Piper sp. Sumatera 'Pink Veins'

Origin and identity of Piper sp. Sumatera 'Pink Veins'

Piper sp. Sumatera 'Pink Veins' is a Piper from Sumatra, Indonesia, whose species identity is still uncertain. 'Pink Veins' is the cultivated form name used for its vivid pink veins.

How to care for Piper sp. Sumatera 'Pink Veins'

• Light: Give bright filtered light so the dark leaf colour and pink veins remain clearly defined.
• Humidity: Maintain moderate to high humidity, especially around leaves that are still opening.
• Water: Water when the upper layer of substrate begins to dry and let excess water drain away.
• Support: Let stems trail or guide them onto a narrow trellis or branch as they lengthen.
• Temperature: Keep the plant warm, around 19–28 °C.
• Substrate: Use a loose tropical mix that stays lightly moist and drains freely.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while the plant is growing with a balanced fertiliser.
• Propagation: Root a healthy stem section with a node in warm, humid conditions and lightly moist substrate.
• Repotting: Repot when roots fill the container or the mix begins to compact.

Troubleshooting Piper sp. Sumatera 'Pink Veins'

• Pink veins look dull and the stems lengthen: Light is too low. Move the plant gradually into brighter filtered light.
• Leaf tips or edges turn brown: Repeated drying or fertiliser salts can damage the margins. Water more consistently and rinse the mix with plain water if fertiliser salts have built up.
• New leaves open scarred or misshapen: Thrips or air that becomes too dry while the leaf is opening may be involved. Inspect the growing tip for thrips 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.
• Fine stippling or webbing develops: Spider mites may be present. Isolate the plant and use a product labelled for mites, repeating it at the interval given on the label.
• Lower stems or roots soften: Rot can develop if the mix stays wet for too long. Cut rotten tissue back to clean healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard rotten material and reroot healthy growth in fresh airy substrate.

Keep Piper sp. Sumatera ‘Pink Veins’ 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.

Where does the name Piper come from?

Piper is Latin for pepper.

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