The coin leaf peperomia is a tropical understory plant that has become popular as a houseplant. It is often mistaken for the Chinese money plant, which is a close relative. Its flowers are more odd-looking than pretty, resembling mouse tails, but have a very pleasant smell.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Peperomia polybotrya, commonly known as raindrop peperomia or raindrop plant, is a species of perennial plant in the genus Peperomia of the family Piperaceae. It is native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
It grows in a small tree-like form, reaching 30 to 40 cm tall, with petioles forming “branches” ending in large succulent and glossy teardrop-shaped peltate leaves (petiole attached in the center). It is considered easy to grow as a houseplant. The flowers appear as greenish white slender spikes.
This compact plant’s thick, shiny leaves are a dark green shade on top while showing a paler hue underneath; they grow from hearty stems able to retain water during the dryer seasons they are accustomed to in the wild.
The Raindrop Peperomia earned its common name due to the teardrop shape of its leaves, a handy visual reminder of its preference for high humidity. When placed in the right conditions, this plant baby can produce white to light green flowers in a cylindrical, tail-like shape.
Because of its love of humid environments, the Coin Leaf Peperomia is a fantastic centerpiece in a terrarium as long as some drainage is provided to keep the roots healthy.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
The Coin Leaf Peperomia has a love of bright, indirect light; they thrive on windowsills or near windows with southern or eastern exposure.
However, this peperomia variety is prone to the plant equivalent of a sun burn, so keep them away from more than a few minutes of direct light.
Also, while the Peperomia polybotrya can live in more shady conditions because of their usual placement on the forest floor, they could get leggy quickly if not monitored.
Temperature & Humidity
Peperomia polybotryas are happiest in humid and somewhat cool environments, with their ideal temperatures being between 65 and 80° (or 18-26°C).
A closed terrarium environment is ideal, though they’ll still grow happily in an open terrarium with regular mistings or with the help of a humidifier in the area.
Growing your Coin Leaf Peperomia in a terrarium is also a wonderful way to make sure it’s close to other plants, keeping the humidity of its area high enough to make everyone happy!
Watering
The leaves store water so overwatering is a big no. Let the soil dry before watering again. If you are unsure, stick your finger in the soil and make sure the top 1-2 inches are dry. During the spring and summer I water mine once a week. In the winter I reduce watering to every 10 days. Water thoroughly until it’s running out the bottom of the pot, make sure to dump the tray out so there is no standing water though. Signs of overwatering are: rotting stalks, yellowing or wilting leaves, waterlogged soil.
Substrate
The roots of the Raindrop Peperomia are more delicate than most, so they don’t dig themselves too deep when in a container, making them great for terrariums.
When planting, you want to find a substrate with good drainage and aeration so those roots are able to penetrate it effectively. Coco coir, perlite, and orchid bark are all great supplements to help you achieve this.
Growth
The Raindrop Peperomia is a slow grower, producing new leaves at a rate a patient and persistent plant parent will love.
Under normal circumstances, this plant will only reach a height of 12 inches, making it wonderful in most small and medium terrarium foregrounds.
Since this Peperomia is on the shorter side, trellis-like supports aren’t necessary, but a bamboo skewer or two will only help it stand tall and proud in your new terrarium
Fertilizing
Once a month during the growing season fertilize your Peperomia. In winters you should not fertilize.
Pruning
This plant can handle pruning pretty well. It is really only needed if your plant is growing in an irregular shape, generally from lack of light or from forgetting to rotate your plant reqularly causing growth to be one-sided. This plant is supposed to be compact. If you need to prune it, make sure to use clean shears, and just follow the steps of propagating.
Propagation
It is best to propagate during the growing season as that is your best chance of success. You can use either leaf cuttings or stem cuttings.
- Start with cutting a healthy leaf or stem/leaf combo off with sterilized shears. For leaf propagation, cut the leaf in half.
- Tap the edges or stem base with rooting powder to encourage root growth.
- Fill a tray or small pot with the same soil mix you are using on the mother plant. Make a small trench in the soil and set the leaf in, cut edge down, a centimeter into the soil OR set the stem in.
- Pat the soil down and water the cutting.
- For best results cover the tray with another clear plastic tray, seran wrap, or a plastic bag to create a humid environment. Uncover every few days else you can get a fungus from too much humidity.
- Once multiple leaves have developed, move the cutting to its official home. Since they have such shallow root systems, you want to make sure enough roots have developed.
Reporting
Raindrop Peperomia have small, fragile root systems so you have to be careful when repotting or you can damage the plant. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t repot, just be very gentle when removing it from the pot and brushing off the soil.
Pests and Diseases
If properly watered, the Raindrop Peperomia isn’t likely to experience many problems or attract many pests.
It is especially important to keep the glossy leaves clean and dust-free to ward off red spider mites and their sap-sucking habits. When this plant flowers, the tail-like blooms should be removed once they begin to dry out; this discourages other critters like mealybugs from finding a home in your Peperomia.
Lastly, yellowing on the leaves and stem of this plant can be an indication of underwatering, though overwatering is the more likely cause. If you don’t have a regular watering schedule and aren’t sure if it’s time to water or not, err on the side of caution and give it another day.
III. Varieties & Similar Plants
The Raindrop Peperomia is frequently mistaken for its ever-popular cousin, the Chinese Money Plant.
While these two plants are similar in growth-style and appearance, the Raindrop’s leaves are more heart-shaped than simply round like the Chinese Money Plant.
Besides these two, there are over 1500 other plants recorded in the Peperomia genus – what a big family!
Find Where to Buy the Best Raindrop Peperomia (Peperomia polybotrya)
[content-egg-block template=offers_logo_shipping cols_order=3,2,1,5,4 hide=badge visible=number border_color=info limit=8]