Peperomia retusa
Peperomia a retusa is a small growing, creeping, succulent perennial herb belonging to the plant family Piperaceae.
Natural Distribution
The native range of Peperomia retusa is Tropical and Southern
Africa and Madagascar.
In South Africa they occur in Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal,
Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Western Cape.
Description
Peperomia retusa is a tiny ,succulent, creeping perennial
herb, rooting at the nodes, often forming a dense carpet of glossy simple green
leaves without stipules. The flowers are thread-like fleshy spikes, pale green
in colour that do not at all look like flowers.
 |
| Both the flowers and seed can be seen on this inflorescence |
Habitat
In South Africa Peperomia retusa is found growing on or near to ground as lithophytes on sheltered rocks covered with humus or as an epiphyte on trees covered in moss primarily in cool wet forests.
The genus Peperomia
Many Species of Peperomia are grown around the world mostly as house and green house plants . Peperomia is one of the two large genera of the family Piperaceae. It is estimated that there are at least over 1,000 species, occurring in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
The genus Peperomia is concentrated in South and Central
America. However they are also found in southern North America, the Caribbean
islands, Africa, Oceania, and the southern and eastern parts of Asia.
Peperomias vary considerably in appearance and there is no
universally accepted method of categorizing them. Most species are compact and
usually do not exceed 30 cm in height.
Most Peperomia plants in cultivation have decorative
foliage. Their natural habitat is mostly in rain or clouds forests as
epiphytes. They are adapted to living in small shady crevices on, for example,
trees, with small root systems. As they do not have access to ground water they
are typically succulent to a certain degree which in many species shows as
thick, fleshy leaves, which have a waxy surface and are sometimes rippled.
Peperomias are largely considered non-toxic and are often
recommended for households with children or animals.
Peperomia plants can be propagated from seeds, by cuttings,
or by division. Peperomia cuttings of most species root very easily.
Growing Peperomia retusa.
Peperomia retusa needs an airy, well-draining substrate which must dry out to some extent or even completely between waterings. I have had the best success growing them in net like pots that are used for growing plants in hydroponics, half filled with sphagnum moss or moss collected in the forest where they grow. Moss allows good air movement to the poorly developed and sensitive root system, drain well and dries out relatively quickly. The main reason for a Peperomia retusa to die, is because of root rot caused by waterlogging. I also have had reasonable success growing Peperomia retusa in a growing medium of equal parts of coarse silica sand used in swimming pool filters, perlite, and medium sized bark pieces.
 |
| Peperomia retusa grows extremely well in these pots that I fill between a quarter to one third with moss |
Peperomia retusa care indoors
Does best in medium to bright indirect light but should be protected from direct sunlight. I have found that they grow well under ordinary daylight LED lighting given a photo period of 12 - 16 hours at a light intensity of 3500 Lux.
Choose moss or a potting mix that is loose and well-draining but
still retains moisture well.
Allow the moss or soil to dry slightly between waterings. Be very cautious of overwatering.
Peperomia retusa can be grown in a glass container or other container without drainage, but does take considerable care, the roots and growing medium must be closely monitored. Any excessive water that collects at the bottom of the glass after watering must be immediately tipped out.
 |
| The healthy roots can clearly be seen trough the glass |
Prefers cool temperatures and medium to high humidity.
During the hot humid summer months in Durban, South Africa where I live, I have a fan connected to the power source that automatically switches it on and off together with the lights. I use another fan that I switch on mostly much later in the day and if very hot leave running all night, this ensures good air movement in the room for my orchids and most probable also benefits the Peperomias as well.
to increase humidity place it on a tray of pebbles and water to increase ambient humidity, mist the plant regularly.
Fertilizer
When it comes to fertilizing peperomia plants, less is more.
As a slow-growing epiphyte, Peperomia retusa does not need much fertilizer. My plants get fertilized frequently but only with a very weak solutions of organic fertiliser, such as Seagro and Nitrosol as well as plant growth stimulants such as Marinure of Kelpak. It
is however important to regularly flush out the growing medium with plenty of fresh
water to remove any build up of salts in the growing medium that will quickly kill the roots.
Peperomia flowers
The minute green flowers that if fertilized bare a single
seed, are arranged along a stalk like inflorescence and are barely able to be seen.
If the plants are not doing well
The probable cause it that the plants are growing in
waterlogged growing medium. Remember they are lithophytes or epiphytes which
generally are not found growing in soil but in a very thin layer of detritus
and mosses where the roots get plenty of air and do not get the opportunity to
be in waterlogged oxygen poor soil.
They do require plenty of light but too much light causes the
leaves to become small, hang down and to turn a yellowish green which is not at
all attractive. They will not tolerate direct sun.
Common Pests
Peperomia plants are subject to common pests that can affect
most houseplants such as mealybugs, spider mites. These pests can be controlled by regular pesticides from your local garden shop.
No comments:
Post a Comment