The Peperomia Angulata is also called the Peperomia Quadrangularis. And is sometimes referred to by its common name the Beetle Peperomia or Peperomia Beetle.
The important thing to note here is that the Peperomia Quadrangularis is the same plant as the Peperomia Angulata, even if they have different Latin names.
The reason?
Peperomia angulate old Latin name of the Peperomia quadrangularis.
That’s it!
As you’ve probably already seen in some plants, their names (including their Latin or botanical names) can change all of a sudden. Then they usually have a bunch of common names as well that overlap with other plants.
And that’s why plant names can get confusing.
Anyways, with that out of the way, we can focus more on the plant itself.
The Peperomia Angulata is a small yet very popular houseplant. It has a creeping growth habit and vining stems. This makes it perfect for hanging baskets.
Although, many growers also keep it in pots.
Its leaves have a beautiful rich green color with yellow veins running lengthwise towards the tip. These are likewise succulent-like in that they are a bit fleshy, though a bit hard to notice due to their small size.
It is native to South America which makes it use to warm, humid conditions.
Peperomia Angulata Plant Care
Peperomia Quadrangularis Light Requirements
Sufficient lighting is very important if you want to maintain the beautiful green leaves of the Peperomia Angulata. Its ideal location is a well-lit spot.
Although. anywhere in a brightly lit room will work as well.
It is worth noting that because the plant has dominantly green leaves, it wants lots of light. But, this also means it won’t be able to tolerate strong light.
Therefore, avoid direct sunlight and intense light. Regular exposure or long hours under these circumstances can burn its leaves.
If you want to get optimum plant growth and foliage development, bright, indirect light is best. It likewise will be happy with medium light. Thus, making an east or west facing window the best locations for the plant indoors.
Meanwhile, although the plant can tolerate some low light, it is not ideal to leave it there.
If you notice, pale or dull looking leaves, it is a sign that the plant needs more illumination. Therefore, move it somewhere brighter.
Outdoors, partial shade is best. You can keep it under a tree or some kind of shade in a patio, terrace, balcony or around your yard.
Peperomia Quadrangularis Temperature
The Peperomia Angulata is native to the tropical regions of South America where the weather is warm to hot and very humid.
Since it is a small plant that lives under larger trees in the forest, it is used to more moderate (although still warm) weather.
This is the kind of environment where the plant will thrive in.
As such, you want to try to mimic it as much as possible.
Its ideal temperature is between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. And you don’t have to worry if you live in the warmer parts of the country since the plant will easily adapt and tolerate up to high 90 degree weather without any harm.
In fact, it is hardy to USDA Zones 10 through 12 where the sun is out all year round. If you live in these regions, you want grow the plant outdoors whether in the ground or in a container (provided that you keep it under partial shade).
However, in colder conditions, the Peperomia Quadrangularis will struggle.
It has a hard time staying in temperatures below 50 degrees for extended periods of time. And if you leave it there, you’ll soon notice it wilting or losing leaves.
Humidity
The Peperomia Angulata is used to humid conditions as it lives near the equator. And it will enjoy humidity of 50% to 70% the best.
However, thanks to its succulent-like leaves that store moisture, it is able to tolerate and thrive in lower humidity such at those in most homes.
This makes it easy to care for as a houseplant since most North American homes have humidity ranging from 30% to 50% depending on where you live and what time of year it is.
As such, you likely won’t need to help the plant along by misting it or having to use humidifier unless you live somewhere with very dry air (like desert areas including Nevada and Arizona).
If that’s the case, misting may be needed. But, proceed with caution since the plant is susceptible to too much moisture. If you wet it too much, you may end up with other problems like fungus gnats.
How Often to Water Peperomia Angulata
The Peperomia Angulata does not need a lot of water. And it does really well in this condition despite its desire for moist soil.
The reason?
Its succulent-like leaves. Since these store moisture, you don’t have to give it a ton of water to keep it happy.
More importantly, if you combine that with the fact that the plant root system is small (therefore easily overwhelmed by too much water), you want to stay safe on the drier side.
Therefore, I have a few rules when watering my Peperomia Quadrangularis.
- Wait until the top 2 inches of soil dries out completely before watering. I’ve lost a few peperomia early on because I was watering them like my other houseplants. So, I’m a bit more cautious and like to wait until 50% of the soil dries out before adding more moisture. Anything in between these two levels works well.
- Water the plant deeply but space things out. Since the roots like moisture/moist soil, you want to give it that to keep it happy. The best way is to drench the root ball when you water (until liquid drips form the bottom holes of the pot). Then let the soil drain completely. This lets the roots have a good drink but ensures the soil only stays moist with no excess moisture (therefore, no risk of overwatering.
- Just as importantly, space this out. Once a week watering during the summer works well. Then scale back to once every two weeks during winter since the weather is colder and soil will take much longer to dry.
- Make sure the pot has drainage holes. This will let the drained liquid escape and not just pool at the bottom of the pot. if the latter happens, then the soil will eventually suck it all back up later on.
Peperomia Angulata Potting Soil
Due to the Peperomia Angulata’s susceptibility to overwatering, the best soil to use is a well-draining potting mix that is light and airy. This will ensure that excess moisture is drained off. And the roots are able to get enough oxygen to stay healthy.
In doing so, you’re able to prevent root rot.
Additionally, the Peperomia Quadrangularis grows fastest in soil with pH of 5.5 to 6.5 with sufficient nutrients.
Thus, you want to consider all these things when choosing your potting mix.
