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Planta says my pepperomia likes moderate watering… not too much, not… | The Cactus & Succulent Circle | Planta community

Lynda

Planta says my pepperomia likes moderate watering… not too much, not too little…🤔! Can anyone tell me what percentage of moisture I should look for on my moisture meter? I have found that the not too much… Etc, isn’t very helpful, at times. So, should someone know whether these plants tend to prefer medium water on the dryer side or medium water on the moisture, loving side, I would really appreciate that info. This plant has been having a really tough time, and I’m trying to figure out it’s little secrets .. TIA!

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15 comments

  1. Tiff

    Yeah... I'm with you on that as well. I almost killed one because I was over watering. I've taken to sticking my finger in the soil. Sorry, I'm not much help. BTW, she's gorgeous.

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    • Lynda

      I’m in the dark about this plant, too! So you think this plant would rather dry out a bit before watering it again? Did you use a moisture meter to check the moisture percentages when you watered your plant? If so, can you tell me the approximate percentage of moisture at which you would water this plant? I know, I’m getting sort of anal about this, but this plant is not looking very healthy, and I think it’s because I may have watered it too soon …😬! TIA for any help you can give me!

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  2. Bunny413

    Most plants do better with drying out too much than being watered too much. I love this Peperomia. The easiest way I learned to tell is her leaves will firm when well watered and will soften as she starts to need water. Also if she is watered too much, too often, her leaves will actually split, and if done too often, her stems will rot.

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    • Lynda

      TXS for your comments! I’ll remember to check her leaves if I think she needs water; that’s the info I was looking for…🤗!

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    • Lynda

      I just tried giving a couple of my plants leaves a gentle squeeze, and they feel rather hard, and thin, just sort of flat feeling. Is this normal? What does it mean? TIA!

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  3. Bunny413

    Her leaves are normally flat. I'm trying to think of what to compare her to. . . Not as thin as a Pothos. Maybe more along the lines of a Hoya but not as firm. If they are firm, then she should be good. When they start to get a little bendable, and her pot gets noticably lighter, then she is probably close to needing a water. Not fold in half bendable, but more along the lines of flexible, if that makes sense. I had mine in a chunkier mix and she needed watering around once a week in the summer spring, closer to every 9-10 days in winter. She was also right be a South facing window.

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    • Lynda

      Just out of curiosity, would you mind giving me a picture of yours, and telling me how old yours is? Have you had any problems along the way while raising her? But, only if you’re comfortable with that… TIA!!

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  4. Lynda

    I went back and tried to fold a leaf, and in no way was it flexible! I guess that means she’s not ready to be watered; so TXS a bunch… you’ve been super helpful!

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  5. Bunny413

    This is my Ginny. I got the original plant in 2023, and sold her late 2024. I took a few cuttings to propagate first, and this picture is the propagation at around 4 months before I sold her as well. I had more issues with the mother plant because she was one of my early plants and I didn't know as much about soil mixes, and her soil was too heavy and retained too much moisture. I had much better luck with the propagation but I also think that plants seem to do better when they are rooted and grow in the same kind of substrate versus changing them to a new substrate. Watering was definitely my biggest challenge, and how I learned to check her leaves.

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    • Lynda

      She is so pretty; I love the variagation of her leaves! I cannot believe you grew this as a prop; how did you get her to grow so fast? And can I ask what substrate you used? Whatever you did, she certainly turned out to be a beautiful plant! Again, TXS for all your help…🤗!

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  6. Bunny413

    You are very welcome! I mix my own substrate for all my plants, and I used my general mix for her. I use the same mix for all of my plants, excluding succulents, and just adjust the ratios depending on the plant. I use Tree Fern Fiber, Orchid Bark, Charcoal, Chunky Perlite, and some Peat (ProMix) to help with moisture retention. I really did love her. But I've been trying to cull my plants as I am getting close to 500, and it's so hard to decide who to vote off the island. 😭

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    • Lynda

      Oh my gosh, I wondered why you had gotten rid of your lovely pepperomia! You’re like the little old lady in the shoe, who had so many kids, ahh, plants, she didn’t know what to do! I’d be losing my ever loving mind with that many plants! And BTW, TXS for your substrate recipe; it sounds like a good one!

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  7. Bunny413

    100% LOL. And I love them all so it's SOooo hard to be like, ok, I'm going to sell you to someone I don't know and they may or may not kill you. 😵‍💫🫣😭

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    • Lynda

      For sure… it’s almost like giving away one of your kids…🥲, but you can’t keep every plant… or so I’m finding…😭! Again, TXS for all of your help… I really have appreciated it!

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    • Lynda

      Just a heads up… I finally watered my plant, and now know the difference between a flexible and a non-flexible leaf! Big difference! But I didn’t know what I was looking for, until you told me; so, thanks again!

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