Tropics on the windowsill: proper care of Peperomia obtufolia

A beautiful and well-groomed peperomia obtufolia will be a worthy decoration for your home collection. This flower is a good start for a novice gardener, since its care is minimal, but it will bring a lot of joy. Peperomia obtufolia has luxurious green foliage and many strong shoots, it is short in stature and spreads lightly along the ground.

The flower is viable and hardy, quickly adapts to different conditions. However, there are several nuances that will be useful to know in order to grow a strong ornamental plant.

History and description

The genus Peperomia is the most numerous of the pepper family, it has about 900 species. The Peperomia obtufolia species is distinguished by flower growers from the rest due to its high decorative characteristics. This is an evergreen low-growing perennial with large and dense foliage. The plant came from the tropics, so it needs high-quality lighting and good watering.

Peperomia obtusifolia - external signs:

• the leaves are oval and dense, sitting on petioles and ending in an obtuse angle;
• the color of the leaf blade is dark green, sometimes there is a yellowish edging along the edge;
• the leaf is leathery and shiny, covered with a waxy coating;
• venation on the foliage is noticeable, arcuate;
• peduncle with a spike-shaped inflorescence, inconspicuous in appearance;
• the beginning of growth is erect, then the shoots begin to branch and spread along the surface of the soil.

Advice
In the home interior, peperomia looks good as an ampelous or hanging plant. In the summer, these flowers are placed on window sills and hung on balconies.

Peperomia obtufolia is divided into varieties, the differences between which are in the shape and size of the leaves, their structure, quality and color. The color range of foliage is very diverse: from delicate cream to rich green. Flowering in all representatives of the species is inconspicuous, the peduncles are pale in color and look like young stems of the plant.

Home care

Peperomia is native to the tropics of Central and South America; some species are common in Brazil, Asia, India and Ecuador. In nature, the plant is accustomed to humidity and good diffused light, as it inhabits the lower and middle tier. At home, peperomia belongs to the category of unpretentious indoor flowers that are easy to propagate and grow. In the store, you should choose the healthiest and most attractive plant - with perfect shiny leaves and thick elastic branches.

Basic growing rules:

1. Conditions of detention. The preferred temperature range is up to +25° C, preferably without strong fluctuations. Peperomia prefers good light and develops well in partial shade. Direct rays of light have a detrimental effect on foliage. The plant needs a humid microclimate, it needs frequent watering and daily spraying.
2. Priming. The best base for peperomia is well-drained fertile soil with neutral acidity. It is recommended to make the mixture from equal parts of turf and humus soil, peat and coarse sand. The flower pot must have a hole.
3. Watering. The soil in the pot should not dry out; to do this, the plant should be provided with moderate and regular moisture. Watering should be done as needed: in summer - more often and more abundantly, in winter - less often and in a smaller volume. The main symptoms of lack of moisture are darkening and falling leaves.
4. Fertilizer. Liquid flower food in half the dosage should be applied during the summer once every 2-3 weeks.
5. Reproduction. The most popular method of propagating peperomia is from stem or leaf cuttings. They are rooted in wet sand or a mixture of sand and peat. Maintaining warmth and good moisture will allow you to achieve high-quality roots within a month. After this, the cuttings, as an independent plant, are transplanted into another pot.
6. Transfer. Peperomia is relocated in the spring. This plant has a small root system, so the ideal container for it is wide and not deep. When planted, a high-quality cutting should have 2-3 leaves or internodes.
7. Trimming. Sanitary pruning of diseased and dry branches is necessary for all varieties of peperomia. Experienced flower growers skillfully form beautiful bushes from regrown shoots of the plant. If the length of the branch exceeds 18-20 cm, it must also be trimmed. Heavy long branches often break off under their own weight.
8. Peculiarities. The color contrast and decorative qualities of the flower are lost when moisture stagnates at the roots. Peperomia needs drainage - a sufficient layer at the bottom of the pot. On hot summer days, it is useful to place the plant on a tray filled with damp expanded clay or sphagnum.

Maintaining cleanliness is an important nuance of caring for Peperomia obtufolia. The plant will respond to frequent washing and abundant spraying with an impeccable appearance.Peperomia grows especially lush and fleshy in the humid and warm atmosphere of the kitchen. This beneficial flower enriches the indoor air with oxygen, purifying it of toxins and impurities.

Diseases and pests

The fleshy leaves of peperomia are a delicacy for many pests: weevils, aphids, spider mites, slugs and mealybugs. Natural protection against disease is the specific peppery smell emitted by the plant. This property is used by people for medicinal purposes. After touching the flower, while spraying, cutting or polishing the leaves, the aroma becomes more intense and brighter.

Inhaling volatile phytoncides relieves headaches and treats migraines. If the plant cannot cope with pests on its own, you should wash the leaves and stems with a soapy solution, and then treat the flower with insecticides.

Advice
The peperomia plant is necessary in homes where there are children and people with reduced immunity. This indoor flower secretes phytoncides that have a bactericidal and disinfectant effect.

The benefits and harms of Peperomia obtufolia are a topic of discussion and debate. Supporters of the positive influence of the flower on humans note its beneficial properties. It has a powerful antimicrobial and bactericidal effect. After communicating with the plant, a person receives a charge of vital energy and feels a surge of strength. However, the flower may be harmful to allergy sufferers.

Propagation and pruning

The translation of the name of the culture sounds like “pepper-like.” Its origin and spicy aroma are similar to pepper. In nature, peperomia spreads along the surface of the earth and entwines tree trunks.Its leaf is designed in such a way that it contains a supply of moisture, which is necessary in tropical living conditions. In its natural environment, the plant reproduces by seeds. It is difficult to get the seed to ripen at home, so cuttings and leaves are used for this purpose.

• the propagation leaf must be large and healthy, without defects or damage;
• The cuttings for propagation are taken from the side branches or the top; there should be several internodes on it.

The prepared leaf or cutting is placed in water to allow roots to grow. For best growth and development, young plants require greenhouse conditions - good lighting, elevated temperature and humidity. To do this, cover the container with glass or polyethylene. At the same time, the rules of care remain the same as for an adult plant.

Advice
The magazine purity-en.htgetrid.com recommends pinching the top of the plant, after which the flower produces many side shoots. Peperomia becomes more lush and voluminous.

Pruning compact varieties of peperomia involves removing dry and damaged parts of the plant. After these events, the flower begins to grow with renewed vigor - it produces many young branches and fresh leaves.

An indoor peperomia flower will delight its owner with many years of green and fragrant life. Its beautiful patterned leaves will not go unnoticed in your home flower collection. Compositions of peperomia obtufolia with miniature trees, bonsai and moss look original and unusual. And its unpretentious nature and resistance to diseases will delight any gardener.