If you have pets or young children, you may be searching for a houseplant that isn’t toxic. Peperomia Rana Verde is a popular plant that is a medium-sized semi-succulent. These hybrid plants have dark green, and yellow rippled foliage and require minimum care.
PRV is an attractive plant that will look great in your home or office. This article will tell you everything you need to know about this popular botanical plant.
The Peperomia albovittata “Rana Verde”
The plant’s full name is the Peperomia albovittata Rana Verde, as it’s a hybrid that has been created in the Netherlands by cross-pollinating the Peperomia albovittata plant.
This variety is relatively new as it was created in 2012, and additional plants were grown in 2013 using leaf cuttings. This allowed horticulturists to develop successive generations. It has many common names, such as the Chinese Money Plant, Ripple Peperomia, or the Chinese Rubber plant.
What does the Peperomia Rana Verde Plant look like?
Peperomia Rana Verde is native to Africa and America, and the genus has over 1500 recorded species. It’s one of the largest varieties in the peperomia family and resembles bell pepper plants. The plant gets its name from the Greek words ‘peperi, which means pepper, and ‘homious’, which translates as resembling.
Height and Structure
PRV is a medium-sized, short plant that grows to a height of eight inches. Most plants have a main steam with up to fourteen branches.
Foliage
The Peperomia Rana Verde have attractive oval-shaped leaves which grow to about three inches long. The leaves are glossy on top with a matt underside and are arranged in alternating patterns on soft stems. The species has a moderate growth rate.
Flowers
During the summer months, the plant will flower. Blooms are orange in color and unscented.
Non-toxic
One of the main reasons that this plant has grown in popularity in recent years is that it’s non-toxic to humans and pets.
Is the Peperomia Rana Verde Prone to Pest Infestation?
Peperomia Rana Verde is generally considered resistant to pest attacks. However, they can be affected by insects such as Mealy Bugs, Fungus gnats, and Spider Mites.
Fungus gnats are small insects that live in the soil and eat the roots of plants, eventually killing the plant. These insects can be avoided by adding a layer of sand to the top of the earth. You can also try sprinkling cinnamon powder on the topsoil.
Spider mites and mealybugs can be found on your plants and will feed on the foliage. They can be controlled by using store-bought pesticides or by wiping the leaves with Neem oil.
Caring for a Peperomia Rana Verde
Here are some basic care tips to help you look after a Peperomia Rana Verde.
Water
The Peperomia Rana Verde is a semi-succulent plant that is able to tolerate drought. However, these plants do require more water than cacti. You can wait until your plant’s topsoil feels dry and then give your plant a good soaking.
Provide water up to two or three times a week throughout the summer and once every couple of weeks for the rest of the year. Ensure you don’t overwater your plant as soggy roots can cause fungal infections or root rot.
Sunlight
Peperomia Rana Verde do best in indirect sunlight. They can be exposed to the morning sun for a few hours, and this will improve the plant’s health. Don’t leave your plant in direct sunlight all day. It’s best to keep it on either a south, east, or west-facing windowsill.
Temperature
Peperomia Rana Verde are best kept in temperatures of between 65 to 75 °F. Although the plants don’t like too much sunlight and humidity, they shouldn’t be kept in temperatures lower than 50 °F.
Soil
These plants require light, aerated soil, which is well-drained. They do well in peat-based soil or compost that contains sand and is designed for succulents. Soil should have a pH of between 6 and 7.3.
Ensure that you plant your Peperomia Rana Verde in a non-glazed pot that has drainage holes. You may also like to put a layer of stones in the bottom of the pot to help with drainage.
Fertilizer
You can give your Peperomia Rana Verde a slow-release house-plant fertilizer in the spring and again in the summer. Read the manufacturer’s instructions before providing your plant with any type of liquid feed, and don’t let the fertilizer get into contact with the plant’s foliage.
Pruning and cleaning
During the growing season, you can prune your plant to improve its appearance. Be careful not to over-prune. It’s also a good idea to clean your plant regularly to improve the plant’s health and eliminate any dust that may have settled on the foliage.
How to Propagate a Peperomia Rana Verde
Peperomia Rana Verde can be propagated by either using a leaf cutting or a stem tip-cutting. It’s best to grow a new plant in the spring, at the beginning of the growing season.
Simply cut a leaf off your plant with a sharp knife or take a cutting with two or three leaves. 2 to 3 leaves. Let the leaf or cutting dry out for a day and then dip the end in a growth hormone.
The cutting can then be planted in moist soil and left in bright, indirect sunlight. You should notice that the cutting begins to grow after a month. During the second month, the new plant will begin to grow new shoots. You should water your plant frequently and don’t let the soil dry out.
In the third month, your plant will start to grow new foliage if it’s well cared for. Don’t give your plant fertilizer until it is at least six months old. It may be best to wait until the following spring to provide fertilizer.
Conclusion
Peperomia Rana Verde is an attractive and popular house plant that is dark green and known as the Chinese money plant. These plants are semi succulents that are easy to care for and propagate. They require bright indirect sunlight and the correct amount of water to grow well.
The Chinese money plant is a non-toxic plant that is perfect if you have kids or pets. These plants look lovely hanging over the edge of a shelf and are air-purifying plants that look great in any home.