Do you want to know about an easy-to-care indoor Peperomia which does not get any larger than 6 inches? Let us introduce you to one of the smallest members of the Peperomia family, the annual perennial, Pixie Peperomia Plant. This beautiful sport of Peperomia orba grows in the form of a small and compact upright bush. It has small, furry, green to lime-green oval-shaped leaves.
This native of Central America is preferred for its small size and easy-to-go nature. Go ahead with making small pots to decorate any spot in your home or on the table. You would be surprised to know that this simple yet attractive plant comes with a hassle-free nature. Indirect light and moderate watering are all you need to keep this little chap happy.
Want to know more? Keep reading to enjoy a guide about the maintenance and care of the Peperomia pixie Plant.
Pixie Peperomia Classification
Family: Piperaceae
Genus: Peperomia
Species: P. orba
Sport: Pixie Lime
Other Names
- The small size and specific shape of the Peperomia orba Pixie Lime leaves make it commonly known as Teardrop Peperomia or Peperomia Teardrop.
Features of the Pixie Peperomia Plant
Size:
- The plant gets about 6 to 8 inches tall with an equal spread.
Leaves:
- The tear-shaped furry leaves of the little chap mature to get about 3 inches in size.
- A closer look at the leaf surface shows fine dark green irregular lines on the entire surface.
Flower:
The small bushy succulent enhances its beauty by blooming small non-showy flowers in pale green to white color. The flowering season is not so long and usually consists of the late months of summer.
Toxicity:
Teardrop Pixie plants are generally considered to be pet-friendly. However, Peperomias are known for mild toxicity. Thus, it is better to follow a safer approach and don’t let kids and pets mingle with the plant. Moreover, it is always better to contact emergency medical aid in case of ingestion.
Pixie Peperomia Care
Just like other Peperomias, the Peperomia Orba pixie lime too is an easy-to-care plant. Beginners and busy folks can go for it without any hesitation.
Quick Guide:
Water: Medium (After the soil dries out)
Sunlight: Bright indirect sun and dappled shade.
Temperature: Moderate (65 to 75 F).
Humidity: Medium to high.
Fertilizer: Mild concentration in summer and spring.
Let us have a deeper understanding of ‘how to grow the Peperomia pixie lime?’
Water Requirement
The succulent leaves are fine to go with low to moderate water. The basic principle is to water generously to soak the soil and let it dry out before the next watering.
The frequency of watering depends upon different features like temperature, sunlight, and humidity. Plants staying in a bright, hot, and dry atmosphere will need comparatively more water.
As a general estimate, you may need to water every once or twice a week. Just make sure you water neither earlier nor too late to dry out the plant. It should be right after the soil gets dry.
Now, let us talk about winter. The plant shows poor growth in winter getting dormant. This reduces the water requirement. So, once every two to three weeks is generally enough for the fall and winter.
Peperomias can handle a little under-watering but never over-watering. Yes, excess water can rot the roots which if goes unnoticed can even kill the plant.
Sunlight Requirement
Your Pixie Lime Peperomia likes to stay in bright indirect sun. For indoor plantation, you can select a well-lit spot with plenty of indirect sun. As far as outdoor peeps are concerned, they will be good in a shade with indirect sun or dappled shade.
These peeps can enjoy some minutes of the direct early morning sun. However, any more sun kills scorch out the foliage and even kill the plant. So, choosing an appropriate place for the place is of prime importance.
A Peperomia getting leggy could be a sign of inadequate sun. Try shifting it to a brighter yet indirect sun and see the result.
Soil Requirement
The soil should be well-drained providing plenty of aeration. You can simply use a houseplant mix. Additionally, a mixture consisting of equal proportions of perlite and peat-moss is also a nice option.
Temperature Requirement
The Majority of the Peperomias like to stay in a moderate temperature range of 65 to 75 F. Extreme Cold, winds and frosts are what your plant does not like. So, make sure you keep them away. Also, don’t forget to transfer them indoors at some warm spot before it gets cold in the fall. This is especially important for people living in regions with severely cold winters.
Humidity Requirement
A range of humidity levels is tolerable for your Peperomia pixie lime. However, a range between 50 to 80 % moisture is ideal for the plant.
On extra dry days, a common practice of putting a pebble-water tray under the pot. You can also mist the foliage but make sure it is placed in a ventilated place. Foliage staying wet for long can attract fungus and pest attacks.
Fertilizer Requirement
Monthly doses of fertilizer show good results in terms of the health and growth rate of the plant. Use a graded balanced houseplant fertilizer in mild dosage. Half of the stated dose is a good idea to ensure a decent nutrient addition.
Over-fertilization is quite harmful leading to issues like crystal formation and scorching out of the foliage. Moreover, it is even enough to destroy the plant. So, make sure you always use a mild concretion and never fertilize after the middle of the summer.
Pot and Repotting Requirements
A small pot with a drainage hole at the base is ideal for the plant. The members of the genus generally like to stay root-bound. Thus, this peep will be good to go without frequent repot until about 2 years. A plant growing out of the pot is another sign to shift it to a larger pot.
Pruning and Cutting Requirements
You can simply give a mild trim to maintain the appearance and remove the older leaves.
Pixie Peperomia Propagation
Peperomias are easy-to-propagate peeps. So, if you are planning to make a few new Pixie Plants, just go ahead with any of the methods given below:
- Stem tip-cuttings.
- Leaf-cuttings.
Season:
The months of spring and summer are ideal for propagation.
Propagation by Stem-cuttings:
- Used a knife or gardening shears (preferably sterilized) to cut a few inches long stems from the growing ends.
- Remove the leaves from the lower ends of the stems leaving at least 2 at the upper edge.
- Plant these cuttings in moist well-draining soil.
- The setup should stand in indirect light. Also, mist the soil right when it gets about 70% dry to maintain the moisture.
- Baby roots and shoots will develop in a period of about 3 to 7 weeks.
Propagation by Leaf-cuttings:
- Succulents are easily propagated even by planting a few cuttings of the leaves.
- Take a few healthy leaves and cut them in half. Plant them after they are left to callous out for about a day or two.
- Now put these Pixie Lime Peperomia leaf-cuttings on a moist well-draining growing mixture.
- Provide them with indirect sun and maintain the moisture of the mix.
- Wait for about three weeks when the cuttings will develop baby roots. You can check them by pulling them out very softly. Resistance will show the growth of the roots. These can be easily taken out and planted in your desired pots to enjoy the further development of your baby plant.
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Summary
Pixie peperomia or Peperomia Orba pixie lime is a sport of the famous Orba plant. This is one of the smallest peperomias getting not more than 6 inches in size. The green, fleshy tear-shaped leaves have a soft furry texture.
This small champ is a nice option for making small indoor pots. Bright indirect light and moderate watering after the soil get dry is what they need to stay happy. Peperomias are mildly toxic. So, it is better to be on the safer side and keep them away from kids and pets.
