Last Updated on December 4, 2022 by Plant Mom Care
Peperomia Ferreyrae, a small semi-succulent is indigenous to Peru and other rainforests in South America. It has thick green tapered leaves that look like narrow peapods, unlike most other varieties of Peperomia that have roundish leaves.
This compact plant is perfect for displaying on desks, bookshelves, windowsills, or any other space in your office or home.
It grows about 12” inches tall, with 3-inch long erect, narrow, and slender lime-green colored leaves with a line of dark green running down the center and grows on thick stems.
The tiny yellow flowers it produces on conical stalks are unimpressive and some gardeners often remove them as it detracts from the well-ordered appearance of the foliage.
Peperomia Ferreyrae Light Requirements
This plant prefers indirect or partial sunlight. The leaves have a translucent window that helps the plant absorb enough sunlight.
It can tolerate low light however, the leaves might turn black when a plant growing under low light is suddenly exposed to brighter light. Rotate the plant every week or so to make sure every side gets balanced light.
Peperomia Ferreyrae Watering
Water the plant once every 7 – 10 days since it is vulnerable to over-watering, watering is only necessary when the topsoil completely dries out. Reduce watering in winter.
Some delicate balancing is necessary here – over-watering could make the plant prone to root rot and under-watering will impede its growth.
Peperomia Ferreyrae Humidity
This plant can thrive in average room humidity, although arid conditions will require supplemental misting to introduce added moisture. Keep water and a pebble-filled tray near the pot or keep it near other plants. Low humidity will show up with leaves looking dull or appearing calloused.
Peperomia Ferreyrae Temperature
It thrives in temperatures between 65 – 75°F and cannot tolerate temperatures below 50°F.
Peperomia Ferreyrae Soil
This plant prefers soil with good drainage and aeration properties. A mix of cactus soil and peat moss is perfect or you could prepare your mix with 2 parts peat and 1 part sand or perlite.
Like almost all succulents this plant doesn’t like soggy soil.
Peperomia Ferreyrae Repotting
This plant has a small root system and won’t outgrow the pot very fast. Despite this, it is advisable to repot it every 12 months as the soil becomes compacted. Refreshing the soil also keeps the plant supplied with fresh minerals and nutrients. Another sign of repotting is when roots emerge out of the drainage holes of the pot.
Use a pot just a size bigger than the current one fill it with suitable soil and gently take the plant out of its old container and shake it to remove any old soil before repotting it and watering it thoroughly.
Peperomia Ferreyrae Propagation
Propagation is by stem or leaf cuttings and is usually done in spring or summer. Cut off a stem about 3 inches long that has several leaves and set it aside for 24 hours to let the wound heal and callus.
Leave 2 or 3 leaves on top and remove the other leaves. Dip the end in rooting hormone, insert it into a pot of suitable soil and water the cutting gently pressing the soil down near the cutting to keep it firm.
Create a greenhouse by making a few holes in a plastic bag to cover the pot but don’t seal the bag as excess humidity will damage the new plant. Remove the bag for a few hours every day to let air circulate. Wait for new roots and leaves to appear, then move them into a larger container.
Additional Care
This plant can grow well without using fertilizer but you can give it a light spray of diluted fertilizer every 2 weeks during spring. Reduce this to once a month in summer. Stop feeding the plant after summer.
Pruning is mainly focused on keeping the plant healthy and in shape. Prune the edges of the plant’s branches to keep them from getting long and spreading. This will make the plant produce more foliage and increase its beauty. Removing dead leaves on the lower portion of the plant also removes breeding places for pests and helps bring out the beauty of the plant.
Peperomia Ferreyrae Common Problems
Some problems you have to watch out for are mealybugs, spider mites, and root rot.
Mealybugs create white cottony masses under the leaves and on the stems. They can damage leaves and stems. Treat them and kill their eggs by daubing the white masses with rubbing alcohol.
Spider mites usually thrive in dry and warm winter settings, but can be controlled by increasing humidity levels. They can also be easily killed with neem oil.
Succulents like this plant are easily vulnerable to root rot, a result of over-watering. Black mushy stems and wilting or scab-like swelling on leaves are a sure indication of this frequently fatal disease. Sometimes the only option is to take cuttings of healthy stems and propagate new plants.
Remember that this plant like other succulents, is quite a hardy plant and can survive for some time without any water.
The extreme temperature change can lead to leaf drop. All plants shed leaves occasionally and this is usually not a problem however, if this plant is losing plenty of leaves, the guilty party is most probably extreme and sudden temperature drops. Relocate the plant to a warmer location.
Types of Peperomia Plants
Which is the best place to keep my Peperomia ferreyrae?
The best location is indoors, you can even place it on a desk in your office since it is compact and non-toxic. Make sure it gets enough light to keep it healthy so keeping it near a window is ideal.
How fast will Peperomia Ferreyra grow?
The plant’s growth is moderate as it is a small and compact plant and doesn’t spread that much. Any unruly growth can be pruned away without affecting the beauty of the plant.
Is Peperomia Ferreyrae a succulent?
It is widely considered to be a succulent but it is a semi-succulent perennial plant. Semi-succulents can hold plenty of water in their foliage and stems but are not drought-tolerant as actual succulents.