How Peperomia Plant Care Teaches Life Balance

Peperomias are members of the pepper family. They are popular house plants due to the many striking varieties available and the ease of care.

Peperomias please

I will show you how three of the most popular cultivars of this plant family are easy to care for and why they are a guide for life balance.

They are predominant in South America and the Caribbean, but are also found in other areas of the world.

The Peperomia family (Piperaceae) includes over 500 ornamental of plants which are also known as radiator plants. These include some of the most house friendly varieties:

• Peperomia argyeia – Watermelon peperomia
• Peperomia obtusifolia – Baby rubber plant
• Peperomia prostrata – String of Turtles
• Peperomia polybotrya – Raindrop Peperomia
• Peperomia angulata – Beetle peperomia
• peperomia rotundifolia – Trailing jade

In some Native languages the term for plants translates to “those who take care of us.”

Robin Wall Kimmerer

Peperomia Ginny

Peperomia Ginny also called peperomia jelly, is a pretty in pink with green and beige leaves. It is popular for its splash of colour and compact structure.

Luckily, like the rest of its family, it is also an easy houseplant to care for. Nothing fancy needed just the basics. The stores usually have a good supply of these in the season.

The energy of this plant is persistence. It provides joy through colour. Its dense coverage is good inside or outside of the home.

Watering

This is the most important aspect to be successful with this plant. I know from personal experience. One morning I came to down to a funny smell in the plant tray. I couldn’t tell where it was coming from at first because all the plants looked healthy, but I noticed that leaves on the watermelon peperomia where not as glossy. Unfortunately, it was the source of the smell.

Don’t make this mistake with peperomias

It was the beginning of the end for that poor plant. I had not taken into account the dormant period for this plant. The time when it requires less water than before.

Some peperomia are often mistaken for succulents, but they are not as they require more more water and humidity than succulents. Peperomia are epiphytes, which means their roots absorb moisture.

Misting is recommended for these plants. Remember where they originate and how they would thrive in their home territory.

It is best to bottom water as this plant does not like the leaves to be soggy. If it is over watered the leaves start to rot. Let the soil dry. It is so tempting to water too soon.

Plant Lesson

Plants are great teachers. I thought about how easy it is in our own lives to over compensate for things which may not have a basis in reality, but only in our thinking. The result of our action then then causes an imbalance which can be destructive. We can inadvertently cause what we fear most.

We are not perfect and in the act of caring we face many challenges. In the of pursuit of perfection we can make mistakes. Plants will tell us with colour changes, with leaf droppings. We learn and we move on.

Temperature

You all know what it feels like when it gets too cold. Imagine immigrating from a warm climate. Those nice warm greenhouses, the to your place. So the ideal temperature is 60 – 80F. Humidity 30-60%

USDA zone 10-12

Light

Like many tropical houseplants bright indirect light is required. Keep out of direct sunlight as it will burn the leaves.

Peperomia watermelon

Once I understood the balance of type of soil, water, and humidity it was easy to start again with a new plant. The peperomia argyeria rewarded me with a show of its flowers, the elegant long white spike.

Peperomia obtusifolia

The variegated version is an excellent house plant. Like most peperomias it is a safe plant for pets and humans.

Soil

A rich organic soil is ideal. I have found a nice mix of potting soil, orchid soil and perlite works well.

Cupping leaves on the obtusifolia usually means there is a required mineral missing from your water and Browning of the leaves usually means too much water.

Pests

The peperomia obtusifolia is also popular with bugs, namely mealy bugs, mites and thrips. Check your plant soil when you bring plants home. And give your plant space for ventilation.

Propagation

If you want more Obtusifolia (baby rubber plants), this baby is easy to propagate. You can root in water or soil via leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, or root division.

Summary

Peperomia care helps us understand the importance of balance in taking care of ourselves. As long as we maintain balance in our choices, like the peperomia we will flourish.

Do a full assessment of the situation to see what is really going on. The first impression may not be the correct one.

Try not to over compensate for things, there may be a period of adjustment, which will have different requirements. Learn what those requirements are.