A good potting mix recipe you can use combines
- Potting soil
- Orchid bark
- Charcoal
- A layer of worm compost (for topdressing)
You can likewise use other kinds of potting mixes if you want to go with something simpler. Here are a few that I’ve used successful which only use 2 ingredients.
- 1 part potting soil to 1 part perlite (or pumice)
- 1 part potting soil to 1 part coco coir
- 1 part coco coir to 1 part succulent & cactus mix
- 1 part potting soil to 1 part orchid bark
Peperomia Quadrangularis Fertilizer
As mentioned above in the Soil Section, the Peperomia Angulata enjoys nutrient supplementation to grow faster. And you have many options when it comes to fertilizer.
The best option is to go organic. That is, just skip the chemical fertilizers.
Instead, use fish emulsion (fish fertilizer), compost or worm castings.
That said, you can likewise go with commercial products if you feel more comfortable with them. These are much easier to apply because all you need to do is follow the instructions, dilute and pour on the soil.
Here, go with a complete balanced fertilizer. This way you get Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (N-P-K) which the plant needs. A liquid formulation is very easy to use. Plus, it lets you dilute the dose to 50% strength to reduce salt build up.
Apply once a month during the spring and summer. You can go into the fall if the plant is growing but avoid feeding once late fall arrives. Don’t feed your Peperomia Quadrangularis during the winter either.
Peperomia Quadrangularis Pruning
The Peperomia Quadrangularis will grow to about 12 inches (longer if you don’t prune) in length. But unlike most peperomia, it has a trailing nature as its long vining stems will get longer. This makes it similar with the Peperomia perciliata at least when it comes to growth habit.
Because of this, many owners will keep it in a hanging basket or something similar to allow the plant to trail or drape down. You can likewise leave it in a pot on a tabletop to let the longer vines sprawl on the surface.
Its longer stems and the way they can grow over one another means that you may or may not have to prune the plant depending on they look you’re going for and how you’re displaying the plant.
In a hanging basket, a bushy, ruffled look is nothing short of amazing and you want the plant to stay full and have long draping stems.
But on a tabletop or shelve, trimming every so often is useful because a more compact, neat look works better.
How to Propagate Peperomia Angulata
The Peperomia Quadrangularis propagates quite easily and you can choose between leaf and stem cuttings. Because it has an abundance of both, it is easy to take either leaf or stem cuttings to grow a new plant.
Here’s how to do each.
Propagating Peperomia Angulata from Stem Cuttings
Take a healthy stem cutting with a few leaves. You can take stem tip cuttings or go lower. The latter requires a little extra work since you need to get through and move the other stems.
Once you have the cutting, dip the cut end into rooting hormone.
Then plant the cutting into moist, well-draining potting soil. Make sure to bury enough of the stem into the soil as those under the mix are what will root.
Leave the plant in a brightly lit spot with no direct sunlight.
It will take about 4 or so weeks for the roots to develop and grab a hold of the ground.
Propagating Peperomia Angulata from Leaf Cuttings
Take a few healthy leaf cuttings making sure that you get the petiole or stalk with it.
Dip the cutting in rooting hormone. This is optional but it helps speed up the rooting process and also increases propagation success rates.
Plant the cuttings into moist well-draining soil mix. Keep them a few inches apart to give them enough space. Make sure the petiole or stalk is in the soil as this is where the roots will emerge from.
You can cover the pot with a plastic bag to increase humidity. Doing so speeds up growth as well as increases the success rate of propagation. However, make sure to open the plastic every so often for a few minutes. This will let excess moisture trapped in there get out.
How to Repot or Transplant Peperomia Angulata
The Peperomia Quadrangularis does not need to be repot often. It take between 2 to 4 years before you need to move it to a larger pot.
However, when the time comes, it is a good idea to do this because it will allow the plant to get bigger.
The best way to tell is to watch its roots. Once they come out from under the holes of the container, it is a sign that your Peperomia Angulata wants more space to grow.
But there’s no need to look often. Once every few months or once a year will work since it is a slow grower and does not have a large or extensive root system.
When repotting, be careful not to damage the stems or the roots. Both are not overly strong nor hardy. So, you want to take your take unpotting and repotting.
Use a container that is one size bigger, nothing more since going too big increases the risk of overwatering.
Finally, replace the soil with fresh well-draining potting mix.
Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs
The Peperomia Quadrangularis is non-toxic. Therefore, it does not pose any risk to children or pets even if they happen to ingest parts of the plant.
Peperomia Quadrangularis Problems & Troubleshooting
Dull Leaves with Faded Color
The Peperomia Quadrangularis is known for its green leaves. And if these look dull and have a faded color look to them, it usually means the plant is not getting enough light.
The best way to fix this issue is to move it somewhere brighter. But avoid direct sun or very intense light.
Leaf Drop
If your Peperomia Angulata is dropping leaves it may or may not be a problem.
One or two leaves on few occasions is nothing to be alarmed about. But if it starts shedding or losing quite a few foliage, then check the soil.
More likely than not the soil is wet and soggy, which is a sign of overwatering.
The plant does not like this and cannot tolerate long periods of this. Therefore, adjust your watering schedule.
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, mites and other sap suckers are the most common pests that may come and attack your Peperomia Quadrangularis.
While there is no way to completely prevent them, you can improve the chances of keeping them away by having a healthy plant.
This means avoid stressing the plant, leaving it in cold temperatures, very low humidity, over or underwatering.
Of the last two, overwatering is the bigger problem. And it can destroy your plant by rotting its roots. Therefore, you want to be mindful of too much water or watering too frequently.
