HouseplantsDiscover the right indoor plants for your home.
Watermelon peperomia . pic by : Ladydoubt / Shutterstock
If variety is the spice of life , thenPeperomiais the gross houseplant to add tanginess to your indoor ( or outside ) container arrangements . Few plant life offer so many option in foliage colour , shape , size , and grain , from the shining succulent - same leaves of child rubber plant ( P. obtusifolia ) to the deep fissure fondness - shaped foliage of ‘ Red Ripple ’ ( P. caperata ) .
you could choose from a wide scope of growth habits too , from little , mounding types that tuck neatly intoterrariumsto trailing plant life ideal for hanging baskets . Ca n’t settle on a favorite ? Then fling and bring home several . These summary houseplants are peachy for mixing and matching , earmark you to make a jazzy showing by meld peperomias in an assortment of colours , texture , and form .
On this varlet : Basics|Growing|Care|Varieties|Troubleshooting
On this varlet :
PEPEROMIA BASICS
Botanical name:
Peperomia obtusifolia
Common names:
Peperomia , child rubber works , radiator plant
Origin:
Subtropical and tropical regions of Central and South America
Growth rate:
Slow growing
Size:
Under 6 inches up to a pes , count on the variety
Foliage:
Usually deep , waxy and succulent - like , with texture ranging from still and flat to deeply ruffle . foliage shape can change as well , and may be oval , round , pointy , or heart - shaped . leaf colors range from solid green to vary or striped patterns sporting silver , whitened , pale scandalmongering or cryptic red markings .
Flowers:
Under idealistic growing condition , peperomia will sometimes produce long , spiky , mouse ass - like blooms , usually gullible or creamy blank in coloring material . It ’s a special treat when they do , and the blooms will often last for several calendar week .
Special attributes:
GROWING PEPEROMIA
' Frost ' peperomia . picture by : Stephanie Frey / Shutterstock
Light:
For the best foliage color , grow under lustrous , indirect sparkle , such as from an east- or west - facing window . Can also be grown under fluorescent lighting . Avoid direct sunlight , which can burn the leaves .
Temperature:
Peperomias are also called radiator plants because they crave ardent growing conditions . Indoors , grow at room temperatures of 65 ° F to as high-pitched as 80 ° F . If you put your plant outdoors during the summer , be sure tobring it back insidebefore temperatures fall below 50 ° F .
Humidity:
Because peperomias are native to tropic region , they prefer restrained to high humidness and thrive in place like terrarium and brightly lit privy . In drier area of the home , you could keep your plants hydrate by misting the farewell or setting them on a tray filled with pebble and piddle .
Soil type:
practice a well - drain potting mixture , sooner one containing coco fiber and perlite to keep the soil loose and oxygenize .
Pot requirements:
As with most houseplants , be certain to use a potbelly with drainage gob to preclude miry dirt and root guff . Peperomiadon’t mind being a flake cramped in their home , so choose a container that is only slightly larger than your works ’s root ball .
PEPEROMIA PLANT CARE
Watering:
Because of its succulent - comparable timbre , peperomia stores piddle in its thick leaves and stems and does n’t require frequent lacrimation . Aim for giving it a boozing every seven to ten days , or when the top in or two of soil feels ironical to the spot . Be thrifty not to overwater , which can run to rootage rot .
Fertilizing:
Apply a diluted liquified fertilizer once every calendar month or so from other natural spring through late summertime . Do not fertilize in wintertime .
Pruning and shaping:
If you want to give yourPeperomiaa bushier visual aspect or prevent it from becoming too leggy , pinch it back just above a leafage node to encourage unexampled growth and branching . you may apply the trim to propagate more plants .
Leaf care:
Peperomias with great leaves , such as ‘ Ginny ’ ( P. clusiifolia ) , benefit from an occasional cleaning with a damp fabric to keep the foliage courteous and shiny . For species with grooves or wavelet in their leave-taking , the best cleanup method acting is to mist the leaves now and again with elbow room - temperature body of water to remove dust buildup in the crevices .
