How to Grow and Care for the "Smoking Ghost" Plant (Peperomia) - Ensure Plenty of Water in Summer

SummarySeed propagation: Prepare a cutting medium, select healthy terminal branches about 5cm long and cut them off in April-May, keep 1-2 leaves, and after the cut surface dries, insert them into a sand bed; they will generally take root in 10-15 days. Soil: Choose a well-draining, breathable, loose imported peat, break it up and mix it evenly with water, then put it into a pot. Potting: Lay a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, apply an appropriate amount of base fertilizer, then add the culture medium, and finally place the plant in; during cultivation, ensure air circulation, light, and sufficient water.

What Is the "Smoking Ghost" Plant

The "smoking ghost" is Peperomia obtusifolia, a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant in the Piperaceae family and Peperomia genus. Its leaves are relatively small but thick and green, and it can absorb harmful elements such as formaldehyde from the air and nicotine from secondhand smoke, hence the name “smoking ghost”.

It is mainly distributed in Taiwan, China, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, southern Gansu, and southern Tibet; it is also distributed in Africa, tropical and subtropical Asia, and Oceania, and mostly grows on moist rocks or dead trees.

How to Grow the "Smoking Ghost" Plant

To plant the smoking ghost, cuttings are mostly used for propagation.

1. Seedling propagation

1. Cutting medium

Nutrient soil, river sand, peat soil, and other materials can be used; for home cuttings, you can use a already prepared and sterilized cutting medium or medium-coarse river sand, but before use it should be rinsed several times with clean water.

2. Cuttings

Each year in April-May, select healthy terminal branches, choose branches about 5cm long as cuttings, keep 1-2 leaves on the upper part, and after the cut surface dries, insert them into a moist sand bed; or use a knife to cut off leaves with petioles, let them dry slightly, and insert them obliquely into the sand bed; they will generally take root in 10-15 days.

2. Soil

Choose loose imported peat with good drainage and breathability in the 5-40mm size range, break the peat up, stir it evenly with water, and put it into a pot for later use.

3. Potting

First place 2-3cm of coarse granular medium or ceramsite at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, sprinkle 1-2cm of fully decomposed organic fertilizer on top as base fertilizer, cover it with 1-2cm of culture medium, and then place the plant into the pot, avoiding contact between the fertilizer and the roots so as not to burn the roots.

Precautions for Growing the "Smoking Ghost" Plant

1. In the peak growth periods of early spring and late autumn, cut off stems or leaves with 3-4 leaf nodes, wait for the wounds to dry, then insert them into the medium, and spray the cuttings and medium with water; as long as the medium is kept moist, roots and new shoots will quickly grow; when temperatures are relatively high from late spring to early autumn, cuttings rot easily, so it is best not to take cuttings at this time.

2. In summer, pay attention to strengthening air circulation so that the temperature inside the plant can be released; place it in semi-shade or set up shade equipment for it, and spray the plant 2-3 times a day to ensure sufficient water.

3. In winter, move the plant indoors to a place with sufficient light; if it is kept outdoors, wrap it with plastic film to help it overwinter smoothly, but every two days, uncover the film at noon when the temperature is relatively high to let it breathe.