How Does Peperomia Make It Through Winter? Winter Care Tips
Peperomia is a small, cute plant that works well in all kinds of spots around the home. It purifies the air, helps people shake off fatigue, and also has certain medicinal value. Such a useful peperomia really needs especially careful cultivation, especially winter care. We must get the water and temperature under control so it can make it through winter safely.
How Peperomia Makes It Through Winter
Peperomia likes warm, humid, semi-shaded environments. The optimal growing temperature is 15-25°C; growth stops below 10°C, and below 5°C it suffers cold damage, with root rot, yellow leaves and death. Therefore, care during the overwintering period is very important. In winter it should be placed in a sunny spot indoors so it gets plenty of sunlight, which both keeps it warm and preserves the beauty of its leaf color.
The indoor temperature in winter must not be lower than 12°C, otherwise the leaves will wilt and droop and suffer cold damage. If the indoor temperature is too low and there is no heating at night, it is best to put the pot in a straw basket lined with wood shavings or cotton, then take it out during the day when there is plenty of sunlight and the temperature rises; at night you can also cover it with a plastic bag to keep it warm. In winter, water sparingly rather than generously. Rotting leaves are often caused by watering too much. Watering is best done at noon, and slightly warm calcium-free water should be used; cold water will cause the plant to rot. No fertilizer is needed in winter.
Winter Care Tips for Peperomia
1. Winter care location for peperomia
Winter temperatures differ between north and south. In the north, peperomia should be moved indoors for the winter; when the outdoor temperature drops to around 13°C, move it indoors immediately and place it in a bright spot. In the south, it can overwinter outdoors directly, with a protective film over the pot, but every two days at noon when the temperature is higher, uncover the film to let it breathe. (The editor's point is, just move it indoors for the winter whether you are in the north or the south, and save yourself the trouble.)
2. Winter light requirements for peperomia
Peperomia fears strong direct sun, but winter sunlight is no challenge for it at all. Indoors, place it in as bright a spot as possible where sunlight can reach it, and every 1-2 months put it outdoors in a semi-shaded spot for a while, then move it back indoors at night. This lets the plant take in nutrients fully and recover its growth.
3. Winter fertilizer and water requirements for peperomia
Fertilizing and watering peperomia is a troublesome matter. You cannot fertilize randomly, use concentrated fertilizer, or apply only nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium. The rule is “light fertilizer applied frequently, small amounts but many times, complete nutrition.” More fertilizer during the peak growing season promotes growth, but during the winter dormant period use less fertilizer; once a month is fine. Watering differs slightly indoors and outdoors: outdoors, water once a week, with shorter intervals on sunny days or during high temperatures and longer intervals or no watering on rainy days or during low temperatures. For indoor care, water about once every 10 days, choosing a sunny noon when the temperature is higher.
Does Peperomia Bloom?
Peperomia does bloom, it is just not often seen. With proper care, peperomia blooms twice a year, with flowering periods in February-April and September-October. Peperomia blooms, but the shape is not really a flower; a little stick-like thing extends from the middle of the leaf, and people may well think it is a new bud, but it is not. After careful observation you will find that the flower of peperomia is different from the leaves. Peperomia has a spike inflorescence densely set with small greenish-white flowers, with pollen on top, which may be clearer under a magnifying glass.
The Benefits of Peperomia
1. Ornamental value. Peperomia is a small ornamental plant with fairly high ornamental value in home decoration. Its thick leaves and emerald green color, fresh and natural, small and cute, make it much loved. Its bright green, glossy leaves in particular have a naturally striking sheen and could not be better for viewing.
2. Decorating the home. Placed indoors, peperomia can decorate the home and is very fresh and natural. Peperomia is small in form; planted in a white porcelain pot or an artistic flowerpot, with its petite body and emerald leaves, it is very elegant and refined. Placed on a coffee table, desk or office desk, it is very beautiful. Or hang it as a trailing plant in front of a window or in the bathroom, and it is also very pleasing to the eye. A cold home, paired with a small emerald plant, gains a touch of warmth.
3. Purifying the air. When it comes to purifying air, peperomia definitely has something to say: the green leaves of the whole plant can purify harmful gases such as formaldehyde and biphenyl from the air, which has a certain positive effect on home environment safety. Placing a green plant indoors can also protect the eyes and relieve fatigue.
4. Medicinal value. Peperomia can be used as medicine. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, taken internally peperomia can dispel wind and dampness, stop cough and remove phlegm, and has significant effects in treating bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough and so on; used externally it can treat bruises and fractures. So peperomia is an important part of Chinese herbal medicine. However, friends should not use it casually at home; medicine is three parts poison, so use it through proper channels.
Today we not only learned some knowledge about how peperomia makes it through winter and what needs attention, but also learned that peperomia is actually a flowering plant. I always thought it did not bloom, but it turns out it just does not bloom often, only twice a year. I really learned something new again.