Peperomia is a tropical semi-succulent popularly kept as a houseplant due to its tolerance to harsh conditions and requirement of low maintenance. Typically, it is a slow-growing plant. However, like all plants, it still does grow. So, how fast does your peperomia grow?
How fast does peperomia grow?
Generally, peperomia is a small and compact plant that can grow between 2.4 to 4.8 inches annually. It grows to a height of 12 inches and a width of 12 inches depending on the species of the peperomia. Although it does make peperomia a slow-growing plant, it still requires proper growing conditions to keep growing. A lack of adequate growing conditions could lead to issues like stunted growth or weakness.
So, some of the factors which need to be kept in mind to ensure the proper growth of your peperomia is –
- Light
- Water
- Fertilizer
Light
Light is an essential factor in the growth of the plant as it is a source of energy for the plant. Peperomia requires bright, indirect light to ensure that its health is maintained. A lack of light may lead to problems such as etiolation. Etiolation is the process of the rapid growth of the peperomia stems to obtain more light. The stems start to become flimsy, and leaves become tiny during this process and spoil the overall appearance of the peperomia. Further, a lack of light may hinder the growth rate and lead to issues like stunted growth.
Solution
Due to its tropical origin, peperomia requires abundant light to grow well. However, peperomia is intolerant to direct sunlight, and it may cause severe sunburns in the plant. So, it is best to find a location of partial shade where your peperomia has access to bright, indirect sunlight to ensure that it grows well.
Water
Water plays an essential role in the plant by transporting food and nutrients and aiding photosynthesis. Thus, water is important to ensure that your peperomia grows well. However, both excess and a lack of water can lead to severe problems for your peperomia and slow the growth rate down. Hence, it is important to water your peperomia well.
Solution
The best way to ensure that the plant gets adequate water is by understanding the watering needs of your peperomia and creating a watering schedule. A watering schedule helps keep the frequency of watering in check. Further, it is best to ensure that the soil is well-drained, and the pot has proper holes to drain out the excess water.
Fertilization
Fertilization helps boost the growth of your peperomia. However, if excess fertilizer is applied, it may also lead to over-fertilization and cause severe fertilizer burns in your peperomia.
Solution
It is best to fertilize your peperomia once every two weeks during the growing season to ensure robust growth. During the winters, the plant is dormant and has no necessity for fertilization. Usually, a diluted mix of NPK is adequate for your peperomia.
Thus, we can see that although peperomia is a slow-growing plant, it still requires regular care to ensure its robust growth.
