Native to tropical and subtropical locales, Peperomia is typically exposed to filtered light from an overhead canopy of trees in its natural habitat. As a houseplant, Peperomia tolerates medium to bright indirect sunlight, but prefers bright indirect light with minimal exposure to direct light. Intense direct light is problematic to Peperomia since it may cause leaf burn. If too little light is available indoors, supplement with artificial light. Without light, Peperomia would not be able to live or grow, so ensuring Peperomia receives the proper amount and type of light is essential.
Best Rooms To Grow Peperomia
Peperomia flourishes in bright indirect sunlight but does not do well in very intense direct light. So where is the best place to put it indoors? A prime spot is a few feet away from an east-facing window. Why? This window receives only a few hours of direct light, and the morning sun is only moderately intense. The added distance from the window further decreases the light’s intensity. The second best location is in a room with a west-facing window. This exposure receives a few hours of direct light in the afternoon, but little to no morning sun. To prevent those harsh afternoon rays from scorching Peperomia’s delicate foliage, place the plant a few feet away from the window or filter the light with a sheer curtain.
Finding the best place to put Peperomia is a trial-and-error process. What if after a few weeks, you notice leaves turning yellow and the plant starting to grow “leggy”? Maybe Peperomia is not getting enough light. Perhaps, a tree outside your east-facing window is blocking the sun. Or, what if you begin spotting signs of leaf burn? In that case, maybe Peperomia is receiving too much light. In either case, you have to make some adjustments to ensure the light intensity and duration are sufficient.
Providing Supplemental Sunlight To Peperomia
If Peperomia becomes leggy and dull, how can you solve the problem? If your home does not receive enough light to keep Peperomia happy, you’re best to supplement with artificial light. Fluorescent high-intensity T5 bulbs are a great option. Since these are full-spectrum bulbs, they provide all the colors of light, such as red, blue, and green, that Peperomia needs to thrive. You can keep the light on a timer, and expose your plant to the artificial light 8-12 hours per day.
Sunlight Needed For Growing Peperomia Outdoors
After the last threat of frost has passed, Peperomia can grow well outside during the spring, summer, and early fall. Choose an east-facing location, safe from harsh afternoon rays, where Peperomia can get at least six hours of partial sun. Then, to prevent heat stress and sunburn, slowly transition your plant from indoors to outdoors during the next one to two weeks. You will want to gradually increase the amount of time the plant spends outdoors in its new location. Begin with one hour per day in the shade, and then gradually increase the time until Peperomia can tolerate its new location when left outside all day.
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Author Suellen Barnes - Published 3-21-2023 |