Peperomia Polybotrya Raindrop Care Guide

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Peperomia Polybotrya Raindrop is known for its fantastic round green leaves that resemble raindrops. This plant resembles the Pilea Peperomioides but do not be mistaken, the Polybotrya belongs to the Peperomia family and is not a relative of the Pilea. Peperomia Polybotrya Raindrops are becoming more and more common due to their unique appearance and people’s increased love of all things Peperomia. So if you’ve just gotten yourself one of these little plants, or if you’re looking to refresh your knowledge then take a look at our Peperomia Polybotrya Raindrop care guide.

Light

Peperomia Polybotrya Raindrop will need medium to bright indirect light. If they are placed in direct leaves you may notice their leaves starting to scorch. In the wild they would grow under the cover of other plants and receive dappled light throughout the day so it could be useful to try and recreate this in your home. They may be able to handle direct light in a north or east facing window but keep an eye on your plant and how intense the sun is. Under low light conditions you may notice your Peperomia beginning to turn leggy and it might grow towards the light source. If you can’t move your plant to a brighter spot then make sure you rotate it to ensure even growth and feel free to prune away leggy stems.

Watering

It’s important to allow the soil to dry out between waterings to avoid overwatering but make sure you water generously when it’s time to water your plant. Peperomia Polybotrya hold a lot of water in their leaves which means they don’t need to be watered too regularly. During the growing season you will probably need to water your plant around once a week but as each plant is different as are the conditions we keep them in, make sure you check your individual plant’s needs. Insert your finger into the soil, if it’s dry to touch then it needs watering, if the soil is moist you can leave it a few extra days. If you struggle to know when it’s time to water your plant then try using a moisture probe that can be found here on Amazon. These work by inserting the probes into the soil to detect the moisture levels. This then gives you a reading, if the probe is red or is down by the lower numbers then you need to water your plant, if the probe reads green or blue then you’re alright for a while longer.

Humidity

Your Peperomia Polybotrya will benefit greatly from medium to high humidity but will survive in most households without the aid of humidifiers or misters. If you don’t want to buy a humidifier but you want your plant to benefit from higher humidity then try placing your plant in the bathroom. This way whenever you shower your plant will get a bout of high humidity that should last for a few hours afterwards.

Soil

Your Peperomia will need a well draining mix as it does not like to be water logged. We would recommend using a regular potting soil and mixing it with perlite and peat moss to achieve a well draining aerated mix for your plant. These are our favourite brands of Perlite and Peat moss:

Temperature

Peperomia Polybotrya do not like to be cold and they don’t like droughts. You should aim to keep your plant between 18 to 24°C, They can tolerate slightly lower temperatures but if it drops below 10°C then your plant could be in trouble, especially if this is for long periods of time. Try to keep the temperature in the room consistent as dramatic decreases and increases in temperature can shock your plant.

Propagation

Propagating a Peperomia Polybotrya is easy enough. You simply take a stem cutting with a leaf intact and either place it in water or pot it straight into soil. If you place your cutting into water then wait until the roots are around two inches long before potting During the root growing you might want to increase the humidity levels for your plant

Fertiliser

Use a half strength well balanced fertiliser approximately once a fortnight on your plant during the growing seasons. You do not need to fertilise during the winter months and you do not need to do so more than every two weeks either. This will be more than enough for your Peperomia Polybotrya.

Peperomia Polybotrya Raindrop FAQ

Now you’ve checked out our Peperomia Polybotrya Raindrop care guide keep reading for our FAQ section. These are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding this type of Peperomia plant and it’s care.

Why is it called a raindrop?

Peperomia Polybotrya Raindrop gets its name from its distinct raindrop shaped leaves. If you look closely you will notice that the large round leaves end in a point like an upside down raindrop.

How do I tell the difference between a Peperomia Polybotrya Raindrop and a Pilea Peperomioides?

Although these plants look similar there are a number of ways to tell them apart. Firstly even though they both have large flat leaves the Peperomia Polybotrya has leaves shaped like raindrops with a distinct point at the tip. Where as the Pilea has round leaves large coins. Secondly when the Peperomia flowers it puts out beautiful tendril like things that grow upwards and towards light sources. A Pilea on the other hand will put out small delicate flowers.

Is my Peperomia Polybotrya receiving enough light?

These plants prefer bright to medium light so if you have your plant in a badly lit spot it might not be receiving enough light. An easy way to tell is how your plant is growing. If the stem is elongating before it puts out new leaves and your plant has become leggy then this can be a clear sign that your plant isn’t receiving enough light as the plant is trying to grow towards it before growing new foliage.

How do I know if I’m underwatering or overwatering?

This can be difficult for many plant lovers, especially beginners who are new to the world of houseplants. If you’re having problems with your houseplant but can’t work out whether it’s due to too much or too little water then the first thing to do is to check the soil, dry soil indicates underwatering, wet soil for overwatering. Squishy leaves, yellow leaves and black leaves are also signs of overwatering where as brown and crispy leaves can be signs of underwatering. Leaves will also start to curl in on themselves when they’re being underwatered to try and conserve water.