Watermelon Peperomia Care

Watermelon Peperomia care is relatively stress free, as the plant, like Mother In Law Tongue and Peace Lily, is one of the most low-maintenance houseplants you can get, requiring only temperate light to grow.

Watermelon Peperomia is a small variety of plants originating from Brazil and is identified by its unique markings similar to a watermelon. It has been assigned the botanical name P.Argyreia.

The unique foliage of the plant makes it a beautiful addition to a table-top and with other small foliage plants, it can make your window sill look very appealing.

The leaves are thick, fleshy whereas the stems are red and non-woody. These plants fall into the dwarf variety and do not grow past 30 cm in height.

If you don’t have a lot of space indoors, Watermelon Peperomia would be an excellent choice.

Not only does this plant grow easily, if you have pets you will be relieved to know that it is completely safe for them too!

Watermelon Peperomia Care Instructions

Light

Watermelon Peperomia originates from South America, where the land is usually rain forest and has a lot of shade. Therefore, for this plant to thrive, the light should be moderate or filtered. If you’re using an alternative to natural light, fluorescent lighting will work quite well.

Temperature

Moderate temperature between 60 – 80F / 16C to 27C is recommended for the plant. Extreme temperatures will stunt growth and cause problems.

Water and Humidity

The plant requires moderate moisture both in terms of watering and humidity. When the top half inch of soil is dry, only then water the plant. Frequency of watering should be reduced in fall and winter.

If the spot where the plant is placed has dry air, a damp pebble tray can be used to help provide moisture. Also, if you place other similar plants near Watermelon Peperomia, the air around it will automatically increase in humidity.

Soil

The plant requires moderate moisture and air, therefore the soil used for it should be light and aerated enough so that it drains easily.

Watermelon Peperomias thrive when their roots have ventilation. I recommend you use a peat and perlite mix to create the perfect texture of aerated soil.

The soil is likely to amass salt in summer months. In such a case, leach the container or the pot to eliminate the accumulated salts.

Fertilizing Water Melon Peperomias

Fertilizer should be used twice every month from spring to fall. The fertilizer solution should also be diluted to half its strength. In winter months, you can reduce the frequency of feed to once a month.

Size

The Watermelon Peperomia is a dwarf-like plant, which means it does not grow beyond 30 cm in height.  Since they don’t take up a lot of space, they can be grouped with other plants to make a nice little nursery.

Repotting

Since it’s a low-maintenance plant, you’ll notice that it doesn’t require repotting very often. You can choose to repot every 2 to 3 years, in spring. I recommend that you remove the top layer to keep excessive salt from accumulating. 

Propagating Variegated Peperomias

Leaf-cutting is the best way to propagate a Watermelon Peperomia. Separate the leaf from the mother plant with petiole and slice it in half. Put the sliced leaves in rooting hormones before placing them in soil. After that, provide moderate light to it and only water it when the top layer ( half inch) is dry.

Other Tips

If you are placing the Watermelon Peperomia in a space where there are other plants, make sure the plant’s requirements match with those of its neighbours.

Troubleshooting

Problem: Lack of strength in plant despite being adequately watered.

Cause: Roots lack oxygen.

Solution: Remove the plant from its container but first ensure that it is completely dry. Drill holes in the soil so that the roots are aerated. If the oxygen is still inadequate, change the soil to a light-textured mix.

Problem: Water-soaked blisters below the leaves.

Cause: Overwatering leading to Corky scab or Oedema.

Solution: The frequency of watering should be reduced in colder months because the plant requires less moisture then.

Problem: Curling and dying of old leaves.

Cause: Although it is completely normal for older leaves to die, in a number of cases it’s a side effect of excessive salt and fertilizer.

Solution: Prune the dead leaves and remove unwanted salts which the soil may have amassed. The fertilizer used should be half the strength as recommended on the label.

Problem: White cotton-like material on leaves.

Cause: Mealybugs

Solution: Remove the mealybugs physically using cotton swabs or cloth dipped in alcohol. Isolate the plant to stop the spread of the infestation to other plants.

 

I hope this article has helped you gain a greater appreciation of Watermelon Peperomia Care.

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