can my pepperomia get better?
my pepperomia plant is looking in rougher shape every day. i put some rocks on the bottom to help with drainage, in a terracotta well drainaged pot. iβm unsure of what other measures i should take that could make her healthier and flourish. iβm just hoping sheβs not a lost cause. (iβve also made previous posts about her)
2β pot with drainage
Last watered 9 months ago
2
She's very overwatered.
Rocks on the bottom have the opposite effect on the bottom of a pot.
What happens is the soil fills and compacts around the rocks creating a layer that does not drain well. The water actually pools up on the bottom on top of the rocks.
I know it sounds crazy, but that is what happens. Your best option is to remove the rocks and check the roots. She may have root rot from sitting in standing water. I will share the treatment below.
Peperomia are semi succulent, meaning they store water in their leaves. When the cells that hold that water they burst like water balloons damaging the leaves. Which is what has happened to yours. That is why she is so droopy and sad.
Here is the treatment
1. Remove from your pot, to check the roots. If there is anything brown black or mushy you have rot and will need to cut it all off. Keep only the healthy roots they will be whitish in color
Now root rot comes from a bacteria that forms in your soil and then attacks your plant. So treatment is absolutely necessary.
2. Cut off all affected roots soak what is left in:
1 part peroxide + 3 parts water and leave in the peroxide mix to soak for 5 minutes this will kill off the remaining bacteria. It will bubble pot and fizz this is good itβs killing the bacteria.
3. Next is soil, the best
choice is to throw it away. Itβs safest. Or bake it for 1 hour in a 200
Degree oven, not the greatest because it REALLY stinks. But itβs effective. Or the most risky way is to thoroughly flush your soil out with your peroxide mix twice! You need to be very careful and do it thoroughly because if even a teeny bit of bacteria is left your rot will come back.
4. Now the pot, it also has that pesky bacteria you must scrub it out with soapy water very well and then also scrub it down with the peroxide mix.
Now you can plant her again. Be sure to add some perlite to your soil for aeration. This will help oxygen reach those roots and I avoid bacteria growth in the future.
A couple of mine.
Rocks on the bottom have the opposite effect on the bottom of a pot.
What happens is the soil fills and compacts around the rocks creating a layer that does not drain well. The water actually pools up on the bottom on top of the rocks.
I know it sounds crazy, but that is what happens. Your best option is to remove the rocks and check the roots. She may have root rot from sitting in standing water. I will share the treatment below.
Peperomia are semi succulent, meaning they store water in their leaves. When the cells that hold that water they burst like water balloons damaging the leaves. Which is what has happened to yours. That is why she is so droopy and sad.
Here is the treatment
1. Remove from your pot, to check the roots. If there is anything brown black or mushy you have rot and will need to cut it all off. Keep only the healthy roots they will be whitish in color
Now root rot comes from a bacteria that forms in your soil and then attacks your plant. So treatment is absolutely necessary.
2. Cut off all affected roots soak what is left in:
1 part peroxide + 3 parts water and leave in the peroxide mix to soak for 5 minutes this will kill off the remaining bacteria. It will bubble pot and fizz this is good itβs killing the bacteria.
3. Next is soil, the best
choice is to throw it away. Itβs safest. Or bake it for 1 hour in a 200
Degree oven, not the greatest because it REALLY stinks. But itβs effective. Or the most risky way is to thoroughly flush your soil out with your peroxide mix twice! You need to be very careful and do it thoroughly because if even a teeny bit of bacteria is left your rot will come back.
4. Now the pot, it also has that pesky bacteria you must scrub it out with soapy water very well and then also scrub it down with the peroxide mix.
Now you can plant her again. Be sure to add some perlite to your soil for aeration. This will help oxygen reach those roots and I avoid bacteria growth in the future.
A couple of mine.
I donβt know. I hope someone has a good answer for you because my pepper Mia last week was looking beautiful, healthy growing tall just beautiful. I looked at her two days later she had lost most of her leaves. She was limp and just saggy. I moved the pot and all her best looking leaves fell off. I took it out of the pot and there was no root ball whatsoever. I lost my beautiful Plant and I donβt know why hopefully you can save yours. Good luck. οΏΌ