Root rot can be a serious problem for Peperomia, it can cause the leaves to turn yellow and the plant to die completely if it’s not treated at an early stage.
If you notice that the Peperomia leaves start to turn yellow and drop off. This is an indication that your Peperomia is suffering from root rot.
If you’re wondering how to keep your peperomia from suffering from root rot, then you’re in the right place. In this article, we will give you a full guide about how to save peperomia from root rot as well as what causes this issue and ways to prevent it.
Let’s get started!
How to save Peperomia from Root Rot?
Peperomia can be saved from root rot by taking it out of the pot, cleaning the roots and cutting the affected ones then transferring the plant to a new soil mix. However, if the whole root ball is infected then saving your peperomia might be impossible.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to save peperomia from root rot:
1. Get the Plant Outside of the Pot: One of the best ways to get a plant out of its pot is to use a chopstick or a spoon. Using these tools, you can easily lift the plant out of the pot without damaging any of the roots or stems.
2. Losen the Roots and Wash Them with Water: you can use your fingers to loosen the roots or soak them in water for about 5 minutes, this will help you get rid of any debris and see clearly which roots are affected and which ones are clean.
3. Check the Roots: if the entire root system is rotten then I will be sorry to tell you that your plant is dead. However, if you find that there are still some healthy roots within the root system, then you can move to the next step.
4. Remove the Affected Roots: Use a gardening scissor and cut off any dead or infected rotten roots from the root ball. You can also use a sharp knife to cut off the rotten roots from the plant.
5. Prune Back the Discolored and Wilted Leaves: Using garden pruning shears, trim off the leaves that are discolored or wilted. This will help the plant focus its energy on feeding the healthy leaves and growing new ones.
6. Disinfect the Pot: Use a solution of one part bleach to three parts water, soak the pot for 10 minutes, rinse well and allow to dry. You can also use vinegar to disinfect your pot if bleach is not available for you.
7. Prepare a New Potting Mix: don’t try to add any extra elements to the old potting mix to make it better. Generally, when a plant rots, the potting soil becomes defective and should be replaced by a new and fresh one. The best soil mix for peperomia should be made by mixing 50% peat moss with 40% perlite and 10% worm castings.
8. Repot the Plant: pour the new soil mix into the pot and gently press it down with your hands then place your peperomia in it. In this step, you should be careful with the plant because the roots are still fragile due to rotting circumstances.
After you accomplish all the steps above you should place your peperomia in a sunny spot and give water whenever the soil feels dry. Also try to protect the plant from drafts, cold, and heat because the roots and leaves are still sensitive.
Read Also>> Where to Place Peperomia?
How Do I Know That My Peperomia Is Suffering from Root Rot?
When your peperomia has yellowing leaves then you can conclude that it’s suffering from root rot. As the disease progresses, more and more leaves will fall off. The plant will become weak and will start to wilt.
Let’s go over the causes of peperomia’s root rot and explain each one in detail.
Leaf Discoloration: This happens because root rot prevents the roots from getting oxygen. When roots lack oxygen, the plant will no longer be able to transfer food to the leaves. As result, the leaves will stop the photosynthesis process which will prevent the plant from producing the green color (chlorophyll).
Plant Degradation: The root system is the anchor of the plant. This system keeps the plant standing upright and enables the plant to absorb nutrients. When this system becomes defective due to root rot, the leaves and stems stop receiving water and nutrients which cause them to grow slowly or stop growing at all.
Mold Starts to Develop on the Roots: root rot causes excessive moisture to build up around the roots, allowing bacteria to move in and infect the roots. Molds should be detected early because they become more serious over time.
The most effective way to control root rot is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Let’s find out how you can prevent your peperomia from rotting again.
How to Prevent the Roots of Peperomia from Rotting?
To prevent peperomia from rotting you should mimic their native habitat and keep an eye on the plant in order to take action at the right time. Generally, growing peperomia in well-draining soil, choosing a pot that offers good drainage, and watering the plant only when the soil is dry are the three main actions that will prevent root rot.
However, there are some other actions that can indirectly contribute to preventing root rot for peperomia. Here are 10 actions that you can take if you want to prevent your peperomias from rotting:
1. Keep Your Plants in Well-drained Soils: drainage can help you avoid overwatering your peperomia. Therefore, being picky about the soil is a must when growing this plant. To make your peperomia soil well-draining, you can add peat, sand, charcoal and other materials to the mix.
2. Choose the Right Pot for This Plant: pot material can also help assure good drainage for peperomia. As a result, growing this plant in clay or ceramic pot will help you reduce the risk of root rot for this plant.
3. Check the Soil Before Watering: to avoid overwatering the roots of your peperomia you should usually check your soil before watering. You can use a moister meter to check if the soil is dry or wet. When the moister meter indicates that the soil is dry then you can water the plant.
4. Water Your Peperomia Thoroughly: Watering your plant thoroughly is a great way to ensure that the plant gets all the water it needs for growth and blooms. When you water thoroughly, the plant has time to absorb the water into the root system and fuel growth.
5. Maintain Proper Light Levels: A window with indirect, filtered sunlight is the best option for growing peperomia. In addition, don’t expose your peperomia to direct sunlight and intense solar rays as these conditions are often too bright for plants to handle.
6. Fertilize Peperomias Regularly: It’s important to fertilize peperomias regularly, as this will promote healthy, vigorous growth. This plant requires a balanced fertilizer with a 10:10:10 NPK ratio.
7. Always Provide Air Circulation: aeration is important for growing a healthy peperomia plant because it helps to circulate oxygen through the plant’s tissues, helping to sustain the plant’s metabolic processes.
8. Trim Peperomias Regularly: It’s recommended that you cut your peperomias back by one-third each spring and fall to stimulate new growth. You can also prune the plant once or twice during the growing season to prevent the plant from becoming spindly.
9. Repot It: If the plant is root bound or showing signs of stress, it may be time for repotting. Generally, as times pass the soil becomes deprived of nutrients and organic matter which makes the plant vulnerable to root rot and other diseases. Therefore, reporting peperomia once a year is a great idea. If you choose to repot your Peperomia, make sure to use a pot that is slightly bigger than the old one.
10. Keep It Shaded: If you’re growing Peperomias in a window or outside in the full sun, you’ll need to give them some shade in the hottest part of the day. You can either move the Peperomias inside or plant them under a tree.
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