Indoor Gardening: Peperomias

Varied foliage makes this plant family one of the most popular with indoor gardeners. Both upright and trailing types are available. Tall, skinny, stalklike blooms add a touch of novelty to the stemless peperomias. Thickish, succulent leaves may be smooth, glossy green, variegated, corrugated or deeply ridged, with green, pink or red stems. Dozens of varieties are available.

Most intriguing are the wrinkle-leaved peperomias, such as Emerald Ripple (P. caperata). Little Fantasy is a shorter variety; Tri-color features variegated leaves on red leaf stems.

Watermelon peperomia (P. sandersi) reaches 8 to 10 inches tall, with leaves striped like green-and-white watermelons.

Ivy peperomia (P. griseo-argentea) resembles the wrinkle- leaved type, but grows taller, and the larger leaves are less deeply wrinkled.

The waxy-leaved peperomias, such as P. obtusifolia, become almost a foot tall and tend to trail when mature.

Light

Supply medium to bright light, but no direct sun. A bright north window is fine, but diffuse intense sun elsewhere.

Water

Succulent peperomias rot easily if kept too wet. Allow the soil to dry a little during the short days of winter when the plant is dormant. When new growth starts in February, keep the soil evenly moist and be sure drainage is good. Peperomias like humidity and so make desirable terrarium plants.

Special helps

Feed no more than once a month during periods of growth with any complete soluble or liquid house plant fertilizer. Don't feed during winter dormancy.

Stem rot may occur at the soil line or below, if the problem is advanced before you notice it, take cuttings and discard the plant. Stunted plants with leaves disfigured with concentric zonal markings are victims of ring spot, a virus disease. Destroy the infected plant; do not take cuttings.

Propagate stemless peperomias by dividing the crowns of mature plants in early spring or by rooting leaf cuttings. Pick a medium-size leaf and leave a length of "stem" attached. Stick the culling in moist rooting medium such as sand or vermiculite, with the base of the leaf just above the surface. Cover with a clear plastic bag held away from the foliage by several stakes. This helps maintain humidity. Keep the medium moist. Put in a warm, bright place, out of direct sun. When rooted, pot up, using standard soil mixture. Root 3-inch tip cuttings on peperomias with main stems.