The dwarf pepper is a herbaceous plant from the tropics that thrives well in the home. But first you have to plant them properly.
The dwarf pepper, also known as Peperomia, is available in many different varieties. Whether with green or colorful leaves - the easy-care plant looks great in pots or hanging baskets. But so that you can enjoy your dwarf pepper for a long time, you have to pay attention to a few things when planting them.
Mix substrate for dwarf pepper
Dwarf peppers appreciate fresh, water-permeable substrate with a high mineral content and moderate nutrient supply. A mixture of two quarters ordinary potting soil, one quarter peat and one quarter gravel fully meets the needs of the dwarf pepper. Heavy, loamy soil should be avoided at all costs, as the plants are sensitive to waterlogging.
Select planter for dwarf pepper
If there is only limited space for plants in your home, the dwarf pepper is a very good choice for you. As a shallow root that only develops a few root strands, it gets along very well with small planters. You can also group several dwarf peppers in a slightly larger bowl or basket to create attractive visual effects.
Put the dwarf pepper in the pot
First, shake off the substrate in which you bought the dwarf pepper from the roots. Fill a bucket with new substrate and insert the dwarf pepper. Finally, press the soil down lightly with your fingers and water the plant moderately.
Ideal location for the dwarf pepper
Choose a bright location. Green-leaved varieties should not be exposed to direct sunlight, or only temporarily. The variegated varieties, on the other hand, feel at home on a south-facing window. If there is no regular sunbathing, complete greening will follow quickly.
Propagating dwarf peppers by cuttings
If you want to propagate the dwarf pepper and plant cuttings, proceed as follows:
❶Cut four-inch shoots just below the leaf nodes and remove any leaves from the bottom half of the shoots.
❷ Put the cuttings in a substrate made of potting soil and peat. You can also add gravel or other mineral components now and save yourself repotting later.
❸ Water the cuttings and cover with cling film. Then bring the planters to a bright location.
❹ In the following weeks you should regularly water the cuttings slightly and aerate them once a day. To do this, remove the transparent film for an hour in the evenings. Depending on the variety, it takes one to two and a half months for a new dwarf pepper to develop with a complete root system.