Watermelon Peperomia Care: A Helpful Guide

Watermelon Peperomia, also referred to as Peperomia argyreia, is a tropical evergreen herbaceous shrub that stands tall up to 8 inches (20 cm).

In addition, watermelon peperomia is among the most popular and beautiful peperomia varieties. It is an excellent houseplant for houses, offices, and cubicles.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about watermelon peperomia, how to properly care for them, the most common watermelon peperomia problems, and how to fix them.

Watermelon Peperomia Care: A helpful guide – plantsheaven.com

Table of Contents

General Characteristics of Watermelon Peperomia

The best way to properly care for watermelon peperomia is to replicate their ideal living conditions, the table below contains the general characteristics of watermelon peperomia.

Scientific name	Pilea argyreia
Family	Piperaceae
Watermelon Peperomia Common Name	– Peperomia Sandersii – Watermelon Begonia – Watermelon Plant – Watermelon Peperomia
Plant Type	– Perennial – Ground cover – Herbaceous perennial
Phonetic Spelling	pep-er-ROH-mee-uh ar-JER-ree-uh
Size	– 12 inches (30 cm) tall – And 8 inches (20 cm) wide
Sun Exposure	To thrive, watermelon peperomia requires: – Partial shade – Or direct sunlight for about 2 to 6 hours of sun exposure.
Watermelon Peperomia Flower Color	– Tan – Cream – White
Bloom Time	Generally, watermelon peperomia blooms in spring and summer.
Soil Conditions	– Moist, rich, and well-drained – Potting mix
Watering Requirements	– Watermelon peperomia is intolerant of wet soil and parched soil. So it is essential to keep your soil slightly dry but not too dry. – Under-watering will cause the plant to wilt, and over-watering will cause root rot. – Let the soil dry to the contact at the top before watering, and decrease watering in the winter months.
Toxicity	Watermelon peperomia is not toxic to cats or dogs
Pest or Disease Problems	Watermelon peperomia has no serious pest or disease problems.
pH Requirements	Acidic
Temperature Requirements	Watermelon peperomia prefers temperatures of 65 to 75ºF (18 to 24ºC) and no lower than 50ºF (10ºC).
Fertilizer Requirements	During watermelon peperomia growth (particularly during the spring season), use a diluted liquid fertilizer once every 2 to 4 weeks until the end of summer.
Propagation of Watermelon Peperomia	Generally, the most common and easiest method to propagate watermelon peperomia is by leaf cuttings, according to North Carolina State University.
USDA Hardiness Zones	10 to 12
Region Of Origin	South America

The table above Displays the General Characteristics of Watermelon Peperomia – (Source)

Watermelon Peperomia Drooping

Whenever your watermelon peperomia’s leaves become droopy and slightly faded, it is a sign that they need a little water and light. You can move them outside under the sun or put them under a lamp for a couple of hours after watering them, and all is usually good.
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Even though watermelon peperomia tolerates low light for several months without any sign of stress. It does not do well in wet soil or parched soil.

Why Is Your Watermelon Peperomia Drooping After Repotting?

Generally, watermelon peperomia will not need to be repotted frequently because they thrive being pot-bound, according to the North Carolina State University

After being repotted, almost every plant goes through a bit of shock before settling into its new soil.

One of the reasons your watermelon peperomia is droopy is the differences in the environment, which may increase the stress on a newly repotted plant and cause your plant to droop.

Here are what you can do to fix droopy watermelon peperomia after repotting:

Ensure you don’t expose their roots to the air at any time.
Replicate the same growth environment, including the same amount of light, humidity, and temperature as it was before repotting.
Clip off any dead leaves, ensure you water your plant thoroughly, and let excess water run out the drainage holes.
Slightly fertilize (use liquid fertilizer) your watermelon peperomia after repotting to boost its healthy growth.

Watermelon Peperomia Watering

Generally, over-watering will cause watermelon peperomias root rot, and under-watering will cause them to wilt. So, whenever watering watermelon, peperomias allow the soil to dry to the touch at the top before watering and reduce the watering frequency in the winter months.

Tips On Properly Watering Watermelon Peperomia:

Whenever you water your watermelon peperomias, make sure you water them thoroughly.
Use a pot with draining holes so your peperomia doesn’t sit in water, which results in root rot.
Water your watermelon Peperomia from the bottom-up
Increase the watering frequency in summer and reduce your watering frequency during wintertime.
Test your soil to see how long it takes to dry out throughout the different seasons.
Be mindful of the temperature in your house. For example, if you have a heater or air conditioner, this will affect how fast your soil will dry and, therefore, your watering frequency.
Avoid placing your peperomia on a radiator to prevent the soil from drying out fast.
Other factors will influence how often you need to water your watermelon peperomia. The humidity level can have a significant influence. If you live somewhere humid, you may need to water your plant a lot less than if you live somewhere with dry air.

