Watermelon peperomia is a shallow root shrub that grows to a height of 8 to 12 inches. Peperomia is slow developing plants, not developing more than one foot (30 cm). Peperomia plant is a tropical plant used as an indoor plant to increase the elegance and make the house captivating. It grows in South Africa and Central America and some other parts of the world.
Peperomia contains over 1000 species out of which some are prepared to a great extent. Peperomia is small in size, luscious, and having features of herbs which are widely produced.
Peperomia plants distinguish fleshy stems connecting heart-shaped leaves with the seeds to fruiting spikes. Leaves are in red, gray, or pale green colors at its boundaries.
Flowers of peperomia plants are not fragrant at all and develop about 2 inches longitudinally above the foliage.
Peperomia plants seem usually closed compact, rarely developing in an indoor setting. Peperomia plants usually have features of sturdy stems and many fleshy leaves with moistness.
Peperomia plants are lovable for its beautiful foliage and not their flowers which are not impressive at all. There are about 1000 species of peperomia out of which watermelon peperomia is one of them.
Watermelon peperomia gets its name due to resemblance of its leaves with watermelon. Leaves of peperomia look like stripes of green and white color just like a watermelon represents itself.
Scientific names of watermelon peperomia are peperomia Argyreia is a part of the peperomia family of plants. Watermelon peperomia small-sized plant.
It generally develops a length of about 9 inches and has a breadth of about 6 inches. Watermelon peperomia has ovoid shaped leaves with silver gray bands.
It can evolve up to eight inches in height and width, but only if implanted in a big vessel that permits for the development of the roots. Watermelon peperomia has a three-dimensional appearance of leaves and a heaping habit.
Table of Contents
Soil:
The soil provides attachment, water, and supplements. An equal mixture of peat moss and perlite is a great choice. Peperomia plants possess a small root system which makes them ideal for indoor plants.
Mixing small gravels will help roots to get the air they need for their growth. Soil acts as a key element in potting the peperomia. Use a well-drained soil that gets a huge amount of air.
Watermelon Peperomia don’t require rooting more often. When repotting the peperomia be assured the new mixture is well-drained and aerated, holding capacity of soil for water and supplements well and the pH of soil ranges between 5.0-6.5.
Watering a watermelon peperomia:
Watermelon peperomia is not the type of plant that needs to wet all day for a long duration.
It is significant not to overwater watermelon peperomia plants or underwater them. Overwatering will result in decomposed roots and the death of plants and under-watering will make them sick or induce them to catch any disease through parasites.
To water properly let the soil lose its moisture in between equal intervals of waterings. In actual fact, abandoning the soil regularly full of moisture will harm the plant.
To get the watering done, permit the soil to lose moisture to the sense of touch at above and then water completely.
The type of soil used to implant Watermelon peperomia will illustrate in controlling the comprehensive health and welfare of the watermelon peperomia.
Generally, utilizing a mix restrains a great quantity of perlite and sand in a potting medium, as long as it drains out easily. The vessel in which the plant is set should have a minimum one drainage hole, to permit excess water to drain out completely.
Even though water obligations are low, it is essential to observe the watermelon peperomia plant. If the semi-succulent leaves sink, it may be notified to water the watermelon plant again.
Rise the level of relative humidity higher during the spring and summer developing seasons by placing the plant on a baking tray full of pebbles and water under pebbles or keep a humidifier in the surrounding environment of the plant to regulate the air movements.
But during winter, water the plant slightly in a low quantity. There are other factors responsible for the growth of watermelon peperomia are light, temperature, fertilizers,etc.
Light:
Watermelon peperomia will live in inadequate light conditions. The plants are known for maintaining the level in dark surroundings without ventilation or passage for light, considering there is a sufficient quantity of artificial setup of fluorescent light throughout the daytime.
In their natural habitats plants live in shrouded inside forests with a little bit of sunlight and shade so it is needed to attempt and reproduce this.
Make sure to put watermelon peperomia in a place where direct sunlight is restricted. Overlight, specifically direct light, is normally terrible news for peperomia plants. Straight, enormous sunlight will scorch the leaves.
Temperatures:
Warm moderate temperatures range between 60°F – 80°F (c. 15°C – 27°C) supply the finest developing temperatures for these members of the plant family. Temperatures below the ranges of 50°F – 55°F (c. 10°C – 13°C). will destroy the leaves of the Peperomia plant.
Peperomia plants change the requirements of temperature to either minimize the temperature ranges or maximize the temperature ranges.
Fertilizers:
Species of the peperomia family turn out to be slow developers and Watermelon peperomia is no anomaly. Hold on to the plant well by only fertilizing it once or twice a year.
Fertilize in the season of spring or the summer, not in the dormancy or winter.
