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Peperomia

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  • Indoor Plants
Peperomia caperata
Photo: Jardin botanique de Montréal (Josée Bouthot)
Peperomia caperata
  • Peperomia caperata
  • Peperomia obtusifolia
  • Peperomia obtusifolia

Onglets

Botany

Origin and description

Peperomia obtusifolia is native to the tropical rainforests of America. This small plant has thick, waxy, rounded leaves and when conditions are right it produces long, discreet spikes of small, whitish flowers.

Species, cultivars and related plants

Peperomia obtusifolia 'Variegata' has green spotted leaves with creamy white edges and reddish stems. Young leaves turn green as they age. Cultivars with variegated foliage generally require more light, even some sun. Peperomia caperata has wrinkled heart-shaped, dark green leaves. Peperomia griseoargenta has heart-shaped, slightly wrinkled silvery leaves and pale green to pink petioles.

Toxicity

As a precaution, keep this plant out of the reach of children and pets.

Common name

Peperomia / Baby rubber plant

Latin name (genus)

Peperomia obtusifolia

English common name

Peperomia / Baby rubber plant

French common name

Pépéromia / Pépéromia à feuilles obtuses / Pourpier des bois

Botanical family

  • Piperaceae
Horticulture

Growing conditions

Peperomia requires warmth, humidity and bright light. Place it in a bright spot out of direct sunlight during the growing period, for instance near a west-facing window. It does well with normal room temperatures (18 to 21ºC) but the ideal temperature in summer is 24ºC. In winter, cooler, drier conditions are preferable. Temperatures should never go below 13ºC. Although peperomia tolerates dry air, high humidity is preferable especially at temperatures above 24ºC.

Easy to grow?

Peperomia is easy to grow. It adapts well to indoor conditions provided you avoid over-watering. It produces non-showy blooms.

Watering and fertilizer

Peperomia tolerates too little water better than too much because it stores water in its leaves. Its stems will rot and its leaves will fall off if the soil is constantly wet. Water sparingly, never leave any water standing in the saucer and allow the soil to partially dry out between waterings. Cut back on watering in winter. Peperomia is relatively slow growing. Three or four applications of a balanced indoor plant food or an all-purpose fertilizer like 20-20-20 at half strength during the growing period will meet its annual requirements. The soil should be well moistened before you fertilize to avoid burning the roots.

Pruning and maintenance

Pinch stems back to keep the plant compact and bushy. Remove any damaged parts.

Repotting

Peperomia likes to be potbound. Only young plants need to be repotted in spring to a slightly bigger pot.  A well-draining potting mix, such as a mix of peat moss and perlite or coarse sand, is essential.

Propagation

By stem cuttings and woody stem cuttings.

See also

Pests and diseases
  • Botrytis cinerea

    Botrytis Blight or Grey Mould

    The fungus responsible for botrytis blight or grey mould grows quickly in cool, damp weather. The infection may appear on almost all plant species, on both dead tissues and living parts. The first sign of the disease is a greyish downy substance, after which the infected parts dry out or rot.

  • Pseudococcus adonidum

    Scales (Indoor)

    The scale insect superfamily (Coccoidea) includes several genera of sucking insects capable of damaging indoor plants. Most of them are tropical, non-hardy species, but they adapt very well to our homes.

  • Thrips

    Thrips

    Over 5,000 species of thrips have been identified around the globe, hundreds of them in North America. Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) are the greenhouse species that cause the most damage in Quebec.

  • Tetranychus urticae

    Two-Spotted Spider Mite

    Two-spotted spider mites are not true insects, but tiny arthropods, just like other mites and ticks. With their four pairs of legs, they look like miniature spiders. They are so small that they are difficult to see, but they do weave tell-tale whitish webbing.

  • Rot
Physiological disorders
Symptoms Possible causes Solutions

Brownish blisters on old leaves

Irregular and excessive watering

Water more sparingly and more regularly
Allow the soil surface to dry out between waterings

Leaves suddenly drop off and rot

Over-watering and excessive heat in winter

Decrease temperature slightly and water sparingly
Never leave any water standing in the saucer and allow the soil to partially dry out between waterings

Loss of leaf colour

Not enough light

Move the plant to a brighter spot out of direct sunlight