Watermelon Peperomia Problems

Common Watermelon Peperomia problems	Symptoms	Solutions
Overwatering	The most common signs of overwatering of watermelon peperomia include root rot and stunted growth.	– Ensure you let the top half of the soil dry between waterings. – Clear any plant’s dead or mushy leaves to promote growth. – Water your plants less in the winter months.
Underwatering	– Generally, underwatering is one of the most common reasons watermelon peperomia is dying, which typically your plants to wilt. – Underwatering will your watermelon peperomia’s the stems to sag and their leaves to droop down from the branches.	– Inspect the soil regularly and increase your watering frequency. – Only water your plant when the top 2 inches (5 cm) of the soil is dry. – Ensure the water can reach the root system.
Low Humidity	– Leaves dropping. – Watermelon peperomia drooping	– Keep the average room humidity between 40 and 50%. – Invest in a good humidifier to stimulate moisture levels
Repotting Shock	One of the main signs is watermelon peperomia leaves drooping	– Keep the pH level between 6 to 6.6 – Use rich and well-draining soil. – Before repotting, lightly water your watermelon peperomia’s soil.
Too Much or Too Little Sun Exposure	– Watermelon peperomia drooping. – Watermelon peperomia will have slow growth.	– Watermelon peperomia requires about 2 to 6 hours of sun exposure when grown outdoors. – When grown indoors, place your watermelon peperomia near south-facing windows.
Extreme Temperatures	– In low temperatures, watermelon peperomias‘ leaves will curl and droop. – A peperomia plant can grow too fast and become leggy in high temperatures.	– Keep the temperature levels between 60 to 80°F (16 to 27°C). – Move your plant outside to inside (or vice versa); when you expect temperature fluctuations.
Pests Infestation	The most common pests include: – Mealybugs – Spider mites – Whiteflies – Scale – Thrips – Fungus Gnats	– Use natural insecticides like neem oil to deal with soft-bodied pests, including mealybugs and thrips. – Use a soapy water solution on your peperomia’s leaves to combat spider mites.
Curling Leaves	Signs that your plant is getting too much direct sunlight.	Move your plants to a shaded area
Leaves Turning Yellow	– It signifies that watermelon peperomia is overwatered. – Pest invasions	– Allow the soil to dry slightly between watering. – Use a container with drainage
Leaves Turning Brown	– Low humidity – Repotting shock – Pest damage – Overwatering, mainly if the leaves become brown and mushy).	Investigate the root cause and act accordingly.
Drooping Leaves	It indicates that underwatering plants	Water your plant immediately
Over Fertilizing	– Signs of over-fertilizing include watermelon peperomia’s root damage. – Yellow or brown discoloration	– Start by pulling out all the dead or blackened roots. – Flush your plant with abundant water to remove the excess fertilizer. – Use a diluted liquid fertilizer.
Improper Size of The Container	– Stunted growth – Watermelon peperomias’ leaves will be droopy	– Repot your watermelon peperomias into a bigger container. – Use ceramic pots or big terracotta as they encourage water drainage

Table Displays Watermelon Peperomia Problems, Symptoms, and Solutions – plantsheaven.com

Watermelon Peperomia Care

In general, watermelon peperomias are easy to care for and grow well, particularly as houseplants.

If you are forgetful, mainly when watering your plants, watermelon peperomia might not be a good fit for you because these plants prefer medium light, slightly dry soil (but not too dry) and medium to low humidity.

Light requirements

Choose a spot for your watermelon peperomia that receives bright to medium indirect light. Ensure you provide your plants with at least 2 to 6 hours of sun exposure per day.

Even though they can survive in a lower light environment, their leaves will become smaller, and the growth will be leggier.

Soil requirements

Peperomias thrive in most standard potting mixes as long as you keep them moist and well-drained.

The general recommendation for watermelon peperomia is to use a 1:1 mixture of peat moss and perlite.

Water requirement

Remember to let the top couple inches of soil dry out before watering thoroughly again. Watermelon peperomia is sensitive to both overwatering and underwatering, so do not allow your plant to dry out or leave it sitting in water for an extended period.

Fertilizer requirements

To boost your watermelon peperomia growth, you can fertilize your plant during the growing period.

Whenever using, try a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 to 4 weeks during the spring and summer.

Temperature and Humidity

Watermelon peperomia thrives well in warm, slightly humid conditions. Place your plant on top of a pebble tray loaded with water.

In addition, ensure that you keep your peperomia away from vents, heating systems ( including near a fire, radiators), or drafty windows as it might dry out the air around the plant.

Wrapping Up

Overall, watermelon peperomias are extremely easy to care for and can be an excellent way of brightening up your living space or office.

In return, these plants will reward you with their beauty and freshness under the proper growth conditions. To encourage strong, healthy growth, follow the advice shared in this article.