Plant Care
Light
Peperomia plants grow best in bright indirect light provided by a west or east facing, window. They also do well under florescent lights. Insufficient light causes this slow growing plant to stop growing all together. Direct sunlight burns the leaves.
Water
Allow the top 50% of the soil in a peperomia plant to dry out before watering. Over-watering, causing yellow leaves and soggy stems, is the main cause of serious peperomia problems. Root-rot, which causes the plant to die, is the direct result of over–watering. Peperomia plants do well when watered from the bottom. This technique keeps water off of the leaves and helps prevent plant diseases. The thick leaves of a peperomia hold water and allow it to withstand long periods without moisture.
Fertilizer
Fertilize monthly in the spring and summer with a balanced plant food diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength. It’s not necessary to feed a peperomia in the fall and winter.
Temperature
Warm temperatures between 60°-80°F (15.5°-26.7°C) are best. Temperatures below 50°-55°F (10°-12.8°C) and cold drafts from windows and doors damage the leaves.
Humidity
Peperomia plants are from the rain forests of Brazil and like a humid environment.
Flowering
Peperomia flowers are small and inconsequential, growing at the top of tall stalks; it’s the leaves of a Peperomia plant that are more interesting.
Pests
Houseplant pests such as mealy bugs and aphids can be a problem.
Diseases
Ringspot, a virus that marks the leaves of peperomia plants, and other houseplants, with unsightly round marks, may develop because of the high humidity this plant likes. Since there is no good treatment for ring spot disease, damaged leaves and even the entire infected plant may have to be thrown out. Keep the leaves of a peperomia plant dry and provide good air circulation to prevent ring spot disease. Over watering causes root rot.
Soil
Use a well-aerated potting soil that drains quickly. Peperomia plants are semi- succulents and do not like wet feet.
Pot Size
Repot only when the roots of the plant have out-grown the existing pot. Always move a peperomia plant to the next size pot only and be sure the pot has good drainage. Putting a peperomia in a pot that is too large allows the soil to stay wet too long and causes root rot.
Pruning
A peperomia can be pruned at any point along the stem. New growth on the develops from the nodes just below the cut in the stem.
Propagation
Peperomia plants are easily propagated from leaf cuttings, stem tip cuttings, and plant division. Be sure to allow the cut ends of the leaves or stems being used for propagation to dry out before planting them.
Poisonous Plant Info
Peperomia plants are non-poisonous plants.
