The genus of perennial evergreen herbaceous plants Peperomia belongs to the family Pepper (or Pepper). The flower grows in the tropical regions of Asia and America. The plant prefers shaded areas, often located on rotting trunks, peaty soils and even rocks. Peperomia boasts an amazing variety of species and varieties that differ from each other in their original shape and color. The leaves of this culture are quite dense, which brings the plant closer to succulent forms. The article will discuss what constitutes peperomia: types, features of care, scope.
Peperomia: a brief description and types
The highlight of the various species of this plant is foliage, which can be small or large, thin or dense, smooth or shriveled, round or oblong, etc. The color varies from golden and brown to light and dark green. Also, the coloring can be diluted with spots and stains of white or yellow.
Blooming Peperomia
Flowering occurs in the spring-summer period. At this time, numerous shoots with very thin, elongated inflorescences of a pinkish or cream color rise above the leaves of peperomia. The ripened fruits on the surface of the flowers look like small berries that separate very easily from the plant.
For your information! Fruit formation is only possible in the wild. Pollination occurs with the help of certain types of insects.
The bush can reach a height of 15 to 50 cm.
In floriculture, peperomies are highly valued for their decorative properties, variety of species, and low maintenance requirements.
Among the numerous forms of peperomia, both erect and branching (which are grown as ampelous) species stand out. Bush-like crops are also found.
Peperomia is characterized by slow growth (the length of the shoots increases by 13 cm annually) and not the most powerful root system, therefore it is often used in flower arrangements (for example, together with citrus fruits or monster).
The location of petiole leaves is another.
Flower propagation can be done in three ways:
- cuttings;
- by seeds;
- dividing the bush.
Popular varieties
The genus Peperomia includes 1161 species, of which about 50 varieties are grown at home.
Head peperomia
It belongs to ampelous varieties, since it has long, thin, branching stems. Their surface is decorated with small, saturated green with a shiny surface oval-shaped leaves.
The name of the culture reflects an unusual, reminiscent of the shape of the head, type of leaves.
Note! In conditions of excessive lighting, the color of the foliage loses its brightness. Also, under the influence of sunlight, saturated red stems and petioles become pale pink.
This species belongs to the category of shade-tolerant plants.
The flower is recommended to be grown in hanging flower pots.
Peperomia glabella
Shriveled Peperomia
The foliage surface of this plant is corrugated, velvety, the color is dark green, not counting the brown veins. There are also varieties with purple and red foliage. In size, the plates are not large, have a heart-shaped shape and are quite close to each other. The shoots are short, so the bush looks squat, but at the same time very magnificent.
The culture blooms for two months in the summer with white inflorescences, which in a dense cluster rise above the spectacular greenery. Flowers do not emit aroma.
Thick foliage can accumulate fluid. The roots are superficial.
For your information! This species was first described in 1958. To date, a variety of varieties have been developed.
As for the care for peperomia shriveled at home, the recommended temperature when growing a flower is 23 ° C. Moderate watering can be combined with spraying (with the exception of varieties with pubescent leaves).
Wrinkled peperomia needs fertilizer every two weeks. In winter, top dressing is not required. Transplant the culture in spring or summer. Planting is carried out in loose soil, consisting of turf, leaf and peat soil, as well as sand.
Peperomia shriveled caperata
Peperomia Klusielistnaya
The plant is characterized by erect thick stems that cover large obovate leaves of a dark green color, located on short (up to 1 cm) petioles. In length, the sheet plate reaches about 15 cm, in width - 8 cm. The surface is matte. The edges of the leaves are bordered with red-brown stains. Most of them are collected at the bottom of the shoots.
Note! In addition to two-tone varieties, variegated varieties are also found, aged in red, yellow and green.
It is recommended to grow a flower on the windowsills of eastern or western orientation. If you place a copy on the north window, then in winter you will need additional lighting.
Drafts are not allowed. The air temperature should be about 20-23 ° C, regardless of the season. Low temperature peperomy tolerates very poorly and can become ill. In hot weather, it is recommended to spray the flower.
