How to Grow Watermelon Peel Peperomia: You Must Do These Things
Watermelon Peel Peperomia, also known as Roundleaf Peperomia, is affectionately called Watermelon Peel Peperomia because its leaf pattern resembles a watermelon. Watermelon Peel Peperomia prefers a high-temperature, humid, semi-shaded environment with high air humidity. To keep its leaves beautifully patterned, you must do the following:
How to Grow Watermelon Peel Peperomia:
1. Substrate
It needs to be grown in loose, fertile, well-drained soil; it grows poorly in clay soil. For the potting soil, it is best to use a mix of leaf mold and coarse sand or coal cinder ash. Peat moss and perlite can also be used.
2. Temperature
Watermelon Peel Peperomia is neither tolerant of severe cold nor extreme heat. The optimal temperature for growth is 20-30°C. When the temperature exceeds 30°C or falls below 15°C, growth slows down. In winter, the minimum temperature must not drop below 10°C, otherwise it is prone to cold damage, and may even develop physiological disorders.
3. Soil
Use a potting soil mix based mainly on leaf mold, with a small amount of river sand added.
4. Light
Because Watermelon Peel Peperomia is fairly shade-tolerant, it should normally be placed in a spot indoors with bright indirect light, and must never be exposed to direct strong sunlight. In spring and autumn, it should be moved outdoors to a well-ventilated spot with a little sunlight for care. It prefers semi-shade or indirect light; only in winter can it be kept in full sun. In summer, it must be shaded by 50{bf}, otherwise the leaves are easily scorched. However, if it is too shaded, the leaf color becomes dull and grayish-green, and the pattern becomes indistinct.
5. Water
During the growing season, the potting soil should be kept moist, but water must not accumulate in the pot, otherwise the roots and leaves easily rot, and the whole plant may even die. In summer and during dry seasons, water should be sprayed on the leaves 2-3 times a day to increase air humidity and encourage the formation of leaf patterns. It fears both drought and waterlogging: drought causes wilting, yellowing, and even death; waterlogging causes root rot. It is enough to keep the potting soil slightly moist; you can also water when the surface of the potting soil looks dry. In winter, if the temperature is somewhat low, watering should be controlled, allowing the potting soil to alternate between dry and moist.
6. Fertilizer
Usually, a dilute cake fertilizer solution or compound fertilizer should be applied once a month. Nitrogen fertilizer must not be excessive. If phosphorus fertilizer is lacking, the leaf patterns easily disappear, reducing the ornamental effect. A balanced fertilizer should be used; do not apply nitrogen fertilizer alone, otherwise the "watermelon" stripes will become indistinct and the ornamental value will be greatly reduced. It is best to use a dilute liquid fertilizer to water the potting soil; fertilizer that is too concentrated can easily kill the plant.
7. Humidity
It requires relatively high air humidity and is not tolerant of dryness. In addition to normal watering, the plant should also be sprayed with water frequently. If conditions permit, it is best to sprinkle water in the growing environment to increase humidity, which gives good results. In a dry environment, leaf growth is extremely abnormal.
8. Pest and Disease Prevention
There are relatively few pests and diseases. Among diseases, leaf spot is common and can be controlled by spraying carbendazim, prochloraz, or similar. Among pests, red spider mites and scale insects are most common; simply spray targeted pesticides, such as dicofol or hexythiazox for red spider mites, and methidathion or chlorpyrifos for scale insects. Attention should be paid to disinfecting the growing area, pots and containers, and soil. For damage from root crown rot and canker, spraying Bordeaux mixture can control the spread of the disease.
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