Peperomia hope is one of the best plants for hanging baskets. Because it has evergreen foliage and long trailing stems. Its compact size makes it a suitable indoor hanging basket plant. Peperomia hope care and propagation are simple like other plants of its family.
The leaves grow in groups and it produces tiny size flowers in its growing season.
For the bloom, you need to know about its growing needs. For that, you need to read the below-written peperomia hope care and grow guide.
In this post, you’ll know every single detail about the plant that is necessary to know before growing it.
About the plant
Peperomia hope is not naturally found on our planet. Botanists develop this plant species by mixing genes of two different plants. Peperomia deppeana and Peperomia quadrifolia are its parent plants. This is the reason it has the qualities of both these peperomia plants.
Botanical scientists also give it the scientific name peperomia tetraphylla.
The best part of this hybrid peperomia plant is it needs minimal care. Because it has the tendency to absorb nutrients and moisture from the air and water. If you grow it high in a humid area then you don’t need to water it for days.
It has oval-shaped succulent like leaves. Peperomia hope leaves grow in a group of 3 to 4 leaves on long vines. The color of the foliage depends on the amount of light the plant gets.
Peperomia hope care guide
For healthy peperomia plants grow them under in-direct bright sunlight. Water them when the soil becomes dry. Keep the room temperature between 16 to 20 degrees C. Fertilize once a month.
Now let’s discuss each requirement in detail.
Light
Light is necessary for every plant. For best Peperomia hope care, give it filtered sunlight. Many gardeners advise that this plant does not need sunlight. The normal ceiling lights are enough to grow it. But remember that plants do need sunlight to grow healthy and to bloom.
Sunlight has a full spectrum of light wavelengths that are required by the plants to produce flowers. After the sun only LED grow lights emit full-spectrum light.
Therefore, you need to use LED grow light for growing peperomia hope plants.
If you do not want to spend money on artificial light. Then place the plant pot near the east or south-facing window. Make sure you put a sheer curtain on the window to filter the sunlight.
Morning sunlight is good for the peperomia hope plants. The problem starts after 11 am when the sun starts emitting high intense hot sun rays.
In low lights, plants cannot produce their food and they grow weak and leggy. They develop deep green leaves instead of bright shining leaves.
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Water
You will be surprised to know that this tropical plant needs less water. The reason is, it is a hybrid plant. They increase the drought tolerance power of this plant.
In general, you need to water the plant every week in the summer season. And once in 2 to 3 weeks in the winter season.
There is also a technique of watering peperomia hope plants.
Move the plant near the tap and water it until the water comes out from the drainage hole. Then stop watering it and leave the pot for 10 minutes. In this time the soil absorbs the desired amount of water and drains the extra water.
They put the plant back in its permanent place.
The traditional water method is not helpful in the case of peperomia hope care. Because this plant is prone to root fungus. And old watering techniques will increase the chances of root infection.
It is best to water it less and avoid root fungus. Because once the plant roots get infected. It is very hard to save them. You have to cut them and save your plants.
Temperature
16 to 26 degrees C is the best temperature range for growing hope plants. The normal temperature of your house is ideal for it. It can tolerate little temperature fluctuations.
Peperomia hope cannot survive below 10 Degrees C Because it is an indoor plant. Most indoor plants need temperatures higher than 10 degrees C.
This clears that you need to move the plant pots inside in the winter season or you will lose them.
In summer months hope peperomias can tolerate temperature up to 30 degrees C. But only for 2 to 4 days after that the plant starts drying.
The temperature of the growing room directly affects the watering needs of hope peperomias. Low temperature means less watering and temperature between 25 to 30 degrees C means more watering sessions.
Soil
For peperomias hope care, use succulent potting mix. This type of ready to use soil is light in weight and has excellent aeration. Peperomia roots need fresh air to grow healthy.
In the absence of air, the root starts dying, and the plant show improper growth.
The soil has to be well-draining. Do not use your garden soil to grow peperomia in plant pots. You need to modify it according to the plant needs.
50% of garden soil and add 50% of any organic material. organic material stays moist for a long time. also quickly drains the extra water.
