Piper argyrites 'Pink'

Natural range behind Piper argyrites 'Pink'

Piper argyrites comes from southern Thailand and the Malay Peninsula, where it climbs through humid tropical forest.

How to care for Piper argyrites 'Pink'

• Humidity: Keep humidity high around new growth, with gentle air movement through the foliage.
• Light: Give medium to bright filtered light. A bright position keeps the stems compact and the foliage clearly patterned.
• Water: Keep the mix lightly and evenly moist. Water as the surface begins to dry, then let the pot drain fully.
• Support: Let young stems trail or guide them onto a narrow trellis, branch or moss pole as they lengthen.
• Substrate: Use a fine, loose mix with moisture retention and plenty of air, such as fine bark, quality potting mix and pumice or perlite.
• Temperature: Keep temperatures stable and warm, around 19–27 °C.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while the plant is growing with a balanced fertiliser. Water thoroughly with plain water from time to time to reduce fertiliser salt buildup.
• Propagation: Root healthy node cuttings in warm, humid conditions with a lightly moist rooting mix.
• Repotting: Repot when roots fill the container or the substrate has broken down. Move up only one pot size.

Common problems with Piper argyrites 'Pink'

• Fresh leaves emerge crumpled or scarred: Thrips, dry air or uneven moisture can affect leaves before they unfold. Inspect the growing tip and youngest leaves and keep humidity and watering steady. If you find thrips, isolate the plant and use a product labelled for thrips, repeating it as directed on the label.
• Leaf edges become crisp: The mix may be drying too far between waterings. Water thoroughly, then water again as soon as the surface begins to dry.
• Stems lengthen and the pink pattern becomes weaker: Light is likely too low. Move the plant gradually into brighter filtered light.
• Fine pale speckling or webbing develops: Spider mites may be present. Isolate the plant and use a product labelled for mites, repeating it at the interval stated on the label.
• Lower stems turn dark and soft: Rot can develop if the mix stays wet and airless for too long. Cut rotten tissue back to clean healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard rotten material and reroot healthy sections in fresh mix.

Keep Piper argyrites ‘Pink’ away from children and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear, and plant material can still cause an upset stomach.
• Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop or do not settle.

What does the name Piper argyrites mean?

Piper is Latin for pepper. Argyrites derives from Greek árgyros, silver, meaning ‘silvery’.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Piper in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 28.

Anne Casimir Pyramus de Candolle first described Piper argyrites in 1912 in Records of the Botanical Survey of India, volume 6, page 25; Henry Nicholas Ridley had proposed the name.