Peperomia is a semi-succulent plant with tropical origins. It has fleshy leaves which are firm to touch. However, sometimes you may notice that the leaves of your peperomia are starting to become soft and mushy. So, why is my peperomia starting to have soft leaves?
Why are my peperomia leaves soft?
Peperomia is a semi-succulent plant that is perennial and grows all year long. However, sometimes you may notice that the leaves of the plant are starting to turn soft, mushy, and limp. It happens due to a range of varied factors. So, let us explore some of the reasons for the soft leaves of your peperomia –
- Overwatering
- Underwatering
- Over-Fertilization
Overwatering
Although Peperomia originates from a tropical climate and requires constant moist water to help grow well, it is still being overwatered. Excessive watering may cause the plant to drown, especially if your pot lacks adequate drainage holes. It prevents the plant from carrying out the essential life processes and leads to starvation in the plant. This eventually makes the leaves turn soft and mushy.
Solution
The ideal solution is to regulate the watering frequency of the peperomia as per the amount of water it can absorb. Only provide adequate water to keep the soil moist and ensure your pot has proper drainage to prevent stagnation of water. Essentially, watering your peperomia once or twice a week in the summer and once or twice a month during the winter when the evaporation is slower.
Underwatering
Underwatering is one of the most common reasons which could lead to softening of your peperomia leaves. Underwatering may cause the succulent leaves to lose their firmness and become soft. A prolonged lack of water also makes it more prone to pest infestations and can even lead to the death of your peperomia plant. So, providing it with the right amount of water is very important for the health of your plant.
Solution
One of the best solutions is to understand the watering cycle of your peperomia plant. Water abundantly until it starts to drip out of the drainage holes. Generally, watering it once every week during the summers and once a month during winters is sufficient to ensure that the plant is properly watered.
Over Fertilization
Another reason for the soft, drooping leaves of your peperomia may be over-fertilization. While proper fertilization helps accelerate the plant growth in your peperomia, excessive fertilization can lead to oversaturation and prevent the plant from absorbing the required nutrients cause the leaves of your peperomia to start turning soft and droopy. Further, excess fertilization may also cause severe fertilizer burns in your peperomia plant.
Solution
Apply an adequate amount of fertilizer on a given routine to ensure that your peperomia grows well. Always use a diluted fertilizer and avoid applying it during the winters as the needs of your peperomia reduce drastically during the winter seasons.
Thus, these are a few of the reasons which may make your leaves turn soft in your peperomia.
