The tricolor leaves of Peperomia clusiifolia make the plant a unique addition to your home garden. If you are a beginner, you certainly don’t want a plant that would die on you after putting in too much effort.
Peperomia clusiifolia is one of the plants that will never frustrate you because it calls for very little care. Get all the essential facts, tips, and tricks you need to be an excellent caregiver to your plant while beautifying your space.
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Peperomia Clusiifolia: An Overview
Peperomia clusiifolia is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Piperaceae family, also known as the pepper family. This plant is native to the West Indies, Venezuela, Central America, and southern Florida. Peperomia clusiifolia is also known as the variegated red-edged radiator, red variegated peperomia, Jelly peperomia, or Peperomia tricolor.
Peperomia clusiifolia can grow to a maximum height of about 6 inches. The oval-shaped leaves of the plant are dark green at the center, with pink or red-colored edges.
The rest of the plant’s leaves are light green in color. The Jelly peperomia produces white, relatively unscented flowers during spring.
Peperomia clusiifolia is not toxic if consumed, making it a safe plant for households with children and pets.
Peperomia Clusiifolia Care
Peperomia clusiifolia is a slow-growing plant, and so its care requirements are pretty minimal. Let’s explore the care requirements for this unique type of Peperomia in greater detail.
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Light
Peperomia clusiifolia requires bright to moderate, indirect light, although it can still survive under shade. When you grow the red variegated peperomia in low light conditions, the color of its foliage won’t be as vibrant as it would be if grown under bright, filtered light. The plant also flourishes if you place it under fluorescent lights for 12 to 15 hours.
Bright, direct light scorches the leaves of Peperomia clusiifolia. Your plant can become dehydrated, and if it is exposed to such light conditions for extended periods, it might die.
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Water
Being a succulent plant, Peperomia clusiifolia stores water in its leaves. Overwatering is one of this plant’s worst nightmares, so be sure to give it a drink when its soil is almost completely dry. If not, the leaves of the plant might gradually discolor and turn pale. Keep the soil slightly moist during the growing season and reduce the watering frequency during winter because of the extremely low temperatures.
To detect the moisture of the soil before watering, you can use a moisture detector. Simply dip it into your plant’s soil and check the readings. Dial readings of 1, 2, or 3 show that the soil is dry, meaning you can water your plant.
We recommend that you use soft water whenever possible. Soft water does not have large amounts of minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium. Ideally, you should water your Peperomia clusiifolia from below by using a container with a saucer. Watering from below helps to avoid overwatering the stems and leaves of your plant.
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Temperature and Humidity
The variegated red-edged radiator performs well under normal household humidity. However, increasing humidity is more conducive for the plant’s growth.
Temperatures between 65 and 80 F are conducive for the vibrant survival of Peperomia clusiifolia. In temperatures under 50 F, the Jelly peperomia’s growth becomes stunted. Such low temperatures also attract diseases that may haunt your plant’s growth and beauty.
We recommend that you place your plant away from the windows or doors, especially during winter. The cold drafts through windows and doors can cause Jelly peperomia’s leaves to droop. Equally, shy away from placing Jelly peperomia close to radiators because they cause the air surrounding the plant to be extremely dry. Putting your potted plant on a pebble tray can help to elevate the humidity levels around your plant.
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Soil
Peperomia clusiifolia thrives well in nutrient-rich soils whose texture slightly retains moisture while allowing for good drainage. Ideally, mix perlite and cactus soil. You can also add sand to this mixture to increase the soil’s drainage properties. Another option is to mix peat and sand at a 2:1 ratio, respectively.
Your Peperomia clusiifolia will need fresh, more nutrient-dense soil after every 2 to 3 years. If the plant is not outgrowing the pot, you can remove old soil and replace it with newly-prepared soil in the same pot. Otherwise, you should also transfer the red variegated peperomia into a new pot as you change the soil.
Transplanting your plant and changing its soil is best done during the spring when your red variegated peperomia is in a high growth phase.
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Fertilizer
While Peperomia clusiifolia grows pretty well naturally, adding half-strength balanced fertilizer to your plant is not a bad idea. The fertilizer supplies your plant with nutrients that serve as growth enhancers. Apply the fertilizer at most twice a year during the plant’s growing season. Skip feeding your plant with fertilizer-based nutrients during the winter.
You can use soluble fertilizers. If you want to reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers, consider adding worm compost to your plant’s soil. This technique equally works well.
Don’t add too much fertilizer, as this will burn the leaves. Excessive fertilizing will kill your Jelly peperomia in the long run.
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Grooming
Peperomia clusiifolia does not require much grooming. However, trimming the tips of the stem gives the plant thicker foliage. Otherwise, your Jelly peperomia will be spindly. The plant is quite tolerant to heavy pruning, so if you are concerned about maintaining the shape you want, feel free to play around with the pruning shears.
Besides pruning for cosmetic purposes, you can also remove dead, weak, and damaged leaves to maintain your plant’s vibrant and gorgeous outlook.
When you groom your Peperomia clusiifolia, don’t forget to disinfect your pruning shears to protect the plant from bacterial and fungal infections. Equally, protect yourself by wearing gloves and goggles.
Propagation
The moment you get good at taking care of your red variegated peperomia, there won’t be a need for you to buy again when you need more plants. You simply have to propagate the one that you have. Multiplying Peperomia clusiifolia is easy, and you can do it through cuttings or division.
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Leaf Cuttings
Select a healthy leaf from your plant. Cut the leaf, making sure that it has about 2 inches of the stem attaching it to the parent plant. Leave the cutting for a few hours or overnight until the base of the stem completely dries out.
Put the cut end of the stem into a rooting hormone to expedite root growth, then water the cutting prior to placing it in a plastic bag. The plastic protects the plant as it develops its roots and preserves the moisture required for root growth.
