Today's Gardener (todaysgardener.com) participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.
The genus Peperomia includes more than 1000 species, most of which are commonly grown as houseplants. One such tropical plant species is Peperomia puteolata.
Peperomia puteolata closely resembles watermelon peperomia due to its leaf pattern and coloration. It is a perennial trailing plant with ovate, dark green leaves, and prominent white veins. The small, white flowers are eclipsed by the stunning foliage but may appear in the summer months. Parallel peperomia has a quick-spreading habit and it is very easy to care for, which makes it an ideal beginner plant. It will thrive indoors if provided with bright light, good airflow, a warm temperature, and regular moisture without overwatering.
Let’s now get into more details on Peperomia puteolata care.
Facts About Peperomia Puteolata
- Family: Piperaceae
- Genus: Peperomia
- Common name: Radiator plant, Parallel Peperomia
- Origin: South America
- Length: Around 50 cm
- Growth habit: upright, quick spreading
- Toxicity: Non-toxic
- Care: Fairly easy
- Display: sunny windowsills, kitchen
Peperomia Puteolata Care Guide
Light
Peperomia puteolata prefers bright indirect light, ideally beside an east-facing window. This will promote new growth and a fuller look. While some direct sunlight will not damage the plant in the colder months, too much direct sunlight in the summer and spring will burn the leaves.
Temperature
Like other peperomia plants, Peperomia puteolata doesn’t like temperature fluctuations. Maintain constant room temperatures of between 18 and 25 degrees C, which are ideal temperatures for parallel peperomia.
Don’t expose your peperomia plant to cold drafts and protect it from sudden temperature drops and frost. Also, ensure good air circulation and ac vents are quite good for that.
Humidity
Although Peperomia puteolata grows in high-humidity regions in the wild, it can thrive in most hardiness zones and in regular household conditions with just a small amendment of the current conditions.
If you live in drier areas, mist the leaves occasionally and sit the plant on the tray of pebbles to increase humidity. Group the watered plants together after watering. The humidity should be above 30%.
Water
Since Peperomia puteolata is a semi-succulent plant, it has the ability to store a certain amount of water. This means it is highly susceptible to overwatering, which is likely to cause root rot.
To avoid that, keep the soil moist by watering it thoroughly, let the excess water drain through the drainage holes, and allowing it to dry at least halfway before watering again.
Soil
This beginner grower prefers good quality, well-draining potting soil that retains moisture but also drains well. The ideal soil mixture for it is a combination of perlite and peat moss. If you prefer, you can also make your own potting mix by buying each ingredient separately.
Repotting
Repotting should be done once Peperomia puteolata has outgrown its current pot. This won’t be frequent as the roots of the plant are quite small.
When it is time, choose a pot one size larger than the old nursery pot. Use a good mix of fresh soil, add some slow release fertilizer and position it in a slightly shady spot.
Fertilizer
Use half-strength liquid fertilizer during the growing season, namely in spring and summer, to help your Peperomia puteolata achieve a fuller look and get the necessary nutrients that will enrich the soil.
Make sure that the fertilizer you are using is rich in nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, or sulfate as this will target the leaves specifically.
Pruning
Pruning Peperomia puteolata is imperative to keep it in shape and encourage a fuller look. Pinch out older stems on mature plants and use them for propagation. Dispose of wilting leaves and stems.
Propagation
Take stem or leaf cuttings in the spring, though stem tip cuttings guarantee greater success with propagation. Using a clean knife, cut off a few inches of a stem cutting making sure it has at least one node and a few leaves.
Remove lower leaves and dip the end of the cutting into powdery rooting hormone to encourage rooting. Let the cutting callus over, then pot it in the mix of perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss.
Water it. Place the newly propagated plant in a warm location with indirect sunlight.
Pests
Peperomia puteolata is generally not prone to pests and diseases. The most common issues are overwatering and stunted growth due to improper care. However, spider mites may visit parallel peperomia occasionally and they thrive in warm and humid environments. To get rid of them, use insecticidal soap or neem oil.
FAQ
Is Peperomia a Good Indoor Plant?
Peperomia puteolata species make ideal indoor house plants because it is well suited to regular conditions and thus beginner-friendly. Provide enough light, preferably bright but indirect light, take stem cuttings to propagate, increase humidity, avoid sudden temperature drops, and water Peperomia puteolata once the soil has somewhat dried out.
Does Peperomia Like to be Misted?
Yes, you can mist your Peperomia puteolata in addition to watering regularly if the humidity levels are low in your growing environment. Use a spray bottle with a fine mist and position it at least 20 cm away from the plant.
Is Peperomia Toxic?
Peperomia species aren’t toxic to animals or humans (ASPCA). All peperomia species grow indoors quite well, in any hardiness zone.
Final Word
Parallel peperomia is a semi-succulent trailing species from South America with light green almond-shaped leaves and sometimes reddish stems. To take proper care of it, avoid direct sun in the summer by all means and opt for bright light instead. Use a potting mix that contains perlite, vermiculite, or peat moss. Increase humidity, ensure constant temperatures without fluctuations and your plant will reward you with lush foliage in turn.