Repotting:
Because of its dumb ontogeny pace , peperomia can go for years before it needs repotting and really opt being a bit rootbound . When you do repot , move your plant to a container that is only somewhat declamatory .
Propagation:
Place stem turn or leafage cutting ( best taken in bounce or former summer ) in a glass of water or into some moist potting grunge and give them burnished , indirect light . New roots should develop within a few weeks . To speed up the rooting cognitive process , you’re able to dip the bottom of the stem in some root powder before planting .
Pests:
Peperomias are usually cuss - barren , but be on the lookout formealybugs , whiteflies , andspider mites . ( See more oncommon houseplant pests . )
PEPEROMIA VARIETIES
Photo by : phM2019 / Shutterstock .
BABY RUBBER PLANTPeperomia obtusifolia
Size:6 to 12 in marvellous and across-the-board
nominate for its resemblance to the full - sized synthetic rubber plant ( Ficus elastica ) , this thickset ape has a beautiful bush - like form and lavish , calendered gullible leave-taking that are sometimes variegated with splash of creamy white , yellow , or Au .
picture by : sharohyip / Shutterstock
Ginny peperomiaPeperomia clusiifolia
Also called jelly peperomia or tricolor peperomia , this striking cultivar features highly variegated foliation stress by pinkish or cerise margins . The large , just leaves also have slightly curled edges , which add together to this plant ’s unique look .
Photo by : Maritxu / Shutterstock
String of TurtlesPeperomia prostrata
Size : Trails up to 12 inch
As the name paint a picture , the dainty oval leaves of this trailing peperomia feature light immature mineral vein in a practice that resembles a turtle ’s shell . The tiny turtles look witching cascade from hanging basket or over the edge of a table or shelf . young plants are easy to propagate from stem cuttings .
Photo by : Skyprayer2005 / Shutterstock
' Red Ripple’Peperomia caperata’Red Ripple '
size of it : Up to 8 inches tall and wide
If you need a modification of pace from unripe foliage , you ’ll love these deep red and purplish eye - regulate leave with their beautiful crinkled texture and silverish lustre . The foliage is set off by slender spike of white flowers in summer .
Photo by : Anne Balogh
Inachis io PeperomiaPeperomia’Piccolo Banda '
Size : Up to 12 inches tall when in efflorescence
A gorgeous cultivar with silvery green leaves accented by deep royal veining . Especially impressive when in blush , sending up wispy spikes of pale green flowers perch atop recollective red shuck .
Photo by : Ladydoubt / Shutterstock
Watermelon PeperomiaPeperomia argyreia
Size:6 to 8 inches tall
Exotic - looking green leaves with silver grey striping resemble mini watermelons , control aloft by fleshy red stems . The leaves are larger than those of most peperomia , making the figure even more dramatic .
Photo by : Jus_Ol / Shutterstock
' Hope’Peperomia tetraphylla’Hope '
Also called four - leave peperomia , this plant ’s blockheaded , rounded leaves acquire in whorls of three or four every few inches along trailing stem , like a chemical chain of lucky clover . look fabulous spilling from a hanging basketful ormacrame plant life hanger .
Photo by : Stephanie Frey / Shutterstock
' Frost’Peperomia caperata’Frost '
Size:6 to 8 inches marvelous and broad
Similar in pattern to watermelon peperomia , but with iridescent silver - white leaf etched by sullen green veining . The glacial foliation contrasts beautifully with darker - color peperomia potpourri and is a real standout in terrarium gardens .
Photo by : Nahhana / Shutterstock
Ruby Glow PeperomiaPeperomia graveolens
size of it : Up to 10 inches tall and 24 inches all-embracing
Often false for a succulent , this captivating plant has compact ruby - colored stems and long , heavy , semi - translucent calx - light-green leave that curl upward to reveal red undersurface . It hold a nice , fruticose growth habit , with new branches flash out from the principal stem .
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH PEPEROMIA
Peperomias are usually fuss - free and leisurely , but like most houseplants , their wellness can tolerate when get under less - than - optimum conditions . Here are some of the common warning sign to appear for :