Be sure to put the plant under a bright light to encourage photosynthesis. Remove the plastic every 2 to 3 days to avoid rotting.
Add compost to your potting soil, place it in the pot, and put the cutting in. Lightly water the cutting and place it on a spot where it is exposed to appropriate levels of light, temperatures, and humidity.
Expect the new plant to get acquainted with its new environment and start growing within 6 to 8 weeks.
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Division
Prepare new pots and fill them with nutrient-rich, well-draining, and aerated soil. Gently uproot the Jelly peperomia from its original pot and shake or rub off the soil from the plant. Separate the root ball into as many sections as possible.
Plant each of the sections that you made from the root ball into its own pot. You can also add a part of the soil from the original pot in each of the new pots. Thoroughly water the plants until water starts to come out of the pots’ drainage holes; only water for the second time when the top half of the potting soil is completely dry.
Problems
Peperomia clusiifolia rarely succumb to pests and diseases. To further reduce the chances of your plant being attacked by pests, consider increasing your indoor humidity level. Alternatively, you can spritz your Jelly peperomia after every few days.
Let’s find out some of the problems to expect when caring for Peperomia clusiifolia, along with possible troubleshooting strategies.
– Root Rot
The roots of Peperomia clusiifolia are relatively feeble. When the plant is overwatered, its roots are highly susceptible to root rot. Soggy soils also create a conducive environment for bacteria and fungi to breed, thereby further endangering the plant.
The Jelly peperomia usually finds it difficult to recover from root rot. You can stop watering the plant and see if the root rot improves. If the damage by root rot is extreme, you can save your plant by preparing cuttings using healthy parts. Simply get the upper, unaffected part and follow the same procedure we described for propagating leaf cuttings.
– Spider mites
To determine if your Peperomia clusiifolia has been affected by spider mites, be on the lookout for tan, yellow, or white spots on its leaves. Sometimes, spider mites cause a cottony webbing below your plant’s leaves.
The moment you discover the presence of spider mites, isolate the affected peperomia from other plants. Use pressurized cold water from, say, a hosepipe and wash down the spider mites. Outdoors, you can introduce commercially available natural predators of mealybugs like ladybugs.
For larger infestations of spider mites, use Neem oil, which suffocates and destroys the insects at all stages of their development. Neem oil clogs the airways of spider mites, making it difficult for them to breathe. You can buy a commercial brand of Neem oil or prepare your homemade version of this natural insecticide.
– Mealybugs
If you notice white, cottony masses on the leaves or stems of your red variegated peperomia, then you are dealing with a case of mealybugs. These wingless pests have stylets that pierce the plant to suck sap from plant tissue.
Low numbers of mealybugs are less likely to cause significant damage. However, a more significant presence of mealybugs can cause curly, yellowing, and weakened leaves.
As a preventative measure, always check your plants for mealybugs and wash them off once you notice them. Also, refrain from adding too much fertilizer to your plants. High nitrogen levels in plants attract mealybugs.
Dabbing mealybugs with cotton wool that’s been dipped in 70 percent isopropyl alcohol is effective for mild infestations. You can also turn to Neem oil for numerous mealybugs.
You can make an effective insecticide spray for mealybugs using a bulb of garlic, a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and a small onion bulb. Crush these three ingredients into a paste using a blender prior to mixing with 1 quart of water and steeping for about an hour.
Use a cheesecloth to strain the solution from the residues, add a teaspoon of dishwashing soap, and mix well. Spray the resultant mixture on parts of Peperomia clusiifolia that are infested with mealybugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Peperomia clusiifolia a flowering plant?
No, Peperomia clusiifolia is not a flowering plant. It is a small, easy-to-care-for plant that is grown for its attractive leaves.
2. Is Peperomia clusiifolia a low-maintenance plant?
Yes, Peperomia clusiifolia is a low-maintenance plant that requires minimal attention. It can thrive in a variety of light conditions and only needs to be watered when the soil is dry.
3. How do you transplant Peperomia clusiifolia?
To transplant Peperomia clusiifolia, gently remove it from its current container and shake off excess soil. Place it in a new container with fresh soil and water thoroughly. It’s best to transplant during the plant’s active growing season in spring or summer.
Conclusion
There you go! Peperomia clusiifolia is pretty easy to take care of. Here are the main highlights about the plant once again:
- Peperomia clusiifolia has characteristic tri-colored leaves that are mainly light green, with a dark green center and pink or red edges.
- The plant thrives well in moderate to bright, indirect light.
- The red variegated peperomia also grows well when placed under fluorescent light for 12 to 15 hours.
- Peperomia clusiifolia does not want waterlogged soils, so you should water the plant when the soil is completely dry.
- Normal household humidity conditions allow for the growth of Peperomia clusiifolia, but higher humidity levels are better.
- The plant requires soils that are well-draining, slightly moisture-retaining, nutrient-rich, and well-aerated.
- Peat and sand or cactus and perlite soil mixtures create a growing medium where Jelly peperomia does well.
- Ideally, replace old soil with a more nutrient-dense one every 2 to 3 years.
- Peperomia clusiifolia grows well naturally in nutrient-rich soils but adding a little fertilizer twice a year during the growing season is not a bad idea.
- Regularly pruning your plant produces a thicker growth and foliage.
- You can propagate the plant using leaf cuttings or division.
- The red variegated peperomia is not prone to many pests and diseases but be on the lookout for root rot, spider mites, and mealybugs.
Combining your prior knowledge and what you learned in this article, give your home the radiance it needs by growing Peperomia clusiifolia. Enjoy the vibe of being a parent to such a beauty. Happy Jelly parenting!
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