3 Best Methods How to Propagate the Peperomia Watermelon

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The Peperomia watermelon or Peperomia argyreia using its botanical name originates from South America and is an easy-to-care-for plant.

With its beautiful leaves and low-maintenance nature, it’s understandable you’d want to have more of them.

To propagate the Peperomia watermelon, all you need is a knife or scissors, some good potting soil, and a jar with water.

 

How to Propagate the Peperomia Watermelon

To propagate Peperomia Watermelon you can either take a leaf or stem cutting. Make a clean cut using a disinfected blade. As a propagation medium use water, soil, sphagnum moss, or perlite. After 3-4 weeks roots and new leaves will start to emerge.

 

 

How to Propagate the Peperomia Watermelon

How to Propagate Peperomia Watermelon in Soil using a Stem Cutting

Step 1: Before you start, make sure that you have sterilized your scissors or knife with alcohol or by putting it in boiling water.

Next, take the pot that you want to use (I recommend one with a drainage hole, which will remove all the excess water and prevent root rot).

Then, add the potting mix (80% soil-20% perlite provides better drainage, and will also prevent root rot).

Step 2: After you have done the preparations, take your stem cutting (a stem of 1.2 inches or 3 cm will do), dig a small hole in the soil, and gently put your cutting in it.

The University of Vermont suggests putting rooting hormone on the cutting. This might speed up the propagation process but it is not really needed.

I wouldn’t advise putting it straight in the soil, or else there will be a chance that the pups die before being able to reach the surface. 

Make a small horizontal hole of 0.20-0.40 inches (0,5-1 cm) and add the cutting horizontally or a little bit diagonally so it’s completely covered with soil, and let the leaf rest on the rim of the pot.

This way, it’ll be easier for the pups to pop out of the soil.

Step 3: Spray the potting mix with water so it’s moist, and repeat it every few days to prevent your soil from getting too dry.

The moist environment will encourage growth. Just make sure that you don’t overwater it, or your cutting will rot. 

Step 4: Place your cutting in bright, indirect sunlight, and don’t let the temperature go under 50 Degrees Fahrenheit (10°C).

It can take about 1-3 months before you will see little pups popping up.

 

How to Propagate Peperomia Watermelon in Soil using a Leaf Cutting

Step 1: Make the same preparations as for the stem cutting, prepare a pot that removes excess water, add the potting mix, and cut a leaf with a sterilized knife or scissors.

In this case, the length of the stem doesn’t matter as it’s not needed for this type of propagation. 

Step 2: This type of propagation is very useful if the stem of your cutting breaks or a leaf fell off.

To propagate a leaf you need to hold it vertically and cut it across the width, right through the veins. 

Step 3: Make a hole in the soil and place the leaf with the veins facing the earth in the pot. The veins are where the roots will grow out.

Before that step, you can also dip the stem in root medium to encourage growth, but this is not necessary.

Step 4: You can also cover the pot with plastic wrap to make a DIY greenhouse, which will keep the moisture inside.

Remove the plastic every day to avoid your soil from getting moldy.

Remember to not bury it too deep, or your babies will die before they can reach the light.

You can use the other half of the leaf with the stem the same way, or you can let it grow in water, but more on that later.

In 1-2 months pups will start to grow.

 

How to Propagate Peperomia Watermelon in Water using a Stem Cutting

Step 1: Just fill your jar with water and place your Peperomia Watermelon stem cutting in it.

After a few weeks, depending on the season, roots will start to show. 

Step 2: Refresh the water two times a week, but be careful to not pour it all down the drain, refill it instead.

The water contains growth hormones, which will encourage root growth. 

Step 3: You can either let the roots grow until they are 1.2 inches (3 cm) and bury it in potting mix, or you can wait longer until you see little pups growing at the roots.

That’s the moment you can place it in the soil. 

This is some delicate work because you need to put the roots but not the pups in the earth. Be very gentle so you won’t damage either one.

After your babies have grown a little more, you can cut off the mother leaf and propagate it again.

Pro tip: Let your cutting grow together in the same jar with another plant, like the spider plant, which releases a hormone that will help the roots to grow faster.

You can also put the same cuttings in one glass, which will encourage faster root growth.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about How to Propagate the Watermelon Peperomia

 

What to do with a Peperomia Watermelon mother leaf after propagation?

It’s not necessary to remove the mother leaf, it will die off on its own. Of course, you can do it if you want to, but be careful to not damage the roots.

 

Why does my Peperomia Watermelon cutting keep rotting in water?

One reason for a Peperomia Watermelon cutting to die is that there is too much bacteria in the water. Clean your jar with vinegar and refill with fresh water. Change your water more often, every two days, but remember to not throw all of it away.