Watermelon peperomia
Also called Watermelon begonia.
| Light | medium light |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 10 days in the growing season, every 18 in winter |
| Humidity | medium |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Height | Up to 25 cm (10 in) tall |
| Pets | Cats safe, dogs safe |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, Watermelon Peperomia entry.
The leaves are the whole plant: round, thick, and marked in silver and dark green like the skin of a watermelon, on stalks that are usually red. It stays small, it wants a small pot, and the one thing that kills it is kindness with a watering can. Peperomias are semi succulent, so the leaves hold water and the roots are fine and rot quickly. Let the top half of the pot dry before watering, keep the compost light and gritty, and resist the urge to pot it on. It is also one of the short list of houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to both cats and dogs, which makes it worth knowing for a flat with animals in it.
Ailments observed
| A soft or mushy base to the stem | Water sitting around the crown, or a pot several sizes too big. Take it out, cut away anything soft, and repot into a small pot of gritty compost. Water at the edge rather than into the middle. |
|---|---|
| Wrinkled or shrivelled leaves | Genuinely dry for once, which on this plant is unusual. Soak it thoroughly and let it drain. The leaves plump up within a day. |
Filed underPlants that will not poison the cat, Plants that forgive a beginner, Plants for a balcony or a small space
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