All About Peperomia Piccolo Banda
Peperomia albovittata ‘Piccolo Banda’
The Piccolo Banda is a small, compact peperomia hybrid. The name “Banda” comes from the red and green stripes on the leaves. These colorful little plants are perfect for office desks and windowsills. My personal Banda hangs out on my nightstand.
Not only are these peperomias cute and colorful, they are also non-toxic and Pet Safe.
Peperomias are found in tropical and subtropical climates all over the world. There are over one thousand species of peperomia that grow in many different conditions. Peperomias need slightly different care depending on which region they are from. Read on to learn more about caring for the Banda.
How To Care for All About Peperomia Piccolo Banda
Peperomia Albovittata is an epiphytic perennial native to Ecuador. In the wild, they grow on trees and decaying wood.
You can pot them up an inch or two once the roots start growing out of the bottom of the pot. Remember that these plants stay relatively small and won’t need potting up very often. Because they won’t need fresh soil as often as fast-growing plants, be sure to fertilize during the growing season so they don’t lack nutrients.
The average temperature and humidity in most home environments is perfect for these tropical plants. They love a bright, sunny window, especially during the cooler months but avoid direct summer sun.
Read on to learn more about caring for Peperomia Piccolo Banda ……
USDA Zone 11-12b
They don’t like to completely dry out so water when the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry. If you are unsure, stick your finger in the soil. Too much water can cause root rot.
These are small plants growing to around 12 inches wide.
They prefer bright, indirect light but can grow well in medium-light situations. Banda loves the morning sun but direct sun after 11 am can cause sunburn.
Use a rich potting mix that drains well. Incorporate small pieces of orchid bark and perlite into regular or succulent soil to create more airflow. Compost will add much-needed nutrients.
They are native to subtropical regions and like 50% or higher humidity levels.
Peperomia Albovittata is non-toxic and safe for children and pets. Find more pet-safe plants here.
Fertilize every three months during the growing season with Green Grub Insect Frass. You can either make a compost tea to water with every time or sprinkle a layer of fertilizer on top of the soil. If using synthetic, use an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer with a balanced ratio.
Propagate by stem or leaf cuttings and offsets. Read on for propagation instructions.
How to propagate Peperomia Piccolo Banda
Currently propagating Peperomia Piccolo Banda for sale is not legal as the cultivator is copyrighted. However, you can propagate for your own use and the following guidelines work for all Peperomia Albovittata.
There are three ways to
propagate – seed, division, and leaf cuttings. Growing from seed takes a long time so we will discuss division and cuttings here. Both methods are best done in the spring.
Division
1. This is easily done while repotting your plant. Once you have the rootball out of the pot, use a sharp knife to cut individual offsets away from the main plant. Make sure to get enough roots to support the new offset.
2. Likewise you can also loosen the rootball with your fingers and gently separate the offset from the main plant.
3. Plant your new offset into a rooting medium, keep moist and wait for the plant to establish.
4. Once your offset is established and growing well. Repot into a pot that is 1 inch larger than the rootball and enjoy your new plant!
Leaf Cuttings
1. Take cuttings of healthy leaves making sure to get the leaf stem. I prefer to have at least five cuttings.
2. Plant the stem(s) into a rooting medium and keep the medium moist, not wet.
3. Cover with a clear plastic or glass dome so that the leaves do not dry out. Seed starting kits and propagation boxes work well for this.
4. Place your cuttings/ prop box in a warm area with bright indirect light and keep medium moist, not wet.
5. Wait for new growth. Once you have a thriving plant-let, repot, and slowly acclimate to a less humid environment.
Get your very own Peperomia Piccolo Banda here.
