If you like plants with emerald green leaves, consider Lotus Pepper, a particularly elegant-looking grass pepper plant, which, like ordinary jasper and red-edged pepper grass, can adapt to indoor low-light environments, and can grow and bloom normally as long as there is a little scattered light.
The leaves of the lotus pepper grass look like water droplets, which is why it has the reputation of raindrop pepper grass.
1. Temperature
This plant is native to South America, it prefers a warm and cool environment all year round, afraid of cold, the lowest temperature to keep above 5 degrees, its best growth temperature is between 18~28 degrees, as long as there is a warm environment, it can be kept in good condition all year round.
If the temperature is below 7 degrees, pay attention to start gradually controlling the watering.
2. Potting soil
The plant of lotus pepper grass is relatively low, generally growing to about 30 cm, and can be cultivated into small potted plants indoors. If there is more light, its plants will grow more compact, and it can bloom in the right environment. To grow lotus pepper grass indoors, try to raise it in a small compact pot.
To plant lotus pepper grass, it is recommended to use loose and well-drained potting soil, such as universal nutrient soil, do not choose too sticky soil. If the environment is relatively poor, add 15%~30% more coarse sand, loose scales or coarse coconut shell to the potting soil to increase the drainage and air permeability of the soil
3. Watering
To maintain potted plants of lotus pepper grass, it is necessary to avoid continuous moisture, and the top soil is dried 3~5 cm under the top soil in order to water and avoid continuous moisture.
It can tolerate a slightly dry environment when kept indoors, but if there is a perennial warm environment (relative humidity of about 60%), it will grow better and the leaf surface will be brighter.
4. Fertilizer
Indoor planting should also pay attention to regular cleaning of the leaf surface, do not let too much dust on the leaves, but also pay attention to occasional fertilizer supplementation, especially in the warm season (18~30 degrees), there is appropriate light, you can supplement water-soluble fertilizer every two or three weeks.
If it is planted in a place where the environment is not very good, it is recommended to sprinkle a little slow-release fertilizer around the potting soil every six months or so to meet its growth needs.
5. Change pots and propagate
Lotus pepper grass plant is small, suitable for small pot planting, its growth is relatively slow, later maintenance does not need to change pots frequently, if the environment is particularly good, there is suitable light, plus the environment is warm all year round, its growth will be slightly faster, the stem grows particularly long, you can cut its stem short.
Pay attention to using transparent container hydroponic cuttings, pay attention to changing the water every 3~5 days to keep the water fresh.
The cut part of the stem can be used for hydroponic cuttings, the bottom of the stem is about two or three centimeters soaked in water, but pay attention to avoid the leaves soaked in water (will rot), but also pay attention to give more than 2~3 hours of scattered light, about two or three weeks after the growth of a vigorous root system, you can replant into the potting soil.
If you are patient, you can also try to propagate the leaf cuttings of the lotus pepper grass, you can cut its full leaves, the petiole retains more than half, the bottom of the petiole is soaked in water, also kept in a place with scattered light, keep the warm ambient temperature between 18~45 degrees, about three or four weeks after the bottom will grow small roots, and then slowly emerge small shoots.
But I still recommend using stem cuttings to propagate, the success rate will be higher, mainly because the growth rate will be faster.
frequently asked questions
There are few problems with the maintenance of lotus pepper grass, which is generally caused by excessive frequent watering and persistent moisture, resulting in root rot. Or frostbite caused by winter temperatures that are too low (below 4 degrees), and other aspects rarely cause problems.
The state of blooming of lotus pepper grass
The flowers of the lotus pepper are spike-shaped, somewhat like the tail of a mouse, and it is often mistaken for a mirror grass. They are similar, but the tip of the leaf is more pointed (its leaves will grow large, the leaves of the mirror grass are relatively petite), and the junction point between the petiole and the leaf surface has obvious markings.
On the left is the lotus pepper grass on the top and on the right is the mirror grass
Lotus pepper grass is suitable for keeping in bright environments and grows well on either east- or north-facing windowsills.