Peperomia Care Guide
Commonly referred to as radiator plants, Peperomia plants form one of two large genera of the family Piperaceae.
They are native primarily to Central and South America, however they can be found in all tropical and subtropical parts of the world. In their natural habitat, they usually grow on rotten wood. They a perennial plant and boast more than 1000 species!
Peperomia come in a variety of colours including green, brown, purple, red, and variegated, and the leaves of each species can differ widely in shape and size.
Peperomia Gallery
Peperomia Moonlight Peperomia Santorini Peperomia Scandens Peperomia Argyreia
The advantage of these plants is they are slow-growing and form relatively low clusters (usually no more than 6-12 inches tall/wide), making them a great addition to smaller spaces. They are a popular indoor plant due to their relatively low maintenance – their thick, fleshy leaves make them quite tolerable to drought and dry air (more below).
Below, we provide the best care tips for keeping your Peperomia happy and healthy.
Lighting
Peperomias prefer medium to bright light, though they can tolerate lower lighting.
How to provide the right amount of light for Peperomia:
Ensure the plant receives bright, indirect sunlight throughout the day. If this isn’t possible, place it near a window which provides bright, indirect light for at least the full morning, or the full afternoon.
Signs that your Peperomia isn’t getting enough light:
- Leaves darkening
- Dullness in the colour of the leaves
- Mould growth on the surface of the soil
Watering
Type of water Peperomias need:
Rainwater is always best for these plants, but they can tolerate tap water. If using the latter, let the water stand for a few hours so that the chlorine, which is not plant friendly, can evaporate first.
When to water your Peperomia:
Peperomias generally require water every 1-2 weeks. A good guide for this is to allow the top 1 inch to dry out completely, then give the plant a thorough watering.
Though these plants can tolerate drought, they will become stressed if left to dry out for too long between watering. Signs that your Peperomia isn’t receiving a good watering schedule include drooping leaves, yellowing leaves, and leaf drop.
How to water your Peperomia:
You should keep your Peperomia in a well-drained pot. When watering, allow all the water to drain right through. Overwatering can lead to root rot, droopy leaves, and mould, so after watering ensure the soil is moist but not wet.
Humidity
Peperomia prefer a warm, humid atmosphere, but they will tolerate dry air for short periods.
The ideal temperature for these plants is 55° F / 12°C and above.
How to create humidity for your Peperomia:
To create humidity, simply give the leaves a light misting once per week. During the winter when you’re likely to use indoor heating more often, you may find you need to mist them more regularly – but only do this if your plant receives plenty of light.
If you have low light in your household, then placing your Peperomia near other plants will naturally increase the humidity around them and will not require regular misting, which will prevent mould.
Soil
The soil you use for your Peperomia should be porous and well-draining. 50% peat moss and 50% perlite is ideal, though adding gravel does help to air the roots.
Propagation
Peperomias prefer to be overplanted than underplanted, meaning they prefer higher growth density is smaller spaces. This means that your Peperomia will not require regular repotting as it grows.
Many mother plants will produce their own babies, which can be removed once they have reached at least 2-3 inches in height.
Peperomias can also be grown from stem or leaf cuttings. If you do opt to propagate your peperomia, follow these steps below:
Peperomia propagation from a cutting:
- Remove a section of leaf and stem which is long enough to allow it to sit in water
- Submerge the end in water, refreshing every two weeks
- Leave the cutting in bright, indirect light
- Be patient! It can take one month before the first signs of roots develop, and a further 3 months before the roots are established enough for potting
- When potting, start small – new roots are delicate and cannot tolerate too much space or water.
Peperomia propagation from a mother plant:
- Gently hold the mother plant on its side, and wiggle it out of its pot
- Use your fingers to remove most of the soil around the mother plant, and any babies that are at least 3 inches long
- Follow the baby stem down to the root ball. This is where you will need to cut it. Only select babies which have their own section of roots
- Using a very sharp, small blade, cut the baby plant away from the mother plant, ensuring that the baby comes away with a good amount of root, or it will likely not survive once cut away
- Plant the baby in a small pot, with some of the soil from the mother plant
Colours and Variegation
Some Peperomia plants offer excellent variegation. One of the most popular variegated peperomias is the Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia Argyreia), whose leaves are thick and round, with light and dark green stripes which resemble a watermelon. And, if you look at the leaves closely in the sunlight, they also glisten beautifully.
Other variegated Peperomia include:
- Peperomia Ginny (Peperomia Clusiifolia)
- Peperomia ‘Rosso’ (Peperomia Caperata ‘Rosso’)
- String of Turtles (Peperomia Prostrata)
- Cupid Peperomia (Peperomia Scandens)
- Ruby Glow Peperomia (Peperomia Graveolens)
Toxicity
Most species of Peperomia are non-toxic to pets and humans, however we’d advise you to check first before purchasing. Safe species include those mentioned above, and the Peperomia Obtusifolia (baby rubber plant).
Special Information
Some Peperomia species will flower in the summer months, though they are not colourful or scented. The blooms are long, narrow spikes or stalks, and will often be a greenish-white or brown colour.
All links in this guide either direct you directly to items in our shop or are affiliate links. For more information about out affiliate link disclosure click here