Peperomia- Help Please!!

Got this plant from the local market last night. It was in a basket, with a golden pothos. The floral dept manager said it has been dropping leaves since the weather turned cold (floral dept is near the front doors). It was marked $14.99, but she told me if I would take it home and care for it, she would sell the whole basket to me for 99 cents. Of course, I took it.

Upon getting it home I took it and the pothos out of the basket and found each of them in 3 inch deep plastic trays. The Peperomia was sitting in about 2 inches of water. No wonder it was feeling ill !!

I have looked online to find care instructions and what I'm finding is very vague. Will someone please tell me how to care for this plant. Light/Water/Fertilizer, etc. I'm gonna put it in the ICU but I need to know what medical care to give. Thanks in advance.

Tracey

I am not sure about the care of that plant in particular, but I just had a chuckle thinking about Daisylovn's Plant Shelter, drop your unwanted pots here.

3jsmom,

lmao - Maybe I should hang a sign out by the road !!! ; ) "HOUSEPLANT HOSPITAL"

When I brought that poor Anthurium home from Walmart I put it in our master bath on the ledge of the bath tub to ensure it good humidity. Hubby had to manuever around its protruding leaves to open his closet door. He asked me why it was there because it was in his way (just a tad), I replied with, "Its in ICU and until it is healthier, its gonna stay there" He never complained again, but he did say Thank You when it was discharged to a regular room.

This message was edited Dec 13, 2009 12:14 PM

They have both been repotted into well draining potting medium. On the road to recovery.

I still need to know how to care for this plant. I haven't been able to find much detailed info on the web, just very vague stuff.

http://www.denverplants.com/foliage/html/pepasst.htm

Kind of like a hoya it sounds like.... bright indirect, let soil surface dry out (I let hoya dry off more), temps that are comfy for people, and feed it once in a while.

My Peperomia is outside on the covered deck in full shade (it needs to be moved to higher light!) I use a chunky fast draining mix for just about everything I grow which usually means having to water more often. I tend to let everything get very dry, but that's just me ... my plants have adjusted to my care (or lack thereof).

There are a few Peperomias that are native to Florida, many grown in the southern part of the state. If you scroll down this page to culture it gives some information regarding Peperomia: http://www.floridata.com/ref/P/pepe_obt.cfm ... although this info probably pertains to growing them as landscape plants, the conditions should be the same.

Might be Peperomia scandens.

Peperomias should have bright indirect light in the summer, and full light in the winter.
They should be watered sparingly during the winter, and should be in well drained soil. The water should be at least room temperature and can even be heated to where the water is warm to touch (but not hot).
Give them liquid fertilizer monthly (such as Miracle-Grow).

Thanks My Friends..

I am debating keeping it here at home or taking it to my office. My office has two east facing windows both have sheer curtains hanging, and as with most offices- flourescent lighting. Its very brightly lit but without any direct sun. Also the temps always stay within the recommended range. At home I never let it get down to 62 inside.. Outside that may be a nice temp, but inside its quite chilly.. I'm a southern girl, lets not for get that.. below 65 degrees F, Its COLD....brrrrr ...

I'm thinking that may be the best place for it, as my east facing windows at home are full.

Dave, I just repotted it into my own special good draining soil. Should I allow some time to pass before fertilizing it, or should I give a weak dose of liquid fertilizer now? If I need to wait, how long would you suggest?

My office is also full of plants.. when my co-workers come in they say things like "welcome to the jungle" ... I'm quite proud of it and I have a few more I'm taking soon.. They LOVE it too, and they are jealous because they can't grow a jungle !!!! I'll have to show them Dave's jungle..

Hi Daisy! I would fertilize it at half-strength immediately.

If you happen to be using tap water for your plants, fill containers that you can let sit for two days before using; this will allow chlorine to gas-off, and make sure that the water is room temperature.

Tracey, you need to take a couple of photo's of your office jungle to post! Isn't it much more enjoyable working in an office with living, growing plants around rather than staring at sterile looking walls and furniture with no life?

I used to always have a jungle in my office when I worked. At first the bosses weren't too sure .. thought I'd be spending my time tending plants and not be productive in my job. When they saw that I did the watering, pruning etc. on my lunch break, or before or after work hours, they thought it was okay and actually began making comments about how nice my office always looked! The VP's had one or two plants in their offices that were provided and cared for by a private company. The lady who came to tend their plants and switch them out when they got ratty looking used to always comment on my space and how great it looked with such gorgeous, healthy plants. It's been years since I've had a job but I can't imagine spending 8 or more hours holed up in a room without at least one living, growing plant in my space! I think businesses would have much more productive employees if the offices had a couple of plants or even a community garden of some sort ... plants promote tranquility.

I plan to give everyone in the office a plant for Christmas. I have already given some to a few of the ladies..

My immediate supervisor was just moved into an office that is larger than what she was in (lol, my office was bigger than hers). Her new one is just across the hall from mine.. While I was helping her move her personal items, she asked me if she bought some plants to decorate with, would I keep them alive for her.. I told her I would certainly try.. but it has to be her choice, on my terms. Meaning she also has to buy the items needed to make the chunky good draining potting medium and she has to help me repot them..

Lin, I will take some pics as soon as I remember to take my digital camera to work. I love my cell, but it doesn't take good pics at all.

Thanks Dave, I will get that done right away.. In the past I did not, but as of late I have kept some gallon jugs around. I have been filling them and letting them set at room temp(without the top) for 24 hours before watering with them.. I will bump it to 48 hours.

Thanks so much, you are always a great help.. All of you..

Tracey,

I will look forward to seeing your photo's. Isn't it neat when other's notice how enjoyable it is to have something green and growing around them? I think your supervisor will enjoy a few plants in her office, and you will be a good teacher in showing her the right way to care for them.

When I was working, one time at Christmas I gave each of my co-workers in my department potted Norfolk Island Pines. I bought the teeny decorations and little strings of pearl like garland and little white lights for each tree and decorated each of them. Then I went to work early one morning before anyone else got there and put a tree in each person's cubicle, on the desk, file cabinet or credenza and plugged them in so the lights were on when they got to work. I didn't tell anyone ahead of time and tried to keep it as a "Secret Santa" thing but they figured out it was me because no one else in the office had plants. We had the prettiest office in the building!

What a wonderful and cheery thing for you to do. You are a special person Linda.

It was always a lot of fun!