Raindrop peperomia

Raindrop peperomia: how do you recognise it?

Growth habit

Evergreen houseplant with upright, later slightly arching stems, 30–40 cm tall and about 30 cm wide.

Leaves

Heart- to drop-shaped, about 5–10 cm, thick and fleshy, glossy green with a clear point.

Stems

Fleshy, light green to reddish; they become a little woody with age and droop.

Flower

Small, inconspicuous greenish-white flower spikes, like all peperomias. The plant is grown mainly for its foliage.

Roots

Small and shallow: a small pot is enough and wet compost quickly causes rot.

Plants: March–April · Pruning: March–April

Why grow it?

• Glossy, fleshy, heart-shaped leaves give plenty of ornamental value without needing flowers.
• Stores water in its leaves and so tolerates a missed watering.
• Compact size (about 35 cm): fits on a desk, shelf or windowsill.
• Evergreen and easy to propagate from cuttings, even from a single leaf.
• Low maintenance: it does not need extra humidity.

Raindrop peperomia: where does it grow best?

• Bright light without strong midday sun: an east- or west-facing window, or a spot near a north-facing one. In too little light the stems become long and sparse.
• Airy, free-draining potting compost with about a third of perlite or coarse sand; slightly acid to neutral.
• Room temperature of 18–25 °C. Never below 12 °C.
• Normal room air is enough. Keep it away from draughts and cold windows.

Light

Bright, out of direct sun

Potting soil

Multi-purpose compost or airy, humus-rich compost

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Watering

Sparingly or moderately

Size

0.35 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Temperature

Minimum 12 °C

Goes well with

• Chinese money plant (Pilea): Another compact foliage plant with the same bright spot and sparing watering.
• Hoya: Tolerates the same bright, slightly dry conditions.
• Ferns: Soft, fine foliage next to the fleshy leaves, in the same light shade.
• Calathea: A striking leaf pattern next to the plain, glossy leaves.

Raindrop peperomia: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April.

1. Repot in March–April, at most every 2 years: it has a small root system and likes to be a little snug.
2. Choose a pot with drainage holes, but only one size larger than the last. Terracotta dries out faster and suits this plant well.
3. Mix potting compost with a third of perlite or coarse sand to make an airy, free-draining mix.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as before and firm the compost gently without damaging the brittle stems.
5. Water a little and then let the top half of the compost dry out before the next watering.

Care

Water

Let the top half of the pot dry out between waterings: in summer usually every 7–10 days, in winter every 2–3 weeks. Too much water is its biggest enemy: limp, translucent leaves and soft stems.

Feeding

From April to September every 4 weeks, half a dose of houseplant feed. Not in winter.

Light

The brighter (without strong sun), the more compact and fresher the plant. Turn the pot now and then for even growth.

Pinching

Pinch out the tips in spring for a bushy plant.

Cleaning

Dust the leaves with a damp cloth so that the glossy foliage catches light at its best.

Tip: Let the compost dry out between waterings and keep it bright without strong sun. Propagate it easily from a tip cutting or a leaf with its stalk, and pinch out the tips for a bushy plant.

Raindrop peperomia: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March–April.

When: In March–April, when growth picks up again. Small corrections can be made all year round.

How:

• Cut long, bare or floppy stems back to just above a node (leaf joint): they regrow from below the cut.
• Pinch out the tips for a bushy plant.
• Remove yellow, limp or damaged leaves and withered flower spikes.
• Use the cut-off tips straight away as cuttings.

Caution: Do not prune in the dark winter months: the plant hardly grows then and recovers slowly.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Tip cuttings

From April to August: cut a tip of 8–10 cm with 2–3 leaves, remove the bottom leaf and put the cutting in moist, airy compost or in a glass of water. At 20–25 °C it roots in 3–5 weeks.

Leaf cuttings with stalk

In spring or summer: push a mature leaf with 2–3 cm of stalk into moist, sandy compost and keep it warm and moist under a clear lid. After a few weeks a new little plant appears.

Raindrop peperomia: how does it get through the winter?

• Not hardy: the minimum temperature is 12 °C. It overwinters indoors.
• Keep it bright and at 15–20 °C. Below 12 °C it drops its leaves and rots quickly.
• Water much less: let the compost almost dry out completely between waterings, roughly every 2–3 weeks.
• Do not put it above a radiator or against a cold window, and do not feed from October to February inclusive.

Diseases and pests

• Leaf drop and limp leaves: Usually too much water or cold. Check whether the compost is wet, let it dry out and move the plant somewhere warmer. If the roots are rotten, take the plant out of the pot, cut away the rotten parts and repot it in fresh compost.
• Wrinkled leaves: A sign of drying out for too long or damaged roots. Give it a thorough watering and then water regularly again.
• Long, sparse stems: Too little light. Move it somewhere brighter and cut the stems back.
• Spider mites and mealybugs: Fine webbing (spider mites) or white fluffy patches (mealybugs) on the leaves. Rinse the plant in the shower or wipe it with a soft cloth and soapy water and repeat weekly.

Through the year

• January: Rest: bright, 15–20 °C, almost no water.
• February: Rest. Still sparing with water.
• March: Prune, pinch out tips and repot. Water a little more again.
• April: Repot. Start feeding (half dose). Take cuttings.
• May: Growth. Water regularly, feed. Take cuttings.
• June: Growth. Take tip or leaf cuttings.
• July: Growth. Shade from strong midday sun.
• August: Growing season. Cuttings are still possible.
• September: Last feed.
• October: Stop feeding. Water less.
• November: Rest: bright and sparing with water.
• December: Rest. Keep away from radiators.

Did you know?

• Peperomia is related to black pepper: both belong to the pepper family (Piperaceae).
• The name Peperomia comes from the Greek peperi (pepper) and homoios (similar): ‘resembling pepper’.
• The genus Peperomia has more than a thousand species, many of which grow wild on trees or rocks.