Need help with this watermelon peperomia. I bought her about a month ago at a plant store’s annual sale. She has been dropping leaves. I had her hanging in a screened porch area where she probably wasn’t getting enough sun. And I think I was overwatering her. I have moved her indoors to an area of partial sun. She was hanging outside in the sun at the store but I thought these didn’t need full sun. She is still in her original pot and soil. What can I do for her?
Root bound-repot Light-bright indirect light Water-top inch of soil is dry Good luck!!!
2 likesRegular potting soil w some extra drainage should be fine
1 like Agree
0 likesThis is copied from patchplants.com but sounds like a good way to tell if you have the right lighting conditions: Your peperomia will tell you if it’s getting too much sun because its splendid stripes will start to fade. This can also start to burn their lovely leaves. When not given enough light, you'll notice the foliage becoming a darker shade of green and losing its variegation.
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Hi there 👋 I’ve had a few watermelon peperomias, and I’d like to caution against repotting it if you don’t have to. The pot for the size of your pep looks good. The watermelon variety can be much more prone to shock from repotting, so I wouldn’t repot it unless your plant looks to be in serious distress or the roots start poking out of the drainage holes. Otherwise, fooling with the roots at all when you don’t have to can send this guy into complete shock. I never had mine burn from being in a south facing windowsill, but they can handle lower light like a north facing windowsill as well. They need to be within 1ft of a light source regardless of how bright the light is. And their leaves usually start to droop when they’re getting thirsty. If you wanna know when you water it, stick a wooden/bamboo/barbecue skewer all the way to the bottom of the soil, take it out, and see if any soil stuck to it. If it comes out completely clean and dry after poking it in 2-3 other areas, it should be safe to water. If it comes out with moist soil sticking to it, hit the snooze button for 2 days, then check again 2 days from then. I’d wait at least 11-14 days before watering, especially for one your size, and check when the leaves start to droop again. Hope this helps! 😊
4 likes It is not the drooping that concerns me but that leaves are actually falling off. Is this another one of those crazy plants that doesn’t like change, so now that I have moved it to an area that gets more light, I need to just leave it alone for a few weeks?
0 likes Ok, the leaves falling off is not normal, so it could be freaking out from being in a new home, or maybe the location it’s currently in. Is it near an air vent, or drafty windowsill? Frequently opening door? If you don’t think the recent heat, or any exposure to forced cold air by cranking the AC during the recent heatwave could’ve affected it, then it could be freaking out from just generally being in a new home, or being repotted. If you haven’t repotted it or even inspected the roots, then it’s probably stressing out from a new home. If you think it could be the current spot it’s in, try somewhere away from frequently opening windows, doors, or air vents. If you have repotted it, it’s unfortunately probably that that caused the fallen leaves. The obtusifulia and clusifolia varieties of peperomia are very hardy, and fine with being repotted, but the watermelon, raindrop, and caperata varieties are very prone to shock from repotting or changes in temperature or humidity. I love the obtusifolia ones, but I’ve definitely found you have to be careful with any types with thinner leaves in this species.
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