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Are you interested in knowing how to propagate peperomia plants? Propagating peperomia plants is relatively easy and can be done in multiple ways.
One way to propagate peperomia is by stem cuttings. To do this, take a stem cutting that includes at least one leaf and root it in water or moist potting mix.
Once the cutting has rooted, it can be transplanted into a pot. Peperomia can also be propagated by division.
To do this, you’ll need to remove a peperomia plant from its pot and divide the roots into two or more sections.
Replant each section in its pot and water the well. It’s best to use a well-draining potting mix and keep the soil wet but not soggy with either method.
In this post, we will go over other methods of how to propagate peperomia succulents.
Before we go on, if you are looking for additional peperomia plant care tips, read our related post on general peperomia plant care.
What are Peperomia Plants?
Peperomia is a genus of succulent plants in the family Piperaceae. The genus is native to South America, where it occurs in a wide range of habitats, from mountains to deserts.
Peperomia species are popular houseplants, and there are many cultivars available.
They are also known as Radiator plants because they like to be placed next to warm spots next to a radiator.
Some of the most popular peperomia plants include Peperomia obtusifolia (the Baby Rubber plant), Peperomia argyreia (the Watermelon peperomia)
3 Methods on How to Propagate Peperomia Plants
Propagating peperomia plants is usually done by stem cutting, but there are also several methods for propagating them.
The three common methods of propagating peperomia are as follows:
- Stem cuttings
- Division
- Leaf cuttings (for some species)
Propagating Peperomia by Stem Cuttings
One way to propagate peperomia is by stem cuttings.
Propagating plants by stem cuttings is perhaps the most common method.
Generally speaking, you need to cut a piece of a mature plant’s stem (about 1 to 2 inches long). Ensure the stem cutting includes a leaf node.
After that, the stem can be planted in soil and will sprout new roots, resulting in a new plant.
Once the cutting has rooted, it can be transplanted into a pot.
Precautions to Take Using Peperomia Stem Cuttings
While propagating peperomia using the stem cutting method, you need to be careful of a couple of things that might harm the plant or reduce the chances of success.
- Use a clean, sharp knife, or pair of scissors or shears to take the stem cuttings from the mother plant. This will help prevent the spread of disease.
- Make sure the stem cutting you take includes at least one leaf. The leaves will help provide energy for the plant’s roots.
- If you are propagating in water, make sure to change the water every few days to prevent stagnation.
- Also, to keep your expectations reasonable, not every cutting will produce new growth. However, with the help of rooting powder (some call it rooting hormone), the chances of rooting are substantially higher.
If you’re looking at rooting hormones for the first time, may we suggest this particular rooting hormone? We’ve used it in the past and it simply works—roots sprout every time we use it.
Propagating Peperomia by Division
Peperomia can also be propagated by division. Propagation by division is a method of plant reproduction that involves dividing a plant (usually the roots) into smaller parts. This process allows the plant to reproduce itself by creating baby plants from the divisions.
Steps in Dividing a Peperomia Plant
- Remove a peperomia plant from its pot and divide the roots into two or more sections. As you are removing the plant from its pot, be careful not to damage the roots.
- Replant each section in its pot and water the well. When replanting the divided sections, make sure each one has enough room to grow. Otherwise, they will compete for resources and both plants will suffer.
Propagating Peperomia by Leaf Cuttings
Leaf cuttings or leaf propagation can also be performed on selected peperomia species. For example, you can propagate Watermelon peperomia using leaf cuttings.
For this method, take a healthy leaf cutting from the parent plant that includes a bit of stem and root it in water or a moist potting mix. Once the cutting has been rooted, transplant it into a pot.
As with any pruning or cuttings, make sure to use a clean, sharp knife or pair of scissors when taking the leaf-cutting. This will help prevent the spread of disease.
When transplanting the rooted leaf cutting (or baby plant), be careful not to damage the new growth or roots; this is especially true for watermelon peperomia propagation.
What is the Best Method to Propagate Peperomia Plants?
The best method of propagating the peperomia plant will depend on what works best for you. All three methods are relatively easy and have a high success rate.
If you want to propagate peperomia quickly, then stem cuttings or division are the best methods.
If you own a specific type of peperomia plant or want to propagate a peperomia that doesn’t produce offsets, then leaf cuttings may be your best option.
If you want to propagate a variegated peperomia, use stem cuttings. They have a better chance of passing on the variegation to the baby plants.
No matter which method of propagation you choose, it’s important to use well-draining potting soil and keep the soil moist but not overwatered.
Overwatering is one of the main reasons why peperomia plants fail to thrive as leaves can turn yellow and drop off.
In addition, peperomia may also become stunted and stop growing. Lastly, overwatering can lead to root rot or other fungal plant diseases.
Where Can Peperomia Plants Be Propagated?
Peperomia plants can be propagated either by soil or water. Soil propagation is the most common method, but water propagation is also possible.
In soil propagation, peperomias are planted in a starter mix (or soil) and then placed in a pot.
Water propagation involves taking peperomia cuttings from peperomias that are submerged in water.
Propagation in Water
To propagate in water, take stem cuttings that include several leaves. Remove the bottom leaves and place the stem cutting in a jar or glass of water; you can even use a small clear plastic bag.
Change the water every few days and keep the jar in a bright location but out of the direct sun; it will be best in indirect light.
Roots will form in one to two weeks. Once roots have formed, you can plant the cutting in a pot with soil.
Be careful not to overwater peperomia plants. Overwatering can cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop off. Also, it will help a lot if you used a pot with drainage holes.
Propagation in Soil
To propagate in soil, take stem cuttings that include several leaves. Remove the bottom leaves and dip the cut end of the stem in the rooting hormone.
Plant the stem cutting in a pot with moistened potting mix. Keep the pot in a bright location with proper light, but out of direct sunlight.
Water the fresh soil as needed to keep it moist but not soggy. Roots will form in two to four weeks.
Once roots have formed, you can water and care for the plant as usual.
Be careful not to overwater peperomia plants. Overwatering can cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop off.
FAQ
Can You Propagate Peperomia From a Leaf?
Yes, you can propagate peperomia from a leaf cutting. However, you can only use leaf cuttings on peperomia plants that are solid or non-non-variegated. The steps for the leaf-cutting method are the same as for propagating by stem cutting, with the exception that you only need to cut off leaves that have tiny stems on them and then plant them in the ground.
Is It Better to Propagate Peperomia in Water or Soil?
Peperomia plants definitely root better in water. However, they do not fare as well in water when they are mature plants because they will rot more easily in water. With that said, you can propagate peperomia plants in both soil and water. Just remember, once your peperomia plants have established roots, you must transplant them into well-draining soil.
Does Peperomia Root in Water?
Yes, peperomia plants can root in water. Propagating by water involves putting leaf or stem cuttings in water as a first step. By submerging the lower leaf nodes or stem cuttings in a glass or jar of water, the cuttings will absorb and use the nutrients in the water to begin forming roots. Note that it can take anywhere from 3–6 weeks to propagate a peperomia plant in water. You should change or refill the water if you notice that it is getting low or that the water is dirty during this time.
How Do You Encourage the Roots to Grow From Cuttings?
To encourage the roots to grow from cuttings, you can make a rooting solution by dissolving an aspirin in water or even better use rooting hormones to stimulate root growth. In addition, give your cuttings plenty of water during this phase as it needs all the nutrients it needs to grow new roots. Lastly, give your new plant plenty of time to adjust to its new environment after it has been transplanted from water to soil.
References
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.