How to Propagate Peperomias from Leaves or Stems (with Pictures) – ISPUZZLE

How to Propagate Peperomias From Leaves or Stems (With Photos)

Peperomias, also known as radiator plants, make wonderful houseplants for collectors. This genus is so vast and diverse that you can have two of them together without even knowing they are related. From creeping vines to upright, compact plants, there’s a peperomia for every indoor grower and every space in your home.

Peperomias are one of the few plants that can be propagated from single leaves, provided you have the right variety to start with. Other varieties are easy to propagate via stem cuttings, allowing you to produce as many peperomias as possible without spending a penny.

Contents

How to propagate from stem cuttings

choose a tribe

A good cut from a Peperomia plant starts with a strong, healthy stem. You can cut anywhere along a stem as long as it has a few leaves and is about four inches long. Make sure the cutting you choose has abundant, healthy growth and no signs of disease to give the best chance of rooting.

If you have a peperomy that is too large, now is the perfect time to propagate it. Any cuttings you take out while pruning can be rooted to grow more plants without much extra effort on your part.

make a cut

Grab a pair of pruners or shears and make sure they’re clean and sharp to get the cleanest cut possible. Cut the cutting just below the point where a clump of leaves emerges. Alternatively, you can prune a set of leaves to keep the mother plant in good condition, then cut off the excess from your cutting.

remove lower leaves

To prepare the nodes for new growth, remove the leaves from the bottom of your peperomia cutting. If these leaves are planted below ground or the waterline while rooting, they will simply rot, exposing your cutting to potential problems and limiting root growth.

carrots

You have two options when rooting your peperomia stem cutting: water or soil. Rooting in water allows you to monitor root growth, while rooting in soil will produce stronger cuttings that are less likely to suffer transplant shock later.

To root in water, simply drop the cuttings into a glass of filtered water or rainwater. Make sure only the bottom half of the cup is below the waterline; the remaining leaves should remain above the water. If your glass won’t allow you to hold the cuttings, cover them with plastic wrap and poke a small hole, using the leaves to anchor the cuttings to the glass.

To root in the ground, create a light, airy growing mix by combining equal parts perlite and coir (or peat). You can also use houseplant soil if you already have one.

Fill a container with the mix and moisten the soil before you start to check drainage and make planting easier. Poke a small hole with your finger, plant the cutting and press down on the top to anchor it in place.

You can plant several cuttings in the same pot to root them, then transplant them into the right potting soil and into your final pot if necessary.

Thorough

Move your containers to a bright spot out of direct sunlight to avoid burning the leaves. Continue to replenish water or moisten the soil to promote root growth.

Transplant your cuttings when the roots are about an inch long. Don’t leave your cuttings in water for too long, as this will prevent them from adapting to soil conditions.

How to propagate from leaf cuttings.

choose a sheet

Peperomias with larger leaves can be propagated from leaf cuttings, producing small seedlings at the base that develop into mature peperomia plants. For your leaf cuttings to develop roots, they must be healthy and disease-free. Choose a large leaf that isn’t too young (or too old) to have the best chance of rooting.

make a cut

Then, use sharp pruners or shears to cut the foliage off the plant. Cut as close to the ground as possible to keep the mother plant tidy. Any part of the petiole that remains will simply wither away, leaving the plant susceptible to disease, so it’s best to remove it all at once.

You can then shorten the petiole to a more manageable size, leaving just enough to anchor the plant to the ground as it propagates.

trim sheet

This next step is optional, depending on the size of the sheet. Smaller leaves may not require additional pruning, but large leaves often do. Due to their weight, larger peperomia leaves can fall to the ground, increasing the risk of rotting and decreasing the risk of root growth.

In these cases, it is better to cut the sheet in half horizontally. It will also prevent it from growing when planting, redirecting all available energy to root growth.

The best part is that you can take these horizontal cuttings and root them too. Simply dust the ends with rooting hormone before placing the cutting edge in the ground with the rest of the cuttings. This method isn’t the most reliable in terms of root production, but it doesn’t hurt to try it if you need to prune the foliage anyway.

ground carrot

Leaf cuttings can be rooted in water, but maintaining the correct waterline while keeping the leaf above water is difficult. It is much easier to root leaf cuttings in the ground, which gives them an anchor point and makes maintenance management much easier.

Take a seedling tray or small pot and fill it with growing soil. You can buy these mixes online or make a light and airy one by combining equal parts perlite and coir with added vermiculite to improve drainage. Moisten the soil before starting to facilitate rooting.

Then simply press the leaf clippings into the soil at a slight angle, keeping the leaf off the soil line. If it won’t hold on its own, use a toothpick to position the blade above the ground line.

Blanket

Since leaf cuttings are a bit more difficult to root than stem cuttings, make sure the environment is ideal for root growth. Heat and high humidity are essential for root production and must be controlled if you want your propagation efforts to be successful.

To increase the humidity around the cuttings, simply cover them with a clear plastic bag, making sure the sides don’t touch the cuttings. Moisture will accumulate in the bag, creating the perfect environment for root growth.

Thorough

Keep the soil consistently moist by lifting the plastic every few days and lightly spraying the top layer of soil. The plastic also helps retain water, limit evaporation and reduce the need for frequent watering. Place the tray or container in an area with bright, indirect light and watch for signs of growth at the base of the cutting.

Once a seedling appears, allow it to reach at least an inch or two in height before transplanting it. Remove the original leaf and save the plant and all of its original roots. Transplant into specialized potting soil for houseplants and a larger pot to grow your new peperomia to its full potential.

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