Are you looking for one of the easiest indoor plants without toxicity? You are at the right place. Peperomia Rana Verde is a popular, semi-succulent hybrid plant. The medium-sized, thin ovate leaves are dark green from the top with a yellow-green base. The Leaf surfaces are matte and wrinkled with prominent venation.
The minimum care and attractive rippled foliage of this radar plant make it perfect for your home or office. This will not only add a class to your interior but also purify the air for you. Interesting? Let us learn more about this difficult-to-kill, ever-green, Rana Verde Peperomia Albovittata plant.
Peperomia Rana Verde Classification and Parentage
Family: Piperaceae.
Genus: Peperomia.
Species: P. albovittata.
Hybrid: “Rana Verde”.
Thus, the full botanical name of the plant is Peperomia albovittata“Rana Verde”.
Parentage:
This hybrid is a result of a cross between the cultivars of the Peperomia albovittata plant. In the year 2012 in the Netherlands, male and female parts of cultivars were crossed to get the seeds of this plant. Moreover, asexual reproduction by the leaf-cuttings was first one in 2013, Sappemeer, Netherlands. This resulted in true-to-type successive generations.
Genus Peperomia
Peperomia or Radiator plants belong to Africa and America. More than 1500 species are recorded in this genus. Moreover, it is one of the two largest genera of its family. The majority of the peperomias closely resemble the pepper or bell plants. This justifies the name ‘peperomia’ derived from the Greek words ‘peperi’(pepper) and ‘homious’ (resembling).
This diverse genus has many different plant types including succulents and perennial epiphytes. Foliage and Flowers are the prominent features, gaining the attraction for these plants. Rotten wood is their favourite dwelling place in the wild. However, they are easily available in domestic lawns and common nurseries.
According to t growth habitat, these are often confused between succulent and epiphytes. Some of them grow along the trees using roots for fixation. However, they are not true epiphytes, as they absorb nutrients from the host plant.
Peperomia Rana Verde Common Names
- Rippled Chinese Money Plant.
- Ripple Peperomia.
- Chinese Rubber plant.
Features of The Peperomia Rana Verde Plant
Height and Structure
- The short plant does not usually get more than 8 inches in height and spread.
- The main stem has around 14 main branches coming out of the main stem.
Foliage
- About 16 ovate leaves are arranged on the soft branch stem in alternate patterns.
- The size of a mature leaf is around 3 inches with a diameter of 1bout 1.5 inches.
- The globules leaves have a glossy upper surface, having a matte base underneath.
Flowers
- The Peperomia albovitata Rana Verde flowers are tiny and insignificant.
- Orange, unscented, Spike-like flowers, lesser than an inch, grow during the summer.
Growth Rate
- These plants have a moderate growth rate. Thus, folks, have some patience while the Rana Verde is growing.
Non-toxicity
If you are looking for a non-toxic houseplant, this baby is pretty suitable for you. According to SDCA, this plant is safe for humans and pets. However, we still advise keeping the kids and pets away from plants. As, plants may contain dust, pesticides, or any kind of disease which may lead to possible health issues.
Pest Issues
- This plant is generally resistant to pest attacks. Nevertheless, it is always good to keep an eye on any possible issues. Possible plant enemies include Mealy Bugs, Spider Mites, and Fungus gnats. In the case of fungus gnats, they will be visible in the soil. These nasty creatures usually attack and destroy the roots in their young state. Possible home-remedies of the plant include;
- Mulching the soil with sand.
- Adding and mixing some cinnamon powder in the upper layer of the soil.
- Spider mites and mealybugs are tiny pests that attack the foliage of the plant. You can wipe the affected leaves with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or mild Neem oil. Moreover, store-bought insecticidal sprays are also helpful.
Pest attacks are no jokes for your plant baby. Thus, we recommend consulting professionals or experienced gardeners to save the plant.
Rana Verde peperomia vs. Piccolo Banda and Obtipan plant
This plant has a striking resemblance with plants like ‘Piccolo Banda’and the Obtipan plant.
However, you can differentiate a Rane Verde from the sister Peperomia Piccolo Banda plant. The former one has comparatively larger leaves. On the other hand, the compact body and thin foliage of the ripple plant make it different from the Obtipan plant.
This hybrid can also be confused with its parent plants. Howbeit, the leaf color of both the parents is slightly different than the distinctive lush green shade of the cross.
Peperomia Rana Verde Care
Good news folks! You are reading about one of the easiest domestic plants. Let us learn about basic care and requirements;
Water Requirement
This semi-succulent shows medium levels of tolerance for the droughts. Howbeit, you should not expect it to tolerate water shortage like the cacti. The best strategy is to water thoroughly once the upper soil gets completely dry. You can water twice or thrice in summer, while once in two weeks seems enough for the colder days.
