Call it cute or call it classy! But you have to love this shortie for sure! Peperomia polybotrya is an evergreen perennial, popular for its foliage. It belongs to the tropical regions of South America and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments. The succulent, heart-shaped leaves growing on long petioles have a lush-green shade from the top and are pale underneath.
This low-maintenance and compact growing plant makes perfect pots and is capable enough to add the desired oomph to your interior. Let us learn more about the Polybotrya Peperomia plant, along with its care, propagation, and possible plant problems.
Peperomia Polybotrya Classification
Family: Piperaceae.
Genus: Peperomia.
Species: P. polybotrya.
Genus Peperomia
Peperomia is one of the largest genera of family Piperaceae comprising of more than 1500 recorded species. These are native to America and Africa. The name of the genus is a combination of Greek Words ‘Peperri’ (pepper) and ‘homious’(resembling) meaning ‘resembling pepper’. This is in reference to the majority of these plants showing a close resemblance with the pepper or bell plant. The main features of these plants are the foliage and the flowers.
These plants are often confused with succulents and epiphytes. These plants use their special roots for fixation in growing along with the trees. Unlike epiphytes, some of these plants absorb the food from the host plant. Thus, they are not true epiphytes. You can easily find them in common nurseries and lawns. However, in the wild, rotten wood is a beloved place for growth.
Common Names of The Peperomia Polybotrya
- Peperomia RainDrop.
- Coin-leaf Peperomia.
- Coin Plant.
- Chinese Money plant.
Peperomia Polybotrya Plant Features
Height
- The height of a common plant remains around 1 foot.
Leaves
- A mature leaf is about 3 to 4 inches in size.
Flowers
- The plants produce tiny flowers somewhat resembling the mouse tails with green tips. You will see clusters of these flowers on the top of a single stem.
- These flowers are mildly fragrant.
- Unfortunately, these flowers will not last longer and dry out on the stems. Thus, we recommend cutting out the dry flowers to avoid wasting the plant’s nutrients.
Growth Rate
- Just like other Peperomias, they grow at a moderate rate.
Toxicity
- Peperomia polybotrya RainDrop plant is mildly toxic in nature. Thus, we always suggest keeping kids and pets away from house plants.
Air Purification
- The round green leaves will give you the added benefit of air purification. It will remove the toxins from your home’s environment.
Peperomia Polybotrya vs. Pilea Peperomioides
The striking resemblance of the leaf structures of the two plants often creates confusion. This is why the Polybotrya are often falsely known as the Chinese Money Plant, the common name of the Peperomioides.
Confused between the two? Let us help you! The main differences are the longer petioles, lighter shade, and smaller leaves of the Peperomioides. Hope it helps!
Peperomia Polybotrya Variegata
The variegated varieties of plants look even more beautiful. This could be in any form. The leaves could either have an overall pale look. Or you can see streaks and splashes of pale and even totally colorless areas. The care and requirements of the Peperomia polybotrya variegated are similar to that of the original plant, as explained below.
Peperomia Polybotrya For Sale
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Peperomia Polybotrya Care
Water Requirement
The succulent shows good storage of water in the leaves. Thus, it can withstand a few days of water shortage and your neglect. The best watering strategy is to water generously and let the soil get dry out between the watering.
When we say, ‘water generously,’ people get the tendency of overwatering. Over-watering is dangerous for the plant. As soggy soil may clog out and lead to issues like fungus and root rot. Thus, it is better to check the soil with your finger, before watering especially in the initial days. Once you get an idea about the routine you can follow an estimated routine. Twice a week in summer and once a week will be enough in the colder days.
Sunlight Requirement
Bright and indirect sunlight is ideal for your Coin-leaf Plant. Direct exposure to sunlight is unsuitable for the majority of Peperomias. Howbeit, you can put the plant in some morning sun, and this will make the foliage healthier.
