Peperomia plants are quite fun to take care of, they are the easiest plants, that require very little care, that even an amateur can do. They are indoor plants. They are found in upright and hanging forms which is an advantage for all the plant lovers that love to keep plants in their homes.
Not only that, but this plant is very beautiful and has dark red leaves due to which it’s also called “red tree”. It adds a touch of color to your boring collection of green normal plants. This plant is slow-growing, and they stay small and are perfect as decor for office tables or study tables. The name of the plant “peperomia Metallica” itself makes the person want to buy it as if the name is so interesting and beautiful then the plant would be mind-blowing.
Peperomia Metallica Classification
Family: Piperaceae family
Subfamily: Piperoideae
Genus: Peperomia
Species: Peperomia Metallica
Genus’s peperomia:
Peperomia genus belongs to the family of Piperaceae and its sub-family is Piperoideae, it’s one of the two vast families of Piperaceae. All the plants in this family are small, compact, portable, and easy to plant.
Around 1500 species are grown in tropical areas but these specific species have been found in south, central America and some in Africa. The plants of this family differ in their appearance, but all are quite beautiful with different colors blooming in them.
Peperomia is also connected with the pepper plant family. This family also has smaller plants and varies in appearance. They also differ in the sizes of their stems; some have small some have larger and thicker. They are usually green, black, yellowish, and red shade.
Features of the Peperomia Metallica Plant
Size:
Their maximum height is 50 cm with 25 cm spread, and the minimum is 10 cm with 10 cm spread. And the leaves are elliptical in shape
Toxicity:
These plants are not toxic, which is good news, but the bad news is that they might catch infections from the air that can be harmful to children and pets so it’s best to keep them away.
Growth:
They grow at a very slow pace and they don’t have a lot of height so you must be patient.
Peperomia Metallica Care
People are keen on assuming that peperomia Metallica’s are easy to take care of when there are specific requirements that must be fulfilled for the plant to grow to its full potential. These requirements are soil, water, light, fertilizer, repotting, and pruning. Once you get the hang of these needs, an amateur can even do it, but read the descriptions for each requirement given below for learning every step.
Quick guide:
Water: Moderate
Sunlight: Bright but indirect lighting
Humidity: Moderate
Fertilizer: Every two weeks
Light requirements
Peperomia Metallica requires indirect but bright sunlight, if the leaves are exposed to direct lighting, they can turn into a different color or lose their color completely or even burn the leaves.
You should keep this plant in a position where it’s receiving diffused sunlight for it to grow to its full potential. These are indoor plants and according to their sunlight requirement, they can easily be set up as a decor piece on your office table or study table.
Watering requirement
Metallica Peperomia can adjust to under watering but it can in no way adjust to overwatering because when you overwater the plant, the plant’s roots and stems are exposed to the fungus. So that is why watering has to be done moderately for the plant to reach its full growth.
If the leaves are a little droopy and are falling, it needs water. Water it until it reaches its full depth, then leave the top two inches dry. In winters, the plant doesn’t need much water, because the growth stops then. So, water it according to its needs, and your plant will bloom.
Soil requirements
Peperomia metallic plant requires a specific kind of soil and a kind that can mix well with the fertilizer to make sure it is airy and is a well-draining soil. The right mixture of soil for this plant is peat, perlite, and sand, Perlite is suited because it mixes well with the fertilizer and is well-draining. Another option for the soil for peperomia Metallica is sandy loam, it also blends well with the fertilizer, and it allows draining of soil.
Temperature requirements
Peperomia Metallica is best suited in a warm, open climate. The ideal temperature ranges from 16°C to 24°C. Your plant should never be exposed to extreme climatic conditions or else the plant might suffer.
Anything lower than 10°C will result in no growth whatsoever. Avoid putting the plant in air-conditioned areas, also avoid placing near heaters, because they can be harmful as well.
Humidity requirements
The Peperomia Metallica are keen on growing in indoor humidity and don’t require much but if they do, the pebble tray method or a humidifier is always a go-to option. But this plant does like humidity and requires moisture. During winter, they can get dried up pretty fast, and so that’s when you would have to produce humidity.
Pebble tray method:
- Put a tray filled with pebbles and water
- Place the pot on top of it
- Eventually, the water will evaporate.
- Adding a lot of moisture to the environment, and the plant will absorb all of it.
Fertilizer requirements
Fertilizer is quite important for a plant to grow, without it, it might be malnourished and die. An amount of 20-20-20 manure is required for this plant. Liquid fertilizer can be used but only sprayed every two weeks for best results.
