Got my very first watermelon peperomia! š¤ Iām still having hard time figuring out which size of pot I should get and how I should repot. I got a clay pot with drainage hole (6ā diameter, 5ā tall) but Iām not sure if itās appropriate to plant it directly to the pot. I also have a ceramic pot without holes and a plastic nursery pot that goes inside it. (5ā diameter, 5.5ā tall) I greatly appreciate any kind of tips!
Your watermelon Peperomia is gorgeous. I just got one today in the mail and the extreme heat today did some damage. I would also like to know the answer because I will repot mine soon. Other Peperomia I have in my collection did well by going up one inch in pot size. Iām a novice but they did well going from the four inch pots they came in to a five inch pot.
1 likeThat sounds great! Thank you for sharing your experience. Iām sorry to hear about your new one, but I hope it will recover and get well soon!
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I really prefer plastic pots in ceramic cache pots
4 likesGreat to know. Thank you!
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Best to check the size of the root system first. Then decide. You fine the roots completely packed in there or you may find a much smaller system than expected. So the new planter should be appropriate for the roots.
2 likesInteresting. Thanks for the tip! Well noted.
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Iāve got a few tips I can share from caring for the one I gifted my dad last year! š To answer your question about repotting, though, I would opt for the 5 in plastic pot. Go for something no more than 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the width of the peperomiaās root ball.
1 like Hereās some tips for your watermelon peperomia: Repotting/Soil: Peperomias like being more snug in their pots. Theyāre epiphytic, meaning they naturally live by climbing up tree branches and trunks, not in soil. So in order for them to live as a houseplant, they need to be in a well-draining soil. It looks like itās currently in sometime akin to a cactus/succulent mix or potting mix with extra amendments, so if thatās the case, great! As for future repotting, though, I would opt for a well-draining cactus and succulent mix, or all-purpose potting mix with added perlite and orchid bark for extra drainage. Watering: allow the soil to completely or almost completely dry out between waterings. I would use a barbecue/bamboo skewer to check the soil for dryness before watering. Stick it all the way into the bottom of the soil, pull it out, and if the soil sticks to it, wait at least 2 days, then test again. If the skewer comes out clean and dry, with nothing sticking to it, it should be safe to water Donāt get the leaves wet. A great way to water it without getting the leaves wet is to bottom-water it. By that, I mean you place the plant into a bowl or container, fill the container with water, then leave the plant in there for 10-20 minutes, then take it out to drain in a sink or terra cotta saucer before placing back in its spot. Common problems: the most common problem Iāve seen occur with this type of peperomia is edema, which occurs when thereās a change in the temperature, humidity, or if the soil isnāt well-draining enough. Make sure the soil is well draining, aerate the soil from time to time (the skewer comes in handy here too), and donāt place it near drafty windows, frequently opening doors, or air vents. Pull it from anywhere too cold in the winter. Lighting: peperomias are known for doing well in a variety of lighting. This one enjoys at least 4-6 hours of lighting. I kept my fatherās in a north-facing window and it did just fine there, but it would also enjoy an east/west-facing window. Thatās about it. Peperomias are very low-maintenance once theyāre potted up in a well-draining mix and not overwatered. Good luck with your new peperomia!
4 likes From the looks of the plant and size of the pot, it doesnāt hurt to see how the roots look, but it doesnāt look like it needs repotting into something bigger from the looks of it. As long as itās in a well-draining mix, you might be just fine leaving it as is in its current pot.
1 likeWow this is very insightful. Thank you for taking your time to write all this, Adrian!! For now, I decided to wait a little before repotting. I read that letting it adjust to the new environment before repotting is beneficial. Is that something you agree with?
1 like Definitely! Feel free to wait a bit for the plant to adjust before repotting. It looks to be in a pretty good sized pot and soil mix from the looks of it atm, so you might not even really need to repot at all if you donāt want to. Iād doesnāt look like it needs to be in a bigger pot, and peperomias like being more snug in their pots, so you can probably keep it in the current pot. š
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I would wait a couple of weeks before repotting so it can acclimate to its new surroundings. A move AND a repot might stress it out too much.
1 likeThank you for the tip!! I have implemented it and decided Iāll wait.
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