When placing the plant outdoors, always select a partially shaded place. This is especially in the regions where the temperature rises above 80 F. On the other hand, you can look out for an east-facing window to place the plant indoors.
Temperature Requirement
These Coin Leaf Peperomia plants love cooler atmospheres. However, they have the tendency to resist the warm summer days. An optimum temperature range for the plant is 65 to 80 °F.
Humidity Requirement
These plants are humidity lovers. Thus, you need to have a little check-in during the dry days. Consider mild misting, a pebble-water tray under the pot, or adding a humidifier in the surroundings.
Misting will give you an added benefit. It will clean the leaves and resultantly keep the plant safe from red spiders.
Soil Requirement
Just like other members of the genus, this plant needs well-drained soil with good aeration. You can use a common house plant potting mixture. In domestic mixing, consider using an equal mixture of peat moss and perlite.
Fertilizer Requirement
Use a mild or diluted houseplant fertilizer once a month in spring and summer. It would be great if it is in liquid form. Alternatively, your corn plant doesn’t need the added nutrition in winter.
Pruning Requirements
Cut a few older leaves from the lower areas. This will help to maintain the shape and health of the plant.
Repotting Requirements
The Peperomias usually grow root-bound. Additionally, the root systems are not much strong, and repotting is risky for them. Thus, don’t repot, unless the pot is too small and the roots are growing out of the drainage holes.
Peperomia Polybotrya Propagation
The Coin leaf Peperomia is easy to propagate the plant. You can use;
- Stem tip-cuttings.
- Leaf-cuttings.
Season
Spring and summer are ideal for propagation.
Method
- Just take a leaf and cut it into two halves. Plant the cuttings in moist soil or potting mix in a small container.
- Place the pot in a place with moderate indirect sunlight and keep the soil mildly moist. After about a week or more, tiny leaflets will grow out, indicating a successful propagation.
- Alternatively, you can stem-tip cuttings and plant them about three inches deep in the growing medium.
- After about two months, numerous plants will grow out from the cuttings. When you see them crowding, they can be separated out carefully to get individual Peperomia polybotrya Raindrop plants.
Water Propagation
You can dip the stem tip cuttings in a small jar of water. Place it suitable indirect light and wait. Nature will show its miracle and root growth will be seen in a week or more. This will be followed by shoot development in about three weeks.
Growth Timeline
Let us have a look at the estimated timeline. The aim is to give you an idea about the growth pattern and requirements of the plant.
Day 1–Day 60: Place the plant in moist soil and indirect light. Root and shoot development both will be seen in the initial 40 days.
Day 60 onwards: Now, you can transfer the baby plants to separate containers. Now, simply follow the Peperomia polybotrya Care explained above and you are ready to enjoy your new Polybotrya plants.
In the case of water propagation, the plant can be planted in the soil at this stage. Nevertheless, we have seen many successful growths in water for more than a year!
Problems of The Peperomia Polybotrya Plant
Your apparently delicate raindrop plant is generally a tough guy. In proper care, they usually live long and don’t get common diseases. The common possible pest issues are;
- Red spider mites
- Mealy Bugs.
Red spider mites are small critters that suck the leaf sap. This causes the formation of tiny yellow spots throughout the leaf surface. The lack of nutrition will dry the leaves and they will eventually fall down.
Yellow spots and spider webbing on the leaf surfaces indicate the spider mite infestation.
Mealybugs occur in the form of white cotton-like masses on the leaves and leaf axils.
Both of these issues can be solved by synthetic sprays easily available in the market. Alternatively, neem oil spray is also beneficial in such issues. However, it is always better to take direct expert advice and solve the issue as soon as possible.
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Summary
Peperomia polybotrya is a short evergreen perennial popular for its foliage. The dark-green glossy succulent leaves resemble the shape of a coin or a raindrop. The Peperomia polybotrya includes moist soil, partial shade to bright indirect light, and high humidity. These are mildly toxic and provide air-purifying benefits.
