Head peperomia (glabella): a description of the plant with a photo, home care, breeding methods, diseases and pests, as well as features of the winter period

Head-peperomia is valued for its bright decorative leaves. With the help of this plant it is possible to design ampelous compositions or make mixes with other species.

The flower is unpretentious in care, even the novice grower can create the required conditions for its growth.

In the article, we consider the characteristics of the plant, methods of reproduction, and also learn how to properly care for Peperomia headache.

Plant characteristics

Peperomia glabella is a member of the Pepper family. From ancient Greek peperi is translated as pepper, omos - similar, a glabella means naked, heady. It is also called peperomia cypress.

In the natural environment, about 1000 varieties of peperomia are distinguished. About 30 species adapted for indoor cultivation. Its habitat is tropical rainforests. You can meet a flower in the wild in Asia, America, India. It grows on tree trunks, snags and in loose peat soils. It is an epiphyte, that is, it coexists with other species, using them only as a support.

Head peperomia refers to the ampel variety, it has inherent creeping or drooping shoots. The maximum stem length reaches 22 cm. The sheet plate is oval in shape close to a circle. Smooth and fleshy leaves are arranged in the next order, they are characterized by a bright green color. The root system is branched, superficial.

Photo

This is how peperomia glabella looks in the photo:

Features of home care

Since the birthplace of the plant is tropics, for a comfortable existence it needs such conditions. Creating them indoors is quite simple. For this it is necessary to provide the required humidity, temperature and lighting.

Temperature mode

Depending on the season, the plant needs a different content regimen:

The temperature for normal flower development in spring and summer is 20-22 ° C. In hot weather, it is additionally necessary to spray the leaves from the spray gun or wipe with a damp cloth.
In winter, you can not allow the temperature to drop below 15 degrees, it is recommended to keep it at around 16-18 degrees. Spraying in the cold period is not required.

It is important to protect peperomia from drafts. Therefore, you can grow it exclusively in the room. If you transfer it to the garden or to the balcony - it will disappear.

Necessary lighting

The light should be bright, diffused, and even light partial shade will suit colors with a plain sheet plate. The northern, eastern and western windowsills will be ideal for placing a flowerpot. In the summer, the leaves must be protected from direct sunlightto avoid burns.

If the content of peperomia is carried out under 100% artificial lighting, then it must be illuminated with a lamp for at least 16 hours.

The plant tolerates drought well, the moisture indicator should be in the range of 50-60%.

Watering and feeding

You can adjust the watering mode according to this criterion: the substrate should dry out a few centimeters from the surface. Overdrying leads to wilting and yellowing of leaves, and excess moisture is dangerous rotting of the root system. Water needs to be protected, several degrees above room temperature. It is advisable to use distilled, melt, rain or boiled water.

Fertilizers should be applied during the growing season 1 or 2 times a month with complex mineral compounds for deciduous plants. It is allowed to alternate them with organic. In this case, the concentration should be 2 times lower than recommended in the instructions for the drug.

Transplanting and soil selection

Young peperomia must be transplanted every year, while performing a complete replacement of the soil. After reaching 3 years of age, the procedure must be carried out by transshipment method. The need for a larger capacity can be determined if roots come out of the drainage holes. On average, this is 1 time in 3 years. The capacity should be narrow and high, 1.5 times larger than the previous one. Ceramic pots are preferred.

The flower grows well in loose soil, it is important to provide oxygen access to the root system and prevent waterlogging. The acidity level should be neutral, within the range of 5.5-6.5 pH. Therefore, it is advisable to choose a ready-made floral soil for pepper plants. The substrate can be made independently of such components in a ratio of 2: 1: 2: sand or perlite, peat, sheet land. Perform the transplant in the following sequence:

A 2-3 cm thick drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the pot. Expanded clay is used as drainage.
A layer of soil is poured.
The plant is carefully removed along with an earthen lump.
The flower moves to a new container and the soil is added.
The plant is watered abundantly, and excess water is removed from the pan.

You can not tamp the soil - this will damage the fragile roots.

Bush pruning

The formation of side shoots and shaping is achieved by cropping. It must be performed using sterile scissors in the following sequence:

Pinch off the apical weak shoots.
Treat the cut point with activated carbon.

The procedure should be carried out in the spring, a few weeks before the transplant.

Breeding methods

There are several methods for increasing the number of flowers:

The seeds. To do this, you need to prepare a container filled with a mixture of sand and sheet earth in a ratio of 1: 1. The optimum temperature for germination is 25 degrees Celsius. To maintain humidity, it is necessary to cover the container with glass or polyethylene, periodically ventilate and prevent the soil from drying out. After the formation of the first two true leaves, the seedlings dive. After getting stronger, they sit in pots with a diameter of not more than 5 centimeters.
Cuttings. The procedure should be performed in the spring and summer. To do this, cut the apical stalk with one node and root in the substrate. Treatment with stimulants will speed up the process. Roots form after 3 weeks under favorable conditions (temperature not lower than 23 degrees Celsius).
By dividing the bush. It is performed during transplantation by dividing the overgrown bush into the required number of parts. The procedure must be carried out carefully so as not to damage the root system. Each part must be planted in a separate pot.

Flowering features

Flowering occurs in spring and summer. The inflorescence is formed in the form of a spikelet on which subtle flowers are located. They do not represent decorative value. It is recommended that the peduncle be removed so that the plant uses nutrients for growth.

Diseases and Pests

At low humidity, the plant is susceptible to attack by a spider mite, thrips and mealy worm. Insecticide treatment and proper care will eliminate the problem. Excess moisture leads to the appearance of rot and fungus - volatile production, transplanting and reducing watering will save the flower.

Winter season

Peperomia does not have a pronounced period of rest. The optimum temperature in winter is 16 degrees. At a higher temperature, the flower needs good lighting, as the internodes will become long. Top dressing in winter is not required. In order not to overcool the soil, it is necessary to put a piece of laminate, polystyrene under the pot.

Similar flowers

Similar headache peperomia are such ampelous varieties:

Climbing - different yellow-green leaves.
Creeping - inherent variegated color with cream border.
Perisciacellular - has pronounced veins.
Rotundifolia has bright green leaves.

It is believed that the flower fills the room with positive energy and has a phytoncidal effect, neutralizes viruses and microbes present in the air. Therefore, the ideal place for her would be a kitchen or children's room.