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Leggy Peperomia | Why Is This Happening?

December 14, 2020 by Hayley Leave a Comment

leggy peperomia

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Why Is My Peperomia Leggy?

The main reason you have a leggy Peperomia is due to inadequate lighting. Many people say don’t put a Peperomia in direct sunlight but these plants will tend to suffer more in low lighting conditions than in too much light. If you place a Peperomia plant in a low light spot then it will start to grow elongated stems as it searches for the light. You will notice the stems of your plant getting longer between sections of leaf and your plant may develop a look of sparseness. If you notice this happening then it might be time to move your plant to a brighter spot.

The problem with Peperomia plants is that they’re often labelled as low light houseplants when really they’re not. They can tolerate low light and may not die but it will affect their growth. If you want a bushy plant that looks full and is putting out lots of new growth then you need to move your it to a brighter spot otherwise you risk having a leggy Peperomia.

Will Direct Sun Not Burn My Peperomia?

As we’ve mentioned this problem seems to come up because people are afraid of scorching their Peperomia under sunlight and are told it will be fine in low light. First of all yes it is possible to burn your Peperomia in direct sunlight but this really depends where you’re living. If for example you’re in Arizona and you stick a Peperomia plant on a south facing windowsill then you’re probably going to burn your plant. However, if you live in Hamburg, Germany and you place your plant on the windowsill during the winter months to get more light then no you’re plant is going to be fine.

It’s all about the intensity and amount of light your plant is receiving. If you live in a region that is generally cloudy and overcast then you don’t need to be worrying about burning your plant and instead should be concerned about a leggy Peperomia from lack of light. You can also move your plant around depending on time of year. So if you generally live in a cloudy place but you get a few weeks of intense sunlight during the summer then keep your plant by the window and during those couple of weeks pull it back away from the sun.

It’s all about reading your plant and what it needs. If your plant is nice and bushy but you’re starting to notice scorch marks then the light may be too intense. If you have a leggy Peperomia that is growing desperately towards the light then you could probably do with giving your plant some more light. These needs might also change depending on the season so don’t be afraid to move your plant around depending on what it needs at the time.

And remember a leggy Peperomia isn’t the end of the world. Your plant probably won’t die just because it’s got some elongated stems but it doesn’t look as good as a nice bushy Peperomia and it is telling you that it isn’t happy so try to respond to its needs.

What Can I Do About My Leggy Peperomia?

As we’ve mentioned you can move your plant to a brighter spot and it should the stems should stop elongating so much. However, they will not shrink back down so the shape of the plant you now have won’t change. If you don’t like this look then the easiest thing to do is to trim away the leggy parts with sharp sterilised scissors.

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Filed Under: Houseplant tips, Peperomia

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