What to do when a Peperomia obtusifolia gets leggy? Pruning methods to solve the problem of it growing too tall

The Peperomia obtusifolia is on the small side, looking short and chubby and very cute, but it grows too fast, and if you are not careful it grows very long, so its image is no longer so adorably stubby. Actually, there is no need to worry. Today the editor will teach you a few tricks. With a bit of handling, our Peperomia obtusifolia can still be as cute as before.

How to handle a Peperomia obtusifolia that has grown too tall

1. Pruning

Use the pruning method: cut off some of the dense or high-position leaves, and won't your Peperomia obtusifolia turn back into its original short form? At this point, does everyone think this is just too simple, with no difficulty at all?

2. Air-drying

Do not throw away the cut-off Peperomia obtusifolia pieces; they still have great uses. First place the leaves in a ventilated spot to air-dry for one to two days, then set them aside for use.

3. Preparing materials

Buy or use an idle flower pot, fill it with sterilized fine, soft sandy soil, and have the air-dried branches and leaves ready.

4. Cuttings

At this point, note that when cutting you must cut together with the leaf stalk, then insert the leaf stalk deep into the soil in the pot. In one pot you can insert a ring of leaves around the edge of the pot, about six or seven leaves is enough.

5. Follow-up care

After the operation is complete, place the pot with the cuttings in a place that is both bright and humid, and in the days that follow just keep the soil moist. Generally, with careful care, cuttings will grow new roots and stems in fifteen days. After growth enters a stable stage, you can add some organic fertilizer, and before long another pot of adorable Peperomia obtusifolia will be born.

Pruning methods for Peperomia obtusifolia

1. Pinching the Peperomia obtusifolia

Flower lovers who adore Peperomia obtusifolia may be a little reluctant, but if you cannot bear to pinch it, you cannot grow it well. Generally, when it grows to about ten cm, you should pinch it back appropriately, which can stop it from growing taller. Another point is that once pinched, it can promote the growth of side branches of the Peperomia obtusifolia. In this way, not only is the height limited, but it also becomes fuller and fuller. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?

2. Pruning the Peperomia obtusifolia

Even after pinching, it will still keep growing taller, just not as fast, so for some branches that have already been pinched and are still very tall, we can cut them off. Note that what is cut off are the tall and dense branches; this keeps it looking good while also increasing the airiness of the potted plant, which can to a certain extent prevent it from rotting or dying.

3. Using the branches cut from the Peperomia obtusifolia

If you really feel it is a pity to throw away the pruned branches, you can use stem cuttings or leaf cuttings to propagate them.

Hydroponic growing methods for Peperomia obtusifolia

1. Substrate: For soilless culture of Peperomia obtusifolia, the substrate can be vermiculite:peat:slag at 1:1:1 or perlite:peat:river sand at 1:1:1. The nutrient solution used can be a foliage plant nutrient solution or a compound flower fertilizer. When potting, first add a layer of ceramic gravel or coarse sand to the bottom of the pot, place the seedling in the center and hold it upright, then add substrate until the pot is eight-tenths full.

2. Nutrient solution: The first time you water with nutrient solution, water thoroughly until liquid seeps out into the tray at the bottom of the pot. After that, replenish liquid and water as usual; for small and medium pots, replenish liquid once a week, 50-100 ml each time.

3. Humidity: Replenish water on ordinary days to keep the substrate moist; the pH value can be kept at around 6.5. During the growing period, it is best to spray the stems and leaves with clean water 1-2 times a day to help keep the leaves green and fresh, which is especially important in dry climates and in the high-temperature season of summer.

4. Light: Peperomia obtusifolia is a semi-shade plant. Normally place it in a position with good scattered light; in winter when the temperature is lower, it can be placed in a spot with ample light. But if it is kept in an overly shady environment for a long time, besides being prone to leggy stems and branches, the leaf color will also become pale and lusterless, greatly affecting its ornamental value.

5. Temperature: In winter, pay attention to cold protection and keeping warm; keep the room temperature above 15°C and reduce the frequency of liquid replenishment and watering to avoid root rot and leaf rot.

Leaf cutting method for Peperomia obtusifolia

1. Hold the base of the leaf stalk with your hand and gently shake left and right; take several strong leaves, best from the middle and lower part of the plant, and place the removed leaves in a ventilated place to dry.

2. Put sand in a flower pot and insert the leaves at a 45-degree angle into the pot.

3. Spray water onto the sand to keep the pot soil moist.

4. When the temperature is above 20 degrees, roots can form in about 20 days. The specific time depends on the situation; just wait patiently. Once 3 new leaves have grown, normal care can begin.

The methods we studied together today are actually mainly to maintain the growth rate of the Peperomia obtusifolia. Pruning methods can keep the Peperomia obtusifolia in good shape. Although its overly long branches are pruned, do not feel it is a pity; you can use the leaf cutting method for Peperomia obtusifolia we mentioned to propagate and grow more Peperomia obtusifolia.