How to Grow and Care for Peperomia axillaris: Methods and Precautions

The habits of Peperomia axillaris

Peperomia axillaris is a succulent plant in the genus Peperomia, family Piperaceae, and its growing season is spring and autumn.

Peperomia axillaris is native to Peru and needs a sunny, cool and dry environment; it tolerates partial shade, fears waterlogging, and dislikes muggy, humid conditions. It grows in cool seasons and goes dormant during high summer temperatures and low winter temperatures.

During the growing season, keep the soil slightly moist and avoid standing water. Control the temperature at 15~25°C, and try to grow it in a fully sunny sunroom.

Common propagation methods for Peperomia axillaris: cuttings and sowing.

Care tips for Peperomia axillaris

Repotting: For a newly purchased potted plant, place it on a windowsill with a screen, away from direct sunlight. Repot every spring, and when repotting, cut off leaves that are overcrowded or overlapping. The potting soil is usually a mix of leaf mold, potting soil and river sand.

Watering: Water thoroughly during the growing season, and keep the potting soil dry in winter.

Fertilizing: Fertilize once every 3~4 weeks, choose a low-nitrogen fertilizer, and do not let the fertilizer solution touch the leaf surface.

Pests and diseases: Peperomia axillaris is prone to leaf spot disease, which can be prevented by spraying Bordeaux mixture. When indoor ventilation is poor, it is easily harmed by scale insects; spray with omethoate at a 1000-fold dilution to kill them.

Propagation methods for Peperomia axillaris

Sowing: Select mature seeds for sowing, spaced 3~5 cm apart, keep the room temperature at 19~24°C, and they will germinate after 10 days.

Cuttings: In early summer, select plump stems and insert them into a sand bed; they will root after 2~3 weeks, and once they have grown into young plants they can be potted up.

Suggested planting combinations: Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, Portulacaria afra 'Foliis variegatis'.