The Key Points for Cultivating Watermelon Peel Peperomia
The editor introduces you to the relevant experience of herbaceous flowers, Watermelon Peel Peperomia cultivation tips. Next, the editor of this site will introduce them to you.
Watermelon Peel Peperomia thrives in high temperature, humidity, semi-shaded, and environments with higher air humidity. To maintain the beautiful variegation of its leaves, the following points must be followed:
1. Substrate
It needs to be cultivated in loose and fertile soil with good drainage. It grows poorly in clay. Potting soil should be a mixture of decomposed leaf soil and coarse sand or coal cinder ash. You can also use peat soil + perlite.
2. Temperature
Watermelon Peel Peperomia is intolerant to severe cold and extreme heat, with the optimal growth temperature being 20-30°C. When the temperature exceeds 30°C or drops below 15°C, growth slows down. The minimum winter temperature should not be below 10°C, otherwise, it is prone to frost damage and even physiological diseases.
3. Soil
Potting soil should mainly consist of decomposed leaf soil, mixed with a small amount of river sand.
4. Light
As Watermelon Peel Peperomia is shade-tolerant, it should be placed in a bright, scattered light area indoors. Avoid direct strong sunlight. In spring and autumn, it should be moved to an outdoor area with good ventilation and some sunlight for maintenance. It prefers semi-shade or scattered light and can be kept in full sun during winter. In summer, it must be shaded by 50%, otherwise, the leaves can be easily sunburned. However, excessive shading causes the leaves to become dull and gray, and the variegation is not distinct.
5. Water
During the growing season, the potting soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged, as this can cause root rot and leaf drop, or even the death of the entire plant. In summer and dry seasons, spray the leaves 2-3 times a day to increase air humidity and promote the formation of leaf variegation. It is afraid of both drought and waterlogging; drought can cause wilting, yellowing, and even death, while waterlogging can cause root rot. Keeping the potting soil slightly moist is fine, or water when the surface of the potting soil looks dry. In winter, if the temperature is slightly lower, you should control watering, allowing the potting soil to alternate between dry and wet.
6. Fertilizer
Usually, a dilute cake fertilizer or compound fertilizer should be applied once a month. Nitrogen fertilizer should not be excessive; otherwise, the leaf variegation may disappear when phosphorus fertilizer is lacking. A balanced fertilizer should be used, and it is not advisable to apply nitrogen fertilizer alone, as this can cause the “watermelon” stripes to become indistinct and significantly reduce the ornamental value. It is best to use a dilute liquid fertilizer to water the potting soil, as concentrated fertilizer can cause plant necrosis.
7. Humidity
Watermelon Peel Peperomia requires a high level of air humidity and does not tolerate dryness. In addition to normal watering, it is also necessary to spray water on the plant regularly. If possible, it is best to water the growing environment to increase humidity for good results. In a dry environment, leaf growth is very abnormal.
8. Disease and Pest Control
Diseases and pests are rare, with leaf spot disease being common. You can spray fungicides like carbendazim or Metalaxyl-M to control it. The main pests are red spiders and scale insects, which can be controlled by spraying specific insecticides such as dicofol or dinotefuran for red spiders; and cypermethrin or chlorpyrifos for scale insects. Attention should be paid to the disinfection of the cultivation site, pots, and potting soil. Root collar rot and canker diseases can be controlled by spraying Bordeaux mixture.
The above is a detailed introduction to the key points of Watermelon Peel Peperomia cultivation. Did you get it?