2 parts potting soil + 1 part perlite + 1 part sand. This formula will work like a miracle for all types of peperomia plants.
Along with the soil you need to choose the plant pots wisely. The very first thing is the pot you choose should have a bottom hole. Terracotta pots allow potting soil to dry faster. They also increase the root aeration.
Plastic pots are used when we grow plants that need moist soil all the time. The only drawback of plastic pots is no aeration.
Fertilizer
Use synthetic fertilizers with a balanced power ratio of 10-10-10. Above this ratio will burn the plants. For all epiphytes always use synthetic fertilizers. No need to use high priced organic fertilizers. This will not change anything.
Your plants will show the same growth with both fertilizers. The benefits of using organic fertilizers are they release nutrients at a slower rate.
This makes a regular chain of nutrients to the plants. But peperomia hope plants do not need any fertilizers. So, using organic fertilizers is useless. Use liquid commercial fertilizer once a month.
Remember that over-fertilization can kill the plants. Always read the instruction on the fertilizer bottle and use accordingly.
Highly concentrated fertilizers are always deadly for plants. You need to dilute them before use.
In the case of peperomia hope to dilute them twice than recommended.
If the bottle says to mix 1 cup of nutrients in 1 gallon. Use 2 gallons of water for every cup of nutrients.
Humidity
For good Peperomia hope care put the plant pots in 40% to 50 % humidity. Low humidity than 40 % turns the leaves yellow and brown. The maximum humidity in the air can be 80 %. Above this triggers bacterial infections and leaf fungus.
To increase the humidity of the growing place group the plants together. Or use the pebble tray filled with water.
And put the plant pot on it.
At last, to save it from low air moisture put the plant in the bathroom for 2 days. Then take it out and use a humidifier in the room.
Misting water on plant spikes and leaves keeps the plant cool on hot summer days.
Repotting
Peperomia hope is a slow-growing plant you will not need frequent repotting. Having long vines is a different thing. This does not mean your plant needs a bigger pot. Repotting is linked with the root size. And plant growth is liked with the pruning.
If you feel that the plant trails longer then you want to trim the plant with sharp Kinfe or shears.
You can also use the trimmed vines to grow more plants like the mother plant. plant them in new containers have many contains of peperomia hope plants.
When the plant shows stunted growth, roots feel tightly packed, they come out on the upper surface. Then you need to repot the plant. Use 2 inches wider and deep pot.
Large size then the recommendation will cause root rot-like problems.
Propagation
For the propagation of peperomia hope you have three options.
- Propagation from leaf
- Propagation hope from stem cuttings
- Propagation from growing layering
Peperomia propagation from leaves
In this method, we only use the leaves of the plants to grow more plants. You need to wait for the growing season. Just before the growing season starts follow the below method.
- Look for the healthy mature leaves
- Cut a few of them with their petiole and leave them for 24 hours.
- Now plant them in the seedling starting mix and cover the pot with a plastic cover
- Mist the water once every 2 days
- Put the bag in in-direct light.
Propagation from stem cuttings
- Cut the healthy stem about 8 cm in length.
- The stem should have some leaves
- Then plant the stem in the potting mix and water the soil.
- Put the pit in the filtered light
- The cutting will develop roots in just a few days.
Ground layering propagation
This method is useful in outdoor growing peperomia hope plants. It is a self-propagation method. The vines develop roots where they touch the ground.
You do not have to do anything in this method.
Common problems
Root rot is the main problem that peperomia will face if water incorrectly. Otherwise, they will not be infected by any plant disease. Yellow leaves and brown spots are also linked to under-watered or over watered.
Just follow the watering technique that we suggest in this article. your plants will never get any problem with water.
Mealybugs
They are the main enemy of peperomia hope plants. Use neem oil for peperomia care and to kill the pests. Mealybugs live on the plant leaves and eat plant nutrients.
Take a cotton cloth pour some neem oil on it and wipe the plant leaves and stems. This will kill the bugs and also prevent them.
If the pest problem gives you headaches and neem oil technique does not work. In this condition use pesticides sprays. Always wear safety glasses, gloves, and mask while using pesticide spray. Never use it inside your house.
Take the plant out in your garden the then use pesticide spray.
