I have 2 peperomia obtusifolia variegata and I'm worried one isn't getting the right amount of water. I waited until the soil was dry and watered until saturated and let it drain. One plant's leaves are firm and succulent-like, the other one is more flimsy. Should I re-water the flimsy one sooner or just wait until the soil drys out again?
You have to check the soil to determine when to water. If the soil is not dry, I wouldn’t water yet.
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if it’s only one leaf i would just take that one off. it’s normal for some leafs to go bad. just remove them so the plant will focus her energy on new leafs and new growth.
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On some plants that are allowed to go very dry, the soil becomes hydrophobic. Meaning it will not take up water. It happens with my sansevieria and peps. So I water small amounts over an hour or so until water is not draining straight thru. Or you can bottom water leaving it sit in the water for an hour or so. I can usually tell if it’s watered completely by the weight. Keep in mind, they have shallow roots and do best in succulent soil.
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The one you have in the attached photo looks to be in a fairly large pot for the size of the plant. I would consider the size of the pots, what type of soil each one is in, and if they were ever repotted in new soil. If they were bought from different places, it’s very possible one is in a better-draining soil that dries out faster, and the other needs better soil. And if one is in a larger pot than the other, it could simply be that it takes more time for that amount of soil to dry out. If the one that’s struggling has never been repotted, I’d recommend repotting it into a cactus and succulent mix. I use Espoma’s Organic Cactus and Succulent Mix for all of my peperomias, but any well-draining cactus mix will do. Just avoid Miracle Grow Brand’s soil, as it isn’t well draining enough for this type of plant. As for pots, make sure it’s a pot with drainage holes (plastic with multiple drainage holes or terra cotta with at least one drainage hole), and avoid self-watering or glazed ceramic pots, as they’re meant for plants that don’t like to completely dry out between waterings. I wait about 11-14 days before watering my peperomias. The real key is to keep them more snug in their pots, and opt for a pot no more than 1-2 inches wider than the diameter of the plant’s root ball. Hope this helps! 😊
2 Likes Update: it's just a thirsty plant it seems! It took up the water and the leaves got firmer
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