Clusiifolia
Watermelon peperomia
The name of this species symbolizes the motley color of shiny heart-shaped leaves resembling a watermelon peel. The shape of the leaves is ovate, the length of the plate varies from 5 to 8 cm.
The height of the reddish shoots does not exceed 12 cm. A compact squat plant in the wild is ground cover. In the same quality, the culture can be used in domestic conditions. The undersized peperomia looks great along with other, larger flowers, and is also ideal for covering areas of bare soil in pots.
With good care, the culture actively develops and turns into a lush bush.
The flower needs bright diffused light, moderate watering and warm air. Fertilizing the plant is recommended with nitrogen fertilizing.
The soil for planting peperomia should pass air well, otherwise the roots will begin to rot. This culture responds well to regular spraying.
Watermelon
Variegate Peperomia
This variety comes from peperomia kluzielistnaya. The color of the oval foliage includes two shades at once: a beige border is located around the green center. Due to its small size, the culture has a compact appearance, so finding a flower in a suitable place on any windowsill will not be difficult.
Note! It is impossible to meet a plant in the natural environment, since this variety was bred as a result of breeding work.
The culture goes well with other representatives of the flora, especially in those compositions where it is necessary to dilute the palette of green shades.
For normal development, the flower needs bright diffused light.
Variegata
Peperomia gravity
The flower resembles in its appearance sea corals. Dense sheet plates with a length of 5 cm and a width of 1 cm have an elongated and twisted shape. The upper part of the sheet is painted in green or light green color, and the bottom - in burgundy, scarlet and other shades of red. The middle of each leaf is decorated with a bright green hollow.
The height of the bush can reach 25 cm. Light yellow flowers in the form of ears look very beautiful against the background of "coral" greenery.
Important! The plant does not require abundant watering and regular spraying, since fleshy tissues (like succulent ones) store water well. Culture also does not need bright lighting.
A flower transplant is carried out if necessary, when the bush grows to such a size that it will be crowded in an old pot.
Peperomia graveolens
Multi-Peperomia
This variety is rarely grown at home. The place of origin of culture are countries such as Peru, Colombia, Ecuador.
The height of the bush is from 20 to 50 cm. The shape of the leaves is cone-shaped (resembles a plantain), the color is dark green. The flowers are white or beige. Shoots are strong, well developed.
Peperomia polybotrya
Peperomia whorled
This species is characterized by branched stems. Dark green leaves of an oval or rhomboid shape are collected in whorls of 3-5 pcs.
Thanks to branching shoots, the flower is suitable for ampelous cultivation. The flowering period is in June. The annual growth of young specimens is 10-13 cm.
The recommended temperature for growing the flower is from 20 ° C to 24 ° C in the summer and from 15 ° C to 18 ° C in the winter. During dormancy, the frequency of watering should also be reduced.
The flower is able to withstand low temperatures, but not lower than 10 ° C.
Important! This type is recommended to be sprayed daily.
Plain varieties prefer shaded areas; variegated forms require more sunlight.
Neutral soil is suitable for planting. The frequency of watering should be 1 time in 10 days (reduced in winter).
Peperomia verticillata
Peperomia pereskylistvennaya
The flower is quite large, has long branching shoots. The young plant has erect stems, which eventually fall under their own weight. Oval leaves grow in groups of 3-5. The length of the leaf plate is 3-5 cm, the width reaches 2-3 cm. On its glossy surface, 2-3 curved veins are observed. Petioles are practically absent.
Pereskiifolia
Other popular plant species also include:
- condyle;
- silver peperomia;
- glabella peperomia;
- pitted peperomia;
- peperomia of the orb;
- peperomia rotundifolia.
- polyterbium peperomy;
- small-leaved peperomia;
- variegated peperomia;
- gray pepper.
Ampel growing
The genus Poperomia includes a huge number of species, each of which surprises with its original beauty. Such a wide assortment allows you to choose the appropriate copies for every taste of the grower.
