Allowing peperomia to become overgrown (etiolated) can result in new problems, such as falling over. Therefore, it is important to prune to get rid of the overgrown parts quickly.
In this article, I’ll describe the easy-to-follow steps for pruning peperomia and discuss the factors that lead to excessive growth.
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Do Not Let The Peperomia Get Too Long
Peperomia is a unique ornamental plant with over 1,000 different species. Even within the same “Peperomia” family, each variety has different leaf patterns and colors, offering a diverse and enjoyable appearance.
However, caution is necessary if only a part of the Peperomia grows excessively. This could indicate a condition called “etiolation,” where a portion of the plant becomes unnecessarily elongated and spindly.
Not only is an etiolated Peperomia unattractive, but it can also lead to issues such as the plant losing its balance and toppling over due to its shifted center of gravity.
When you notice etiolation, promptly performing a pruning technique called ‘cutting back’ is essential.
When Peperomia Grows Too Long, Cut It Back
Cutting back is a pruning technique mainly used to shape the plant, which involves cutting off excessively grown stems and leaves.
There are no special steps required for cutting back Peperomia. Prepare clean pruning shears and cut the base of the overgrown stem – that’s all you need to do.
On the other hand, if your Peperomia obtusifolia grows long spikes and you don’t know what to do, read this post to figure out what to do.
Steps to Cut Back an Overgrown Peperomia
- STEP 1: Check which stems are too long
- STEP 2: Grasp the base of the etiolated stem with one hand
- STEP 3: Hold the pruning shears in your other hand and cut the grasped bottom – that’s it!
You can use pruning shears available at online shops or gardening stores.
However, to prevent spreading diseases to your Peperomia, use the shears cleanly (Disinfect them with ethanol/isopropyl alcohol boiling water or before use or use a cleaner).
At this point, you should think about repotting your Peperomia
If it is May through October and you can manage it, I suggest repotting the peperomia and cutting it back simultaneously.
If your peperomia is growing too quickly, the roots may be struggling. It will be easier for the plant to thrive in the future if the roots are adjusted by repotting.
Here is a basic overview of the steps and materials required to repot a peperomia.
Tools Required for Repotting Peperomia
- A pot one size bigger than the current one
- Potting stone net for the pot’s bottom
- Soil that drains well
Peperomia Repotting Steps
Step 1: Place a potting bottom net on the new pot’s bottom.
Step 2: Cover the net with the bottom stone in the pot.
Step 3: Fill the pot halfway with well-drained soil.
Step 4: Carefully remove the peperomia from its current container.
Step 5: Gently remove the soil from the roots, leaving only one-third of the soil behind.
Step 6: Remove any blackened or otherwise abnormal roots.
Step 7: Put the peperomia in the new pot and fill it with the rest of the soil.
Step 8: Water the peperomia once, place it in the soil, and you’re finished.
Although it may seem complicated, you must only move the peperomia to a new pot with the roots intact. It is more straightforward than it appears, so please give it a shot.
Grow A New Peperomia From Cuttings!
When you take a cutting, you take a piece of a plant and grow it into a new plant.
It’s easy to grow Peperomia from cuttings, and you can do it with the tools and steps below. Between May and June is the best time to do this.
Tools needed for cutting Peperomia
- A new pot (smaller in size, suitable for the cut stem)
- Pot bottom net
- Stones for the bottom of a pot
- Soil to plant seeds
Steps for Cutting Peperomia
Here are the steps that I found the success rate is higher than other methods and easy to follow:
Step 1: Prepare the new pot in the same way as when you repotted the plant.
Step 2: Cut the stem right above a node. Remove the lowest leaf and keep it aside. Let it be callous for about 6 hours.
Step 3: Cut about 2 inches (5 cm)off the end of the stem. Remove the lowest leaves of the cutting and keep them aside. You want to remove the leaves because the cuttings may not be able to support too many leaves.
Step 4: Make a hole in the middle of the soil in the new pot with your finger or a stick. Then dip it in rooting powder and Simply stick it in the soil.
Step 5: Leave it for a week, then start misting it on the soil a little every few days. After two weeks, start giving small sips of water
Step 6: Give the plant a lot of water, and that’s it! Eventually, roots will grow, and a new sprout will come up. They do very well sprouting in either soil or pure coco coir.
It is said that keeping the cuttings watered is directly related to success. Therefore, water the cuttings frequently to keep the soil moist.
What Causes Excessive Peperomia Growth and How to Prevent It?
Finally, to prevent this from happening again, let’s review the causes of excessive growth in Peperomia.
“Lack of sunlight” and “poor air circulation” are two possible causes of excessive Peperomia growth.
Lack of Sunlight:
A lack of sunlight is a common cause of excessive growth in Peperomia. When plants do not get enough sunlight, they try to grow towards it, resulting in thin, elongated growth.
Peperomia does not like direct sunlight, so it thrives in areas with “bright, indirect light,” such as a room with sunlight filtered through lace curtains.
If the plant grows excessively frequently, try moving it to a location that receives slightly more sunlight than its current location.
Poor Air Circulation:
Excessive growth can also be caused by poor air circulation in the plant’s location.
Peperomias, in particular, prefer dryness, so humid conditions are more likely to cause pest infestation and disease development than plant growth.
It is critical to keep peperomia as well-ventilated as possible and to take measures to avoid humidity, such as reducing watering in the winter.
Trim overgrown Peperomia and keep it looking neat!
In this piece, I explained why you shouldn’t ignore Peperomia’s excessive growth (legginess) and how to stop it.
If you let your Peperomia get too big, it may topple over and cause further problems. If you want your favorite plant to last as long as possible, giving it regular haircuts is essential.