Peperomia Plant Care

INSIDE : Learn the best Peperomia Plant Care tips to grow healthy plants! From the best water amounts to it’s ideal light levels, this plant is a great indoor houseplant option.  I especially love it’s glossy leaves, so pretty.

Peperomia Plant Care

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Sometimes the Peperomia plant is called the Baby Rubber Plant because of it’s thick upright stems and big glossy, oversized leaves. It holds water in it’s dark green leaves, which will typically wrinkle in drought and plump up when water is available. 

In general they are quite tolerant of shade which makes them a good plant to start with.  Maybe I should add it to my 11 Hard to Kill Plants post!

You might also like learning about it’s close relative, the Peperomia Silver Frost.

Peperomia Care tips

What are other names for Peperomia?

Other names for Peperomia are Baby Rubber Plant, Pepper elder, Shining bush plant, and man to man.  Who names a plant man to man, I don’t know – ha.

What are the best growing conditions for Peperomia Obtusifolia?

In general, Peperomia are fairly easy going plants.  They need a weekly watering and medium indirect light.   It is nice to find a plant that you can kind of set it and forget it.  I just pop over each Friday, give him a water check, give him a drink and he’s happy.

Peperomia Stem

How often should I water Peperomia plants?

Peperomia like a weekly watering, allowing their soil to dry out before watering again. You should put your finger about 1-2” down (about a knuckle or so) and it should be dry to touch.

You can water a little more frequently during warmer months, as well as do a monthly fertilizer during their growing months.  I typically try to take my smaller houseplants outdoors maybe once a month during the warmer season and rinse off the leaves with my garden hose.  I then use a paper towel and dust off all their leaves.  For more intense quarterly cleaning, check out this post on how to clean your houseplants.

Peperomia Plant

Typically, Peperomia will droop or their leaves will curl to show that it needs more water. Do not overwater or keep the soil wet for too long, as this will encourage root rot.

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What kind of light does Peperomia Obtusifolia need?

Peperomia do not like lots of sun or lots of dark, so if you have a location that gets moderate indirect light, that is ideal for them!  These plants even do well under fluorescent lights making them an ideal choice for the office.

Do you love plants like me?  You might like some of my other Plant Care + Tip posts.

Peperomia Glossy Green leaves

If your peperomia is growing slowly, then try to increase the amount of light that it is getting while still being careful about it not getting too much direct light.  And be sure to rotate your plant each week, as it will grow and lean towards the light source.

In the darker winter months, you may have to move your Peperomia closer to what little sunshine is available.  You should check out my post about the Best Sunlight Levels for Indoor Houseplants.

Peperomia Leaves

What supplies do I need to grow Peperomia?

Plant Moisture Meter | Pruning Shears | Peperomia plant | Spray Water Bottle

What are some common issues with Peperomia?

There are a few common reasons that your Peperomia may be having some difficulty.  Do some close examination of your plant and then you should be able to narrow down the cause below.

1. My peperomia leaves are turning brown and crispy at the edges of the leaves.
– You might be under watering your plant.  (Trying watering more deeply each week.)
– The tap water you are using has high salts. (Use filtered water or set out your water for 24 hours before watering your plant.)
– Your plant might have a potassium deficiency. (Trying using a mild fertilizer once a month.)

2. My peperomia leaves are drooping and/or the leaves are curling.
– You might be under watering your plant.  (Trying watering more deeply each week.)

3. My peperomia is yellowing and the stem is turning black.  
– Your plant may be getting too much water and it is getting root rot. (Remove the plant from it’s pot and check on it’s roots.  Are the roots mushy?  It may have root rot.  If your plant does have root rot, it is recommended to cut away any mushy rotten roots and repot your plant with fresh soil.)  

Peperomia Care

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