Types And Cultivation Of Ampelous Peperomia (Peperomia)

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

According to the horoscope for the zodiac sign Taurus (April 21 - May 20), flower astrologers include the following plants: Kalanchoe Blossfeld and Mangin, decorative growing begonias (tuberous, multiflorous, winter-flowering), primrose (primrose), Persian cyclamen and Uzambara violet, gloxinia (sinningia) excellent, ampelous peperomias (climbing, large-leaved, creeping).

The genus Peperomia (Peperomia) of the pepper family (Piperaceae) is quite numerous, numbering more than 1000 species. It comes mainly from the subtropical and tropical regions of South America and the East Indies.

The name peperomia, according to one assumption, is given from combinations of the Greek words pepri (pepper) and omos (the same, similar) because of the similarity to pepper, in another way - from the ancient Indian pipiflam (peppercorn). The basis for the latest version was that the leaves of this plant, when rubbed with your fingers, smell like pepper.

Peperomias are perennial evergreen herbaceous low (15-50 cm) plants with white-green peduncles similar to mouse tails, small inconspicuous flowers without perianths (they sit in the axils of small thyroid bracts), form thin tail-shaped inflorescences - cobs or ears-panicles.

Because of such peduncles, peperomia is sometimes offensively called a plant with "rat tails". Fruits are dry berries that crumble after ripening, even with a slight touch. These plants have slightly succulent leaves, varied in shape, color and structure. Among the species of this genus, there are bushy, erect and ampelous varieties. Under natural conditions, some of them grow on trees and rocks (epiphytes), others are terrestrial.

In indoor conditions, only about 50 species of peperomia are cultivated, and many amateurs willingly keep these slow-growing plants, very decorative thanks to their foliage. Especially those who do not have a large room. The group of ampelous species is of considerable interest among flower growers, although it is much less common than other peperomias (bushy and erect).

Reddish peperomia (P.rubella) (homeland - Mexico and West Indies) has creeping, thin reddish shoots and ovoid leaves. The upper part is green with a dark pattern, the lower one is red.

Round-leaved peperomia (P.rotundifolia) - from the tropics of Central and South America, it is very small - no more than 1 cm, round, even rather lenticular juicy, pale green leaves with a brown pattern.

Creeping peperomia (P.prostrata) - stands out with red and not very large for peperomia green leaves with silvery or bronze spots, heart-shaped leaves.

Peperomia creeping (P.serpens) - from the tropics of Central and South America, it is characterized by lodging, ascending and drooping shoots, as well as light green leaves 3-5 cm long. It has forms with variegated leaves.

Peperomia glabrous (P.glabella) has short (15-20 cm) pinkish-greenish stems and alternate green leaves on short petioles, they are round in shape with a blunt apex.

Climbing or tenacious peperomia (P.scandens varitgata) is distinguished by relatively large (almost 5 cm) green leaves for ampelous plants with a wide yellow border and a waxy surface. Its drooping shoots can reach a length of 1-1.3 m. In the Variegated variety, the branches exceed 1.5 m, the leaves are small, pointed with a creamy-white edge, the petioles are pinkish. It is advisable to grow this type of peperomia like a liana, tying it to a support.

Peperomia bristemis (P. caulibardis) is an original plant with flowing branched shoots. She has alternate green leaves of a rounded shape on short petioles; stems and petioles are pinkish.

To keep these heat-loving plants - in summer, the optimal temperature is 24 … 27 ° C - in the room they choose a place with partial shade (in its depths) or arrange a bright diffused light, or even better place the peperomia on the north side, since the sun spoils the leaves. Because of this, their color fades greatly, and sometimes numerous bulges appear on the leaves. Variegated varieties of ampelous peperomias are placed closer to the light, but not in direct sunlight.

These flowers do well under artificial (fluorescent) lighting. Plants do not like cold air and drafts. Because of this, they stop growing.

Since peperomias have very thin, delicate and rather short roots, it is better to plant them in low pots, and at the bottom of the container it is imperative to do high drainage (5-6 cm) with a good drain. The soil substrate for permanent cultivation of peperomia is usually combined of 2/3 of the greenhouse land and 1/3 of river sand. A more fertile soil for them is a mixture of deciduous and soddy soil, peat and sand (3: 2: 1: 1). In hot dry weather, spraying with settled and slightly warmed water is recommended.

Peperomia is watered very carefully, and also with soft and settled water that does not contain calcium salts. During intensive growth, plants are watered abundantly, but excess moisture in the soil should not be allowed. However, the soil should dry out between waterings. At the same time, it is impossible to bring the plant to the wilting of the leaves.

Every two weeks, fertilizing is carried out with weakly concentrated solutions of complex mineral fertilizers, free of calcium, but only after abundant watering, so as not to burn the root system.

In winter, they are selected a fairly warm room (18 … 20 ° C), at temperatures below 15 ° C, peperomias develop very weakly, they very poorly tolerate coolness. During this period, watering is sharply reduced, it is preferable to spray them, since the roots easily rot, and the plant loses its decorative effect, it may even die.

Although the succulent leaves of peperomia are equipped with a layer of aquiferous tissue and can sometimes tolerate dry air well, it is better to move them away from heating devices and spray them daily. Many peperomia are epiphytes, therefore they tolerate a lack of moisture better than its excess. With improper care, leaves fall off.

At home, ampelous types of peperomias are usually cultivated for 2-4 years, constantly renewing the plants, transplanted if necessary (in April). Ampel species, as a rule, are propagated in spring by stem cuttings (bush cuttings - by leaf cuttings): cuttings with two leaves are planted in mini-greenhouses (without air access). They are placed in peat or peat with sphagnum in equal proportions.

But when multiplying a variegated variety, it is advisable to take leaves with a part of the stem in order to preserve the variegated color of the leaves. Sometimes they resort to seed reproduction. Since the seeds are quite small, after sowing in the spring they do not need to be covered with earth. Seedlings appear in 10-14 days. A month later, the seedlings dive into the nutrient mixture - leafy earth + peat + sand (1: 1: 0.5).

Some growers consider this group of plants to be very resistant to pests and diseases. However, the appearance of mealybugs, spider mites and nematodes is possible on them. The worms are washed off with soapy water (20 g / l), while it is better to take liquid potassium soap.

For greater reliability, experts recommend using acaricides (for example, 2-3 treatments are carried out with a 0.2% solution of actellik with an interval of 7-10 days). These drugs are also effective against spider mites, which appear on plants most often at low indoor humidity. Therefore, its number can be limited by regular spraying of plant foliage.

In addition, the stems and leaves of peperomia are susceptible to infectious fungal rot (sulfur and root). On these plant organs, the appearance of spots is noted, on which a gray or pinkish mycelium is often formed.

The occurrence of root rot is sometimes associated with waterlogging of an earthen coma (especially when using heavy soil as a soil substrate). Usually this disease begins with the appearance of weeping spots on the leaf blade. Then the petiole rots, and the leaf dies.

As a measure to combat this phenomenon, it is recommended to remove heavily affected leaves with a sharp knife, after which the sections are sprinkled with crushed charcoal. Good results are obtained by spraying foliage and shedding soil with a 0.2% solution of foundationol.

As ampelous plants, flower growers keep peperomias in bowls, baskets or on snags: for small rooms they will be ideal flowers. These decorative foliage plants can be placed in flower displays, in vases to decorate halls and winter gardens.