Always avoid over-watering. As any standing water will make the soil soggy and clog it out. This will lead to serious plant issues like fungus and root rot.
Sunlight Requirement
The Peperomias love bright indirect sunlight. A few hours of exposure to the morning sun will also be great for the health of the foliage. Importantly, avoid keeping the thin-leaved Chinese Rubber plant in direct sunlight for long hours. Surprisingly, inflorescent light also goes well with the plant.
An ideal indoor place to keep the Rana Verde would be a South, east or west-facing window. It is important to mention here, that you need to keep an eye on the leaf color and adjust the position accordingly.
Temperature Requirement
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that this is a warmth-loving plant. The ideal temperature for the plant ranges between 18 to 24 °C (65 to 75 °F). Make sure you avoid keeping the plant in temperatures lower than 10 °C (50 °F).
Soil Requirement
The Chinese money plant goes well with well-drained, light soil allowing plenty of aeration. Peat-based soil is a good example. Additionally, you can mix peat and perlite/sand in the ratio of 2:1. If you want to buy a ready-made mixture, consider buying a common succulent mix for domestic plants. As far as PH is concerned, the soil should be slightly acidic to neutral( with PH 6 to 7.3).
Pot Requirements
The ideal pot for this plant is a non-glazed pot with big drainage holes. This will allow evaporation and drain any excess water.
Humidity Requirement
The Rana Verde Peperomia Albovittata does well with average humidity levels. If you feel excessive dryness in summer, consider using a pebble-water tray under the pot.
Fertilizer Requirement
Use a moderate house-plant fertilizer preferably in its liquid form once a month in the spring and summer. While you the plant can do fairly well without any added nutrients in the winter. Importantly, be careful! The liquid fertilizer may harm the leaves if you let it contact them directly.
If you are considering slow-release fertilizers, thrice a year would be a suitable frequency. Furthermore, it is always better to read and follow the instructions on the pack of the fertilizer or consult a professional.
Pruning Requirements
You can cut out a few lower branches in the growing season to maintain the appearance. Nevertheless, don’t over-pruning the patient grower.
Cleaning Requirements
The wrinkled leaf surface of the Peperomias may get a layer of dust. This may deteriorate the health of the plan while hindering air availability. Regular cleaning with water spray will be helpful in cleaning out the dust.
Peperomia Rana Verde Propagation
Popular propagation methods include;
- By stem tip-cuttings.
- By leaf-cuttings.
Season of Propagation
The best days to propagate a new Chinese rubber plant are the middle of the spring.
Method of Propagation
- Take a sharp knife or garden shears. Cut about 5 to 8 inches of stem from the tip. The cutting should at least have 2 to 3 leaves.
- You can also take a leaf-cutting (petiole with leaf). Simply, cut it in an angular direction at the base.
- Let the cutting get dry for a day.
- Now, dip the base of the cutting in growth hormone.
- Plant the cutting in moist soil or growing medium and firm the soil around.
- Finally, put the plant in a place with bright indirect light and warm temperature (around 55 °F). And, you will see sprouting after about a month.
Growth Timeline
This is an estimated pattern to help you get an idea about the growth of baby plants. The growth frequency and state of the plant are variable. These features are dependant upon the environment and care availability. Always keep an eye on the plantlets to manage the care accordingly.
- Day 1–Day 40:
Just keep the Rana Verde Peperomia plant in a well-lit warm place. Water the soil lightly, once it gets at least 90% dry. Roots will start developing around the 3rd week. - Day 40 –Day 60:
The plant will start developing the shoots by the 7th week. Water the plant frequently right after the soil gets dry. - Day 60 onwards:
If provided with good care, the plant will now show visible growth with shoots and leaves development. Just follow the usual Peperomia Rana Verde Care and wait for a month or more to enjoy a well-grown Rane Verde. The baby plants don’t do well with fertilizer in the initial six months. However, you can fertilize suitably in the next spring after the propagation.
Peperomia Rana Verde For Sale
Surprise, surprise! This rippled leaf beauty is available on Amazon. It comes with a complete care guide and home delivery. So what are you waiting for?
Summary
Peperomia Rana Verde is a beautiful houseplant. The dark-green, wrinkled, ovate leaves are arranged on a short stem. The care includes warmth, bright indirect light, and water right after the soil gets dry. Resistance, minimum maintenance, and non-toxicity are the key features for its popularity. Rana Verde makes beautiful shelf pots. Moreover, you can group it with other semi-succulents or cacti. This air-purifying plant will be an easy way to add a touch of class to your home or office.
