Peperomia brings rich greenery to your home—pick up tips for growing and care

Peperomia is a low-growing houseplant whose beauty lies in its leaves. The peperomia genus is diverse: the decorative leaves may be green, burgundy, yellow-green, silvery, or furrowed.

Their growth habits also vary. The graceful round-leaf peperomia and vining peperomia have trailing stems and are perfect for hanging planters. The baby rubber plant grows fairly upright, and the emerald ripple peperomia forms a mound.

Peperomias are native to warm, humid rainforest regions, so they suffer in dry indoor air. Give your peperomia extra humidity by misting often and placing containers of water near the pots.

Peperomia: care and growing

Temperature

Peperomias like normal room temperatures. In winter, a cooler temperature is fine, but not below 15°C.

Light conditions

Peperomia naturally grows beneath larger plants. An east- or north-facing window usually provides ample light for most peperomias. A bright south- or west-facing windowsill works well too, as long as direct sun doesn’t scorch the leaves.

Peperomia watering and fertilizing

Water your peperomia regularly, but let the top couple of centimeters of soil dry between waterings. Overwatering easily leads to rotting of the roots. Reduce watering in winter, but don’t let the soil become completely parched.

Fertilize peperomia with a mild fertilizer every couple of weeks from April through August.

Mist and spray peperomia often, and increase humidity on the windowsill by placing water containers near the pots.

Peperomia repotting

Peperomia thrives in slightly sandy soil. You can mix a bit of cactus soil or sand into regular potting soil and plant your peperomia in that blend.

Peperomia propagation

Peperomia can be propagated from cuttings. Cuttings from the emerald ripple peperomia can be inserted directly into sandy soil, while cuttings of the baby rubber plant should be allowed to dry for a day or two before planting.

Common peperomia varieties:

Baby rubber plant Peperomia obtusifolia

Emerald ripple peperomia Peperomia caperata

Round-leaf peperomia Peperomia rotundifolia var. pilosior