Peperomia Metallica does not require fertilizers in the winter season as their growth stops during that season, and they only grow in summers, hence fertilize in summers. Excessive fertilization can kill your plant, so stick to the required amount.
Repotting requirements
Repotting of this plant isn’t necessary as they have smaller roots that do not outgrow the pot, they are in. If it’s necessary as you see the roots popping out, then repot the plant into a slightly bigger container, so that the soil isn’t waterlogged. But do remember to change the soil every year for the best results.
Grooming requirements
When you are taking care of the plants, always look out for fungal growth as that could be really harmful to the plant. Don’t forget to clean the leaves and spray them to avoid any pest attacks or bugs. One more precaution can be making sure the soil is not too soggy or damp because that can result in the development of fungus.
Pruning requirements
There is no harm in making sure your plant is healthy and fresh now and then, and for that pruning is vital. It is quite important to cut off the dead leaves or tips of leaves that have turned yellowish or brownish shade in color. You should always do pruning right before the summer season as that is a growing season.
Peperomia Metallica Propagation
What’s best about propagating a plant is that it helps you with sharing your plant with your loved ones. Peperomia Metallica is easily propagated with just a few steps to follow. I am sure any beginner could do this as well.
The best method to use for this plant is leaf cutting, however, at the end of the day, it totally depends on you. The method of leaf-cutting is as follow:
Leaf-cutting method:
- Get a tray or pot that you will use for propagation.
- Use the soil mix of any preferred soil, the recommended soils are perlite and potting compost
- Clean and sterilize all the equipment that you are using
- Use any scissors or any sharp equipment to cut a piece of your plant, from anywhere you like for propagation
- Leaves can be used as a whole but the preferred method is to cut the leaf into two across the width
- The cut edges of those leaves can be dunked into the rooting agent
- This isn’t necessary however
- Now create small segments by a spoon
- This will make it easier to insert the plant
- Insert the plant half an inch into the potting mix
- Now, put the potting mix around the cutting to keep it firm
- The pot should be watered now
- Now for maximum growth, put a plastic bag around the plant
- Leave it under indirect but bright sunlight
- The temperature should be normal
- Few notes: remove the plastic cover and check up on the plant every few days, so that no fungal diseases are developed
- The plant will start to grow
- You will see new roots
- Leaves will eventually develop
- Be patient
- After several leaves have formed, pot them separately for them to grow better.
Problems for Peperomia Metallica
Pythium:
One of the first diseases that peperomia Metallica can catch is pythium, which has a lot of different variations, and not all of them cause crop loss. The plant may end up drying if this isn’t catered to the moment the plant catches this. For precautionary measures, make sure to check the roots and see if there is any root rot.
Plants can become water-soaked and might end up collapsing because of pythium. One of the other measures is sterilizing all gardening equipment before using them.
Cercospora leaf spot
One of the other diseases is the Cercospora leaf spot which is caused by a fungus called Cercospora hydrangea. This disease is quite common and can be found in almost all the plants that are indoor and kept as decorative pieces. This disease doesn’t cost the plant to die, but it can get severe and harm the plants’ growth.
To avoid hitting severity, place the plant under shade. The precautionary measure is to use sterilized equipment and clean the leaves from time to time to get rid of fungal development.
Another measure is to remove all the leaves that have been detached from the plant. And do pruning when leaves get spots or get old. And water the plant from below rather than splashing water because that can spread the fungus.
Fungus gnats
Unlike other diseases, this isn’t a fungus that is developed over time, it’s an insect that attacks indoor plants, they have an obsession with it due to the high humidity and moisture present in indoor plants. The adult fungus gnat, can be easily seen and are quite harmless but do get irritating. The precautionary measure that should be taken is to never overwater your plant because it leaves the soil damp and they love it.
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Summary
Peperomia Metallica is one of the rare species belonging to the family of Piperaceae and sub-family of Piperoideae. They require very little care but peperomia Metallica care is no piece of cake as well, it has soil, water, sunlight, fertilizer, repotting, temperature, and pruning requirements that have to be fulfilled to reach its maximum growth.
Leaving aside the fact that it is beautiful, this plant is great for a beginner and can be used as a decorative piece on office tables or study tables. The plant can reach a height of 50 cm and is a smaller plant compared to others.
It requires a moderate amount of water, indirect but bright sunlight, a moderate amount of humidity, fertilizer every two weeks, and the temperature should not cross 24°C and with all this, the plant will thrive. These plants are not toxic, but keep them out of the reach of children and pets because of any fungal development on the leaves.
