Peperomia: Care, Planting & Propagation

With dwarf pepper you can bring a colorful variety of plants into your home. The undemanding plants also forgive a care mistake.

The genus Peperomia is extremely diverse, which is why several species can be kept next to each other without creating a monotonous picture. Here you can find out in which location peperomias feel comfortable and how to care for the undemanding plants.

Peperomia: properties and origin

The plant genus Peperomia (Peperomia) includes over a thousand different species that are distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They belong to the same plant family as the pepper (piper), namely to the pepper family (Piperaceae). For this reason, the small, slow-growing Peperomia are also known as dwarf peppers or ornamental peppers. But how big does one get

Peperomia? Most species are herbaceous plants that usually do not grow larger than 40 cm. Like many other tropical plants, some Peperomia-Species keep as houseplants. There are annual and perennial species, epiphytes that grow on trees, but also species that thrive on soil or even rock. Dwarf pepper can grow upright, creeping or hanging. The species also differ in leaf shape and color, many also have succulent, fleshy leaves. the Peperomia shows its flowers between April and December. However, the green-white, spike-shaped inflorescences are quite inconspicuous.

Plant Peperomia: location, soil and Co.

If you want to plant the ornamental pepper, first apply one to the Peperomia to find a suitable location. As far as temperature goes, all peperomias like to be warm, at least 18°C. Many species should be cooler in winter, at least 10 °C. Avoid drafts. No general statements can be made about light, humidity and substrate, as different varieties have different needs. For information on how to do this, see our article on the different ones Peperomia species.

However, most species prefer a loose substrate that is well drained, as waterlogging is not tolerated. A mixture of two-thirds peat-free soil, such as ours, is suitable for this Plantura organic universal soil, and one-third expanded clay. The expanded clay also increases the permeability of our biological soil, creating ideal conditions for the peperomia. In order to avoid waterlogging, it is best to lay a drainage layer at the bottom, also made of expanded clay, for example. Put the Peperomia then into the ground, filling in any gaps with substrate and pressing down firmly.

Instead of in soil, the Peperomia also in hydroponics being held. Here the plant does not need any organic substrate and is kept in expanded clay. This gives the plant support and, thanks to its good wetting ability, ensures that the nutrient solution reaches the roots. Unfortunately, special mineral hydroponic fertilizers have to be used for this, which are not sustainable due to their properties.

Tip: Peperomies also like to be outside in the summer. Make sure that it never gets colder than 18 °C or bring the dwarf pepper indoors at night.

Care of the Peperomia

The dwarf pepper is ideally suited as an entry-level plant, because a Peperomia requires little maintenance. If you make a mistake, they forgive you Peperomia mostly without problems.

to water

First of all, the question arises: When should one Peperomia to water? In general, one can say that no Peperomia likes to stand wet. Above all, waterlogging must not occur under any circumstances. Therefore, check about 15 minutes after watering whether water has collected in the saucer and pour it off. Otherwise, the water requirements of the different Peperomia species are different. Some like to be drier, others should be watered regularly.

Fertilize Peperomia

The nutrient requirement of the dwarf pepper is not particularly high. In the growing season you should Peperomia but fertilize occasionally, since all the nutrients in the pot will eventually be used up. A liquid green plant fertilizer such as ours Plantura organic room and green plant fertilizer is ideally suited. It strengthens leaves and roots and supports the growth of the Peperomia. This keeps your plant healthy and resilient. Half a dose is enough for Peperomia and can be added to the irrigation water about every four weeks from spring to autumn. In winter, the plant has less light and it grows even more slowly. During this time less is poured and fertilized only every two months.

Repot Peperomia

Because the Peperomia grows slowly and stays very small, it doesn't need to be repotted into a new container often. However, it should be supplied with fresh soil in the spring, about every two years. The substrate sags over time, is less airy and can no longer be easily wetted with water. Fresh soil also contains important trace elements for the plant. It's time for a slightly larger pot when the roots grow out of the old one.

Cut

In the spring, the shoot tips of the upright Peperomia, such as Peperomia polybotrya, are cut off so that they branch out at the point and grow more bushy. If you're looking for a species with drooping shoots, like Peperomia rotundifolia, you can also cut them back more generously by up to a third.

multiply Peperomia

One Peperomia propagate by cuttings, either from the shoot or from the leaf. Spring is the best time for both methods. Which strategy you choose also depends on the species.

Shoot cuttings are best from Peperomia-Cut species that grow branched, so you can clearly see their shoots. A shoot cutting is cut off the plant below a leaf node, as this is where the roots will later emerge. The cutting should be 5 - 8 cm long, all lower leaves are removed, the upper ones remain. Now put the shoot cuttings in potting soil, such as ours Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil, in which cuttings and seedlings are encouraged to develop stronger roots due to the low nutrient content. Slightly moisten the substrate and put a glass bell or plastic bag over the pot. Put everything in a bright place at around 18 °C. Air the cover daily. After four to six weeks, roots should have formed.

You can also try your luck with leaf cuttings. This method is particularly suitable for species that grow very compactly. For this, a leaf with or without a stem is separated from the mother plant. Then stick it with the cut side or with the petiole down 1 cm deep in moist potting soil. For example, use ours Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil mixed with 50% sand for more permeability. A high level of humidity and temperatures of 21 °C offer the Peperomia leaves optimal conditions. New plants then form at the leaf vein or at the leaf base. You can remove and plant the small peperomies after about eight weeks.

Tip: Always make several cuttings at once. Some may not root, and it also allows multiple plants to be planted in one pot for a bushier overall look.

Is dwarf pepper poisonous?

Dwarf pepper is non-toxic, neither to humans nor to pets such as cats and dogs. The name of the ornamental plant even suggests that the dwarf pepper is edible. However, with the exception of a few species, this is not the case, and houseplants should not be eaten as they may have been treated with pesticides.
Peperomia inaequalifolia is also called cinnamon pepper and should taste the same. The leaves have a mild mint aroma Peperomia pellucida.

An equally diverse genus of plants form the Spiderworts (Tradescantia). We present the most beautiful species and show how to plant and care for them.