Peperomia is a hardy tropical plant that can survive a range of different harsh conditions. However, water is an essential element of all plants. If there is an imbalance of water in your peperomia, it may have severely damaging consequences for the plant. So, how do you save an overwatered peperomia?
How to save overwatered peperomia?
Peperomia requires only a limited amount of water to survive. So, if it is watered too frequently, it may be prone to overwatering. Overwatering causes stagnation of water. If water is left behind in the pot for too long, the roots will start to drown and will not be able to absorb the required nutrients for the survival of the plant. It will weaken the plant and make it prone to fatal infections such as root rot. Prolonged drowning of the roots will eventually kill the plant. Thus, it is very important to save an overwatered peperomia.
Some of the factors which need to be kept in mind while handling an overwatered peperomia are –
- Water
- Soil
- Sunlight
Water
If your peperomia is watered too frequently, it will lead to severe flooding of the water in the pot. It happens especially if the pot lacks proper drainage holes. Roots will start to suffocate and rot, and the plant starts to weaken.
It makes your peperomia prone to attack by bacteria, fungi, and pests. So, it is best to ensure that the watering is immediately regulated using a watering schedule.
Ensure that the plant is potted in a pot with proper drainage holes to allow the excess water to drain away and reduce the chances of overwatering.
Soil
Peperomia requires soil that is well aerated and well-drained. If the soil is too clayey, the water retention is likely to be more than peperomia requires. It may lead to waterlogging and drowning of the roots.
It is best to prepare a potting mix for your peperomia at home by mixing some perlite with regular potting soil. It allows the soil to be adequately drained by balancing the water retention capacity to a level that is suitable for your peperomia.
Always use sterile soil to reduce the chances of fungal or bacterial infections.
Sunlight
Sunlight indeed helps in the process of photosynthesis for the plant, but it also aids in the evaporation of the excess water from the soil. Thus, a lack of sunlight would make the soil damp if it is overwatered. Thus, it will make the soil an ideal breeding ground for pests and increase the chances of a pest infestation or a fungal infection.
So, if your plant is overwatered, leave it in a place where it has access to bright, indirect sunlight. The sunlight helps evaporate the excess water from the leaves as well as the soil and helps accelerate the process of recovery for your peperomia.
So, if your peperomia is overwatered, it can indeed be saved. However, the sooner the preventive measures are taken, the higher would be the chances to save your peperomia.
