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Cacti & Succulents garden

Does this guy need more light?

Dani ♥️ Succulents

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Hi! im a newbie succulent lover. i recently got this guy as an extra from an order. I’ve looked it up and it says when the leaves fold like this it means too much water. I’ve only watered it once during the time I’ve had it, a couple weeks after i potted it in this pot. I really love it and would like to help it get healthier. I recently opened the shades even more hoping that will help, but i only get bright indirect light.

It’s a Peperomia Graveolens ‘Ruby Glow’

Comments (4)

Jurassic Park
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Your soil mix looks very peaty. Would you have used Miracle Grow soil for "cacti & succulents" by any chance? All their mixes are very peaty and quickly become hydrophobic, which means that the soil is not actually getting moist when you are watering..., the water is merely passing through the pot. I think your plant's leaves are closing due to severe dryness at the root level. When you water, make sure the soil gets saturated, or transplant to a decent soil for succulents. They may be succulents, but they still need WATER!
Dani ♥️ Succulents
Original Author
2 years ago
It’s actually a mix of succulent and cactus dirt and some added pumice. It took me a couple times though before i understood gritty dirt. I thought the closed leaves were due to lack of water too, though I read it was the opposite. Maybe I’ll try repotting with grittier dirt. Thank.
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I would first get rid of that odd round column by the kitchen(and the one across the room), and replace them with a square post so that it matches the one by the island and on the other side. It looks odd, like the builder couldn't get the square one and so just stuck it there. I like the Spanish Olive, tho it reads very grey on my monitor. But I don't see the Dutch Cocoa as the oomph. A very pink brown, and I think it will just fight with the dark floors and all the dark cabinets in the kitchen. If you love purple, consider doing a very rich purple, perhaps SW Soulmate. Then do a greener olive tone for the kitchen, to offset the wood cabinetry. I would love to see the second pix cropped so that everything to the left of the person in the ski jacket disappears. Then hang that vertical photo above the desk. Bring in some orange accents to the kitchen, which also work well with purple and olive tones. The cropped pix will bring focus to the brasserie and the buildings, and the orange accents will make the art pop from the wall. The area with the chaise, couch and coffeetable seems very crowded together. You ideally should have 14-18 inches between the seating and the table, and you don't appear to have that, at least not between the chaise and the table. I wonder if you would consider trying a rearrangement? I would like to see the couch placed where the chaise is now, with the sofa table behind it. Run the coffeetable parallel to the couch. Then place the chaise at a right angle to that, facing the fireplace and tv, with it's 'back' to the kitchen. Because you are using the chaise there, it shouldn't feel like you are isolating the LR from the kitchen, because the chaise has the low back. Move the low console at the left of the fireplace to the right side, so it doesn't feel crowded in with the couch there. I would love to see the first pix you posted hung where the mirror is now, on the left wall by the fireplace. The mirror doesn't really seem to fit there - it doesn't reflect anything but the opposite corner, and I don't think I see a table or anything below to anchor it. Could it find a new home in your entry or in the DR?
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robinswfl
2 years ago
Peperomias of all kinds are medium-light plants. They don't need extremely bright light or direct sun. They should do well in bright, indirect light -- which you say you have.

But bear in mind -- Peperomias are not really succulents -- not like Gasteria, Euphorbia, Hawothia or Aloe plants. They're much more in the normal "houseplant" category......which is why I think Margaritaville, above, is on the right track with the soil issue.

Finding or blending the right soil is frequently a challenge. Miracle Grow is known to be NOT SPLENDID soil. But in truth, I have succulents growing in Hoffmans soil -- which is MUCH MORE expenive -- and even with a lot of pumice, it too has grow hydrophobic for some of my plants. As described above, the water is now just pasing through the pot but the roots aren't actually taking it up. If I were you, I would amend that soil with perlite or pumice (preferably washed thoroughly to eliminate dust) to improve drainage. If that doesn't help, I would change out the soil completely. If you can get your hands on Fafard houseplant soil -- that might work, again with perlite or pumice. They no longer make a succulent soil, at least not one I can find. But I like Fafard soils very much. The other option I can recommend is Black Gold soil.
Dani ♥️ Succulents
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks!! I didn’t know that this was more like a houseplant. I have a thistle family plant like that and it needs more moisture too. I’ll try the soil then! I appreciate it both of you.

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