In actual fact, during the spring span, the plant is developing utilize a less strengthened water-based fertilizer for one time every 2 – 4 weeks till the summer season lasts. A 20-20-20 fertilizer used daily to grow the peperomia vigorously. As with most houseplants, it’s best to under fertilize and not over-fertilized. Feed one time every two or three months during the dormancy phase.
Use The fertilizer diluted to half the approved strength.
Humidity:
The relative humidity is a measure of moisture contained in the environment. Remarked relative humidity as an essential reason for indoor plants like peperomia; 40%-50% relative humidity considered as a medium need.
Peperomia plants must have high humidity levels and love this environment. Because of the small root system, peperomia collects water from their leaves.
During summer mist the leaves and group plants together may help to create a humid environment for better growth.
To boost the misting, set the peperomia on a baking tray and fill the baking tray with water and scatter some pebbles into the water and place the peperomia just above the pebbles. This will increase the moisture level in the environment around the plant.
Watermelon peperomia is graceful and appealing with leaves of dark green colored assembled in a circular shape and silvery gray zones extending from the center of the leaf.
The leaf blades are in the shape of a cup and they are sustained from long reddish stalks that attach leaves to stem.
Watermelon peperomia is propagated through the “leaf cutting method”.
Leaf cutting method:
- Prepare propagation tray or pots earlier than planned. Use an equal mix of potting mix and perlite.
- Be sure of cleanliness, propagation pot, or tray, and all equipment in use is clean, and perfectly sterile, as the fungal disease is the severe issue that can put a stop in propagating Peperomia.
- Cut off the leaf of the plant together with a bit of stem.
- Dip the cutting leaf into root powder. This will promote new roots to thrive.
- Create a small channel in the potting medium, so insert leaf cutting can easily 1-2 cm into the new potting mix.
- Firm the potting mix around the cutting of the leaf. Water the potting media entirely.
- Cover the cuttings. Either use a polythene bag or a propagation tray over the top of the plant pot.
- Keep the newly propagated plants in bright indirect light at a normal indoor temperature of the surrounding environment.
- Remove the covering for a few hours every few days to stop the excessive humidity which carries a risk of severe fungal disease.
- Firstly notice, is the growth of new roots from the cut edge of the leaf. Following a new shoot and then leaves start to grow.
Frequency of water:
How often should the watermelon peperomia be watered? The answer is a complex inspection that depends on several reasons. Every plant that has unique requirements will change entirely.
- Environment – Watering watermelon peperomia plants will depend on the surrounding environment they are in. Some plants placed in indirect sunlight will need watering more often than others in dark corners.
- Time Of Year – watermelon peperomia plants require less water at the time of the winter and more at the times when plants are flowering and developing. Regulate watering accordingly to stop the root rot.
Indications of overwatering and under-watering:
There are common indications of under-watering or over-watering on the plants, some indications are mentioned below need to modify the frequency of watering that is being offered:
Dry Soil – when soil loses its moisture it shows that this is the correct time to water the watermelon peperomia.
Brown, Crisp Leaves – when the leaves will dry out they start to fall off, plants often become environmentally aware and fall off leaves when opposed with too little or too much water.
Refusal To Bloom – If a plant does not get sufficient water it will not respond to the blooming cycle and will not flourish at all.
Drooping Or Sagging – Plants that don’t get the sufficient quantity of water then they often result in droop or sink
Soggy Soil – if there is stagnant water under the plant or into the soil, the plant’s roots may get rot. Avoid overwatering and repot the plant again to protect the further growth of the plant.
Methods to watering a variety of watermelon peperomia:
There are contrasting ways of watering watermelon peperomia plants approved. To supply plant the greatest possibilities at continuity, take time to give time to the plant for proper watering:
Top To Bottom – These approved plants have their rhizomes(root balls) revealed to a great measure of water from the top part of the soil mix. Press the leaves to one side and add-on water for a few seconds. Carry on this up to water depart the base of the vessel.
Bottom – This watermelon peperomia has approved their water to convey from the base, which has root systems that develop nearby to the base of the pot. To supply these plants watering, fill up a tray below the vessel, and hold back for the plant to confiscate the water it needs. Most plants have had enough water one time – then remove the excess water from the tray.
Immersion: Plants are approved of this nature to have their complete vessel set in a stagnant sink of water for an hour. This permits the plants a possibility to absorb the water amount they require. There are several plants that appreciate the developing period for one time in a month, until the excess water exhausts.
References
https://academic.oup.com/aob/article/86/3/511/2588286
http://ujh.unilag.edu.ng/index.php/ujmst/article/view/139
https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19810301693
Hi there! My name is Constance and I am a professional botanist. My enthusiasm for organic farming has led me to start this blog about gardening for beginners!
I write articles and tips on improving your home and garden with less work. I also share my own advice from the perspective of someone who loves all things green – like how to grow vegetables in containers or how to make compost out of kitchen scraps.