaves and curly stems are pink. The leaves are heart-shaped, up to 5 cm long. Their surface is waxy. A two-colored variety (variegata) is also very common, in which the middle is green, the edges are yellow.
Pinnate (Rotundifolia)
Ampelic peperomia with green stems. Juicy green fleshy leaves are small, grow up to 0.8 cm in length.
Creeping (Prostrata)
The red stems of this ampelous species are dotted with variegated leaves - green or silver with bronze spots. The leaves are small, up to 0.8 cm in length.
Head (Glabella)
This species has large oval leaves with a rounded, blunt apex. Stems - open, but not drooping, up to 22 cm in length.
Bushy peperomies
They are compact bushes, usually not higher than 15 cm. Among these species, there are dwarf ones.
Shriveled (Caperata)
A low plant (10-15 cm) with very beautiful folded ("wrinkled") leaves of a heart-shaped shape. They grow to a length of 2.5 cm, have red petioles. The underside of leaves with embossed veins has a dark green color (brown in folds). It blooms with white ears, similar to the arrows of plantain, which give the plant an original look. A kind of wrinkled peperomia, which is treated similarly, Caperata variegata, has leaves about 2 cm long with a green center and white edges. Petiole, as in many species, is red.
Grayish-silver or ivy (Griseoargentea (Hederaefolia))
Leaves with a wavy surface, 5-7 cm long, green with a metallic tint. Petioles are red. The most common bushy species.
Silvery, or Sanders (Argyreia (Sandersii))
The leaves are juicy, up to 10 cm long, with red petioles. They have a striped color: around the veins - dark green, between them - silver.
Fraseri
Small-leaved peperomy. It grows in height up to 25 cm, flower stalks - up to 35 cm. Its distinguishing feature is fragrant, fragrant inflorescences.
Barren (obra Astrid)
Small-leaved species. A characteristic feature is oval-shaped leaves of pale green color.
There are also dwarf species of bushy peperomia. An example is a plant with the unusual name Little Fantasy.
Upright views
These peperomia usually have juicy stems. They are more pronounced than in herbaceous species, and grow throughout the life of the plant or most of it.
Magnolia leaf (Magnoliaefolia)
The most popular shrub species. The leaves are succulent, up to 12 cm long, with green petioles. Two-tone variety (Magnoliaefolia variegata) is more common. Her leaves are green only in the middle, which is surrounded by a wide yellowish-golden border.
The most popular varieties are Sensations, whose leaves are almost completely painted in golden color, and large-leaved Green Gold.
Tupolifolia (obtusifolia)
Peperomia is blunt, care at home for which is nothing special, is very similar to magnolia. The top of its leaves is smoother, the overall leafiness is less. It is also very popular with flower growers, many of whom consider these two species to be the same plant. But this peperomia, care at home for which is carried out according to general rules, is more common as an ornamental plant in the USA and Western Europe.
Kluzielistnaya (Clusiifolia)
This species has juicy green leaves up to 7 cm long. Their distinguishing feature is a narrow purple border.
Whorled (Verticillata)
A species radically different in appearance from others. The leaves are whorled (they consist of 5-6 small leaves), up to 2.5 cm in length. Covered with short hairs. In height, the bush grows to 30 cm.
Pereskyleaf (Pereskiifolia)
It has zigzag stems, thanks to which this species cannot be confused with any other. At first they grow, as usual, but gradually fall down under their own weight. Leaflets are oval, with a pointed tip. In length reach 3-5 cm, narrow - 2-3 cm in width. Hard, dark green.
Interesting Facts
Peperomia, as it is believed among the people, is able to bring peace and mutual understanding to the house, resolve disagreements. Therefore, it is recommended that people with a contradictory, rebellious character be kept in the house. Where there is this plant, according to folk signs, peace, goodwill and mutual respect always reign.
Certain species, for example, blunt-leaved peperomia, home care of which is carried out according to general rules, can positively affect indoor air quality. Plants remove toxic substances from it, for example, formaldehyde, and actively enrich it with oxygen.
Instead of a conclusion
The article briefly presented the most popular types of peperomia among flower growers with photos. Home care for these plants, the rules for planting and propagating, watering, and fertilizing have also been described. Using the above tips, a beginner grower will be able to successfully care for peperomia, and those, in turn, will thank him for taking care